Ukiyo-e Exhibits Bring Edo to Life at Tokyo Museum

The erekiteru, Japan’s oldest electrostatic generator, now owned by the Postal Museum, Tokyo, was invented by Hiraga Gennai, a scientist and author who had connections to Tsutaya. (© Nippon.com)

Illustrations for Shiohi no Tsuto (Ravicz Collection, Chiba City Museum of Art) (top) and Utamakura (owned by Uragami Sokyudō, Tokyo) by Kitagawa Utamaro. (© Nippon.com)

Three Famous Beauties by Kitagawa Utamaro (Hiraki Ukiyo-e Foundation, Tokyo). (© Nippon.com)

Ōtani Oniji III as Edobei and Ichikawa Omezō I as Yakko Ippei by Tōshūsai Sharaku (both belonging to the Tokyo National Museum). (© Nippon.com)

A recreation of the Yoshiwara Main Gate in the entrance area of the museum. (© Nippon.com)

Video imagery and life-size sets give visitors an immersive experience into Edo life. (© Nippon.com)

The popular themed plush in the museum shop. (© Nippon.com)

Kusama Yayoi’s bold series of Mount Fuji prints. (© Nippon.com)

Works by multi-creator Yokoo Tadanori. (© Nippon.com)

Shiota Chiharu’s spatial art uses countless threads to express being “connected with the universe.” (© Nippon.com)

Rokkaku Ayako’s distinct technique of using her fingertips as the paintbrush lends a gentle yet master’s touch to her work. (© Nippon.com)

Paintings by Kitano Takeshi are also on display. (© Nippon.com)

Yamaguchi Akira’s paintings depicting famous places blending Edo and Tokyo. (© Nippon.com)

Anno Moyoco’s famous courtesan recreated into an ōkubie portrait (center picture). (© Nippon.com)

Popular Umezu Kazuo characters remade into ukiyo-e. (© Nippon.com)

Works by the manga artists Kōno Fumiyo and Ikeda Riyoko are also on display. (© Nippon.com)

Surrounded by LED monitors, become immersed in exploring beauty that transcends time and space. (© Nippon.com)