Highlights from the Japan collections
Take a journey with the curators of the Japanese collection through some of its highlight pieces
Japan
Plan a visitThe V&A has been collecting Japanese art and design since it was founded in 1852 and now holds one of the world's most comprehensive collections, including ceramics, lacquer, arms and armour, woodwork, metalwork, textiles and dress, prints, paintings, sculpture and modern & contemporary studio crafts.
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With the exception of some early metalwork, ceramics and Buddhist sculpture, most objects date from the Edo (1615-1868) and Meiji (1868-1912) periods. Of particular interest is our collection of over 30,000 Edo-period ukiyo-e prints, paintings, drawings and albums. We also hold one of the finest and most complete collections of Japanese enamels in the world, as well as the earliest documented examples of this art form in any museum.
Exploring Japan
The Mazarin Chest, about 1640, Japan. Museum no. 412-1882. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Inro with fish and sea creature, Kakosai, 19th century, Japan. Museum nos. W.158:1-1922 to W.158:1-1922. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Suit of armour in haramaki style, 1850, Japan. Museum nos. M.95:1-1955 to M.95:14-1955. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Netsuke of the Chinese General Gentoku riding across a river, carved ivory, signed Rakueisai, ca. 1850 – 1900, Japan. Museum no. A.781-1910. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Kimono for the Kabuki theatre, 1860 – 1880, Japan. Museum no. FE.73-2014. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
The Great Wave, woodblock print, Katsushika Hokusai, 1858, Japan. Museum no. E.4823-1916. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
'Sweet Lolita by Baby, The Stars Shine Bright', designed by Akinori & Fumiyo Isobe, 2011, Japan. Museum nos. FE.305-313-2011 & FE.5-2012 & FE.11-2012. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
'Covered Vessel no. 7', Gomi Kenji, 2012, Japan. Museum nos. FE.59:1-2012 to FE.59:2-2012. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
'AUN II, Basket', Tanabe Shochiku, 2014, Japan. Museum no. FE.36-2014. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
'JVC Videosphere', JVC Ltd, about 1970, Japan. Museum no. W.661:1-2001. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Bugaku mask, 18th century, Japan. Museum no. W.516-1922. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
'OO-IX', Shigeki Hayashi, 2013, Japan. Museum no. FE.100-2013. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Learn more about Japan
'Anima' – food waste tableware by Kosuke Araki
Beautiful vessels crafted from food waste and traditional Japanese lacquer
Samurai: Japanese arms & armour
The samurai were the military class of Japan who developed from local provincial warriors into the ruling elite that maintained power in the name of the emperor from 1185-1868
Kimono
Discover the rich symbolism in traditional Japanese dress
Lolita fashion: Japanese street style
Sweet, punk or gothic?
The conservation of the figure of a samurai in full armour
Find out how this imposing yet delicate model of a samurai was restored to its full splendour by an expert team of V&A conservators and curators
Japanese woodblock prints (ukiyo-e)
Known as 'ukiyo-e', these hugely popular woodblock prints depict everyday life in Japan during the Edo period
Make your own: Japanese 'Boro' bag
Follow our step-by-step guide to create your own Japanese style 'boro' bag
Conservation of a Japanese palanquin
Follow V&A Conservators as they treat an elaborately decorated Japanese palanquin in our collection
Japan's encounter with Europe, 1573 – 1853
The first Europeans to arrive in Japan did so by accident rather than design
