Visiting Shunga exhibition, Autumn 2015.

 It's widely believed that the Japanese had recognized sex matters more openly before they introduced Western education, including ethic. And this Shunga Exbition, held in Tokyo until 23 December 2015, might support the point. In a warm morning of October, I visited it by bicycle. The exhibition focusing on Shunga, which is the traditional pictures of sex and pleasure, is actually the first time to be held in Japan. "We all admit its value and beauty, yet it was so hard to find a place to exhibit" The organizer mentioned in a panel hung in the museum. "Almost all the museums kindly rejected our proposal, seemed to avoid getting in trouble"
Considering the current situation of how we think about sex, I wasn't surprised to hear it. In my view, the problem wasn't whether it was too sexual, it was how they regard it: showing private issue like sex in public. Is it embarrassing? Well, let's go visit and find out :)

 I was amazed that was restricted under 18-year-old, I definitely have never seen any other exhibition under the rule. Taking photos were prohibited in the entire place, of course, so I apologized not to be able to show some. I felt it wasn't that sexual, but more like great pieces of the traditional art. And I found so many women, young and elder alike, looked closely at each drawing. I noticed how Shunga helped develop the techniques of drawing. It was once prohibited from publishing in 1722, which was the period of the Edo-era, and because they kept drawing and publishing it outside the rule, they no longer had to follow any regulation, hence they could express and created the latest ways of drawing at that time. That’s why Shunga is sometimes said the supreme art in Japan.
 Thankfully, the organizer has announced they change the whole works during the term, which means I have another chance to visit as a first-timer. I’m sure I’ll be back :)
 Okay, let’s have a lunch at a park next to the museum, then why don’t we take a walk? :)

Just walking 10 minutes or so, there is a wooden garden belonged to a hotel. It’s my favorite place to take a rest whenever I come close to the area. A red tiny bridge and narrow trails here and there, and gorgeous interior once you step into the hotel. Oh, you don’t have to get permission, just pretend to be a guest ;)  After taking another break at a café, let’s get back!