Up close, hands on!
Multimedia installations offer interactive insights into the legendary world of the Samurai bringing this fascinating era to life. An interactive 3D model guides you through the history of Japan. Projections, touchscreens and laser scanners accompany you through the exhibition. Anime? Gaming? Manga? Allow the historical role models of “Star Wars, Naruto and One Piece” to inspire you. From sword forging techniques to the mysterious masks – history comes to life in an exciting way. Over 900 historical objects from the world’s most important private collection in japanese Saumari art await your discovery.
Demons and Ninja
Yōkai, also known as mononoke, are part of Japanese folklore and can be compared to demons. They have different characteristics, strengths and weaknesses. Accompanied by the fox Kitsune, you can find their traces and stories in the museum. How many tails can Kitsune get and why? He will ask you a question about numerous objects in the exhibition – do you know the answers? Stroke Kitsune’s neck on the info screen – how does he react? The Yōkaigame in the movie theater will give you more clues. Who can find the ghosts in the exhibition? In the ninja area, we show you the equipment and techniques of the secretive spies. Shinobi – we know them as ninja – were hired by the samurai as community agents and saboteurs. Can you move as silently?
Japanese theater, teahouse and drumming demonstrations
The historic Nō Theater and the teahouse were made in Japan using traditional materials and techniques, transported to Berlin and rebuilt by Japanese craftsmen in Berlin. A wooden construction without screws or a nail – how is that possible? Why was it built like this in Japan? On the stage, you can experience holographic samurai plays or drum performances every 30 minutes. The tea house offers you the rare opportunity to gain an insight into the Japanese tea ceremony. What are the special features of tea bowls from Japan?
Peter Janssen Collection
White-laced gomai dō armour, Early to mid-Edo period (17th – 18th century). Mask signed: Myōchin Nagato no Kami Ki no. This exceptionally fine armour is a representative example of the types of armour made for wealthy patrons.
Mizusashi (freshwater containter) of the Iga type yaburebukuro, lit. ‘bursted bag’, ca. 1600. In the style of Furuta Oribe (1544-1615), tea master of the second imperial unifier of Japan Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598) and made in the Iga kilns, one of Japan’s six ancient kilns (rokkoyō) active till this day.
Gold-lacquered saddle and stirrups with phoenix motif. Edo period (1615-1868). The saddle and stirrups are made of wood, which is lacquered in gold nashiji, a technique resulting in a coat of lacquer that resembles the skin of a pear (nashi).
Bergamot – yuzu, dating late Muromachi to Momoyama period. Artist: Umetada Mitsutada. The sword guard (tsuba) shows two branches of the citrus fruit bergamot (yuzu) on the front and back respectively; the fruits are depicted with large leaves with strong contour lines.
Armour with embossed ironwork Edo period (18th – 19th century). Signed by Myōchin Munesuke. This elaborately decorated armour is an excellent example of the embossed ironwork that was produced for the wealthy samurai of high rank.
Nō mask of the type shojo, 20th century. Despite its innocent expression reminiscent of a young man’s face, this shojo mask belongs to the demonic type, kijin. This visualisation of a cheerful sea spirit goes back to Chinese folklore, with adaptations not only on the nō and kyōgen stages, but also in kabuki theatre.
GREAT BATTLE BETWEEN THE TROOPS OF THE FISHES AND THE VEGETABLES, 1859. Artist: Utagawa Hirokage. The woodblock print shows an unusual battle. The triptych gathers a lively selection of of fish and fruit and vegetables in samurai armour. Satire was often used to circumvent censorship and address social and political issues.
Bamen helmet, Edo period (17th century). Signed by Bamen Tomotsugu. This extraordinary, ridged helmet bowl (suji kabuto bachi) is made of 136 iron plates with a russet iron finish.
Full mask of a crow tengu, Early Edo period. This full face mask (sōmen), made of finely forged and patinated iron, has a striking crow-like shaped nose (karasu) resembling the mystical birdlike creature, the tengu.
“Katō Kiyomasa Kills a Tiger in Korea”, Edo period / Meiji period. Signed by Kawada Shōryō (1824-1898). The painting tells the legendary story of the samurai warrior Katō Kiyomasa (1562-1611). He killed a tiger in Korea during the seven-year Imjin War (1592-1598), the Japanese invasion of the Korean Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).
“Komainu”, wood. By the early Heian period (794-1185), the general term komainu referred to two paired and standardized lion-dogs: the a-gyō (open-mouthed) lion dog is placed on the right and its un-gyō (closed-mouthed) counterpart on the left.