Japan

The 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. 

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.

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Features

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Highlights from the Japan collections

Take a journey with the curators of the Japanese collection through some of its highlight pieces

  1. Read

    Fame and fashion: sumō wrestling in Japanese woodblock prints

    Prints documenting an exciting period in the long history of Japan’s national sport
  2. Interact

    The lunar zodiac

    Discover the lunar zodiac animals in art and design from our East Asian collections
  3. Read

    'Anima' – food waste tableware by Kosuke Araki

    Beautiful vessels crafted from food waste and traditional Japanese lacquer
  4. Read

    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
  5. Read

    Dealing and dealers: the East Asia collection
  6. Read

    Kimono

    Discover the rich symbolism in traditional Japanese dress
  7. Read

    Lolita fashion: Japanese street style

    Sweet, punk or gothic?
  8. Watch

    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
  9. Read

    Japanese woodblock prints (ukiyo-e)

    Known as 'ukiyo-e', these hugely popular woodblock prints depict everyday life in Japan during the Edo period
  10. Download

    Make your own: Japanese 'Boro' bag

    Follow our step-by-step guide to create your own Japanese style 'boro' bag
  11. Watch

    Conservation of a Japanese palanquin

    Follow V&A Conservators as they treat an elaborately decorated Japanese palanquin in our collection
  12. Read

    Japan's encounter with Europe, 1573 – 1853

    The first Europeans to arrive in Japan did so by accident rather than design
  13. Interact

    Kimono for a courtesan?

    Explore the theatrical motif on this highly decorative outer kimono
  14. Watch

    Styling the kimono: Akira Times

    Meet Akira Times, a contemporary kimono image maker in a panda hat
  15. Watch

    Kimono inspired by the 'street': Jotaro Saito

    Discover how kimono designer, Jotaro Saito, blends 'street' inspired patterns with traditional techniques

  16. Watch

    How was it made? Japanese hikihaku obi

    See the traditional technique of weaving with metallic thread

  17. Watch

    Yohji Yamamoto: Poet of Black

    Hear from enigmatic fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto as he talks about his career and design values
  18. Watch

    How was it made? Tsuba

    See how a Japanese sword guard is made
  19. Watch

    In search of forgotten colours – Sachio Yoshioka and the art of natural dyeing

    Step inside the dye workshop
  20. Watch

    Deconstructing samurai armour: ASMR

    Removing the helmet and untying intricate knots – watch as the 18th century piece is dismantled
  21. Watch

    Dyeing Japanese handmade paper: ASMR

    Watch an expert at work

Collection highlights

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  1. chest
    The Mazarin Chest, about 1640, Japan
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  2. inro, netsuke and ojime
    Inro, netsuke and ojime, about 1850 – 1900, Japan
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  3. suit of armour
    Suit of armour in Haramaki style, about 1850, Japan
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  4. netsuke
    Netsuke, by Rakueisai, about 1850 – 1900, Japan
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  5. kimono
    (Back) Kimono, 1860 – 1880, Japan
    V&A South Kensington
    Not on display
  6. woodblock print
    The Great Wave, woodblock print, by Katsushika Hokusai, about 1831, Japan
    On loan
  7. dress
    Invitation dress, designed by Kumiko Uehara and Baby the Stars Shine Bright (BSSB), 21st century, Japan
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  8. sculpture
    Covered Vessel no. 7, sculpture, by Kenji Gomi, 2012, Toki, Japan
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  9. basket
    AUN II, basket, by Tanabe Shochiku, 2014, Sakai, Japan
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  10. television
    JVC Videosphere, television, manufactured by JVC Ltd, 1970, Japan
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  11. mask
    Ryo-O, mask, 1450 – 1550, Japan
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  12. sculpture
    OO-IX, sculpture, by Shigeki Hayashi, 2013, Toki, Japan
    Young V&A
    On display

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High-quality, made-to-order art prints taken from the V&A’s archives

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