Projects Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Our Opening
Special Exhibition Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Kyushu National
Museum
Kyuhaku’s Beautiful Bounty: Kyushu’s National Treasures
5 July (Sat) – 31 August (Sun) 2025
National Treasures related to Kyushu and Okinawa will be displayed with selected
masterpieces from our collection.
Featured Exhibition Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Kyushu National
Museum
Vision of the Kyushu Museum in the Meiji Era: The Inaugural Dazaifu Expositions and
Chinzei Museum Plans
21 October (Tue) – 30 November (Sun) 2025
The annual Dazaifu Expositions (held from 1873 to 1875) and the proposed plans to build
Chinzei Museum are milestones leading to the founding of the Kyushu National Museum.
Events Promoting Local Attractions
Designated Intangible Cultural Heritage performances from various parts of Kyushu will be held at museum events where we will introduce local tourism and regional specialties.
Facility Improvements for a More Comfortable Environment
For greater comfort and ease in visiting us, renovations are underway in the Special Exhibition Hall (Floor 3), and the Rainbow Tunnel platform lift is being converted to a diagonal elevator. Thanks to the support of the Kyushu National Museum Promotion Foundation, the museum theater on the Floor 4 Exhibition Hall is also being refurbished.
Kyushu National Museum 20th Anniversary Commemorative Logo

Concept
The logo is inspired by Kyushu National Museum's Cultural Exchange Exhibition Hall, whose
theme is “Ocean Ways, Asian Paths”. The logo incorporates an image of the museum façade
with the number 20, marking our 20th anniversary.
Double lines symbolize the encounters of various people and cultures. Colored blue for
the sea and green for the land, the gradation of this logo expresses the important role
that the ancient capital of Dazaifu has played as a hub for cultural exchange between
Japan and the rest of Asia.
Color variations


Celebrating Our 20th Anniversary Special Exhibitions

Special Exhibition Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Kyushu National Museum
Kyuhaku’s Beautiful Bounty: Kyushu's National Treasures
5 July (Sat) – 31 August (Sun) 2025
This Special Exhibition, commemorating the 20th anniversary of Kyushu National Museum, shines a spotlight on treasures passed down through the generations in Kyushu and Okinawa, as well as at our museum. Highlights include the designated National Treasures associated with both regions and masterpieces from our own collection.

National Treasure
Materials Related to the Ryukyu Royal Shō Family
White Bingata cotton robe decorated with peonies, long-tailed fowl and
irises in a stream
Second Shō dynasty–Meiji era, 18th–19th century
Naha City Museum of History, Okinawa

National Treasure
Gilt-bronze stirrups from the Miyajidake tumulus, Fukuoka
Kofun period, 7th century, Miyajidake Shrine, Fukuoka

National Treasure
Tachi sword signed “Yasu-e”
Heian period, 12th century, Kyoto National Museum

Important Cultural Property
(L) Seated statue of a male deity, (R) Seated statue of a female deity
(Both) Heian period, 12th century, Kyushu National Museum
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Designation of the Warrior in Keikō Armor as a National Treasure & Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Kyushu National Museum, the 100th Anniversary of NHK Broadcasting and the 90th Anniversary of Asahi Shimbun West Head Office
Haniwa: Tomb Sculptures of Japan
21 January (Tue) – 11 May (Sun) 2025
Haniwa are unglazed clay figures lined up in kofun, the ancient burial mounds of kings. About 120 of these treasures, gathered from all over Japan, will be on display at this exhibition commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the National Treasure Designation of the Warrior in Keikō Armor, as well as the 20th Anniversary of Kyushu National Museum.

National Treasure
Haniwa Warrior in Keikō Armor
From Ōta, Gunma, Kofun period, 6th century, Tokyo National Museum

Important Cultural Property
Haniwa Deer
From the Hiradokoro haniwa kiln site, Shimane
Kofun period, 6th century, Shimane Prefectural Board of Education
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Kyushu National Museum, the 100th Anniversary of NHK Broadcasting and the 150th Anniversary of the Yomiuri Shimbun
Hōnen and Pure Land Buddhism
7 October (Tue) – 30 November (Sun) 2025
Hōnen was a Buddhist monk who founded Jōdo-shū, the Pure Land sect, in Japan. In the late Heian period (794–1185), he preached that anyone who chanted Namu Amida Butsu would be reborn in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. His teachings gave hope to those who lived during difficult times. Showcasing several masterpieces, our monumental exhibition offers visitors an overview tracing 850 years of the art and history of the Pure Land sect.

National Treasure
Welcoming Descent of Amitabha and 25 Bodhisattvas, known as Haya Raigō
Kamakura period, 14th century, Chion-in Temple, Kyoto
Display period: First half of the exhibition, 7 October (Tue)–2 November (Sun)

Standing Amitabha Buddha, known as Mikaeri Amida (Amitabha Looking Back)
Kamakura period, 13th century, Zenkō-ji Temple, Yamagata
Special Exhibition Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Kyushu National Museum
The Story of Hirado: Exploring the Passions of Matsura Seizan and Hiromu
20 January (Tue) – 15 March (Sun) 2026
During the Edo period (1603–1868), the Matsuura family served as lords of the Hirado domain in present-day Nagasaki Prefecture. This exhibition shines a spotlight on two of them, Matsura Seizan and his son, Hiromu. Their passions and backgrounds are explored through the items that father and son collected and passed down through the generations. Experience the depth of thoughts and feelings behind this collection.

Three Friends
by Naitō Narimasa, inscribed by Satō Issai
Edo period, dated 1839, Matsūra Historical Museum, Nagasaki

Matsura Hiromu
by Ide Toshiyasu, inscribed by Matsura Hiromu
Edo period, dated 1833, Matsūra Historical Museum, Nagasaki
Cultural Exchange Exhibition Hall

Featured Exhibition Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Kyushu National Museum
Vision of the Kyushu Museum in the Meiji Era: The Inaugural Dazaifu Expositions and Chinzei Museum Plans
21 October (Tue) – 30 November (Sun) 2025
This exhibition introduces significant milestones leading to the founding of Kyushu National
Museum. These include the Dazaifu Expositions held in 1873, 1874 and 1875, as well as plans for
the Chinzei Museum.
Works displayed at these Expositions, along with other valuable artifacts, trace the history of
the movement to open our museum in Dazaifu.

Catalog of Exhibits at the Dazaifu Exposition
1873 (excerpt), Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, Fukuoka

Demon mask
18th century, Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, Fukuoka
Featured Exhibition Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Kyushu National Museum
Toyotomi Hideyoshi and East Asian Diplomacy (working title)
27 January (Tue) – 8 March (Sun) 2026
Provoked by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Imjin War (1592-98) was a series of invasions of Korea that enmeshed the rest of East Asia. With a focus on the diplomatic letters and gifts exchanged between Hideyoshi and the countries in East Asia during this period, we aim to shed light on Hideyoshi’s battle strategies, as well as the responses of these countries.

Saga Pref. Designated Cultural Property
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
16th–17th century, Saga Prefectural Nagoya Castle Museum

Important Cultural Property
Letter of appointment issued in Joseon
Dated 1594, Kyushu National Museum
Featured Exhibition Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Kyushu National Museum
The Glittering Ko-Imari of the Ogōri Country Club Collection (working title)
8 April (Tues) – 6 July (Sun) 2025
The Ogōri Country Club Collection, one of the leading Ko-Imari collections in Japan, was donated to Kyushu National Museum in 2018. Masterpieces from our collection will introduce the charms of this exquisite porcelain, treasured throughout the Edo period (1603–1868) by European royalty and nobility as well as wealthy Japanese patrons.

Lidded jar with lion and peony motifs in overglaze enamels
Imari (Arita), late 17th–early 18th century
Kyushu National Museum (donated by Ogōri Country Club)

Wide-mouthed bottle with phoenix and peony motifs in overglaze enamels
Imari (Arita), late 17th–early 18th century
Kyushu National Museum (donated by Ogōri Country Club)
Featured Exhibition Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Kyushu National Museum
Hands-on History! Secrets of the Real Thing 2025
8 July (Tue) – 15 September (Mon) 2025
When looking at cultural artifacts on display in museums, do you ever wonder, “How did they make that? How does it feel when I touch that thing?" Visitors are invited to explore the secrets of our cultural properties by touching original artifacts and their replicas. Get in touch with Japan’s long history!

Bronze mirror with imaginary beasts and grapevine scrolls
China, Tang dynasty, 8th century, Kyushu National Museum

Important Cultural Property
Ridge-end tile depicting a demon’s face in relief (replica)
Original: Dazaifu Government Office ruins, Fukuoka
Autumn Tour Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Kyushu National Museum
Seeking Sweetness (working title)
7 October (Tue) – 21 December (Sun) 2025
Go around the different exhibition rooms in search of works of art representing tasty treats! Sweets and sweetness-themed arts and crafts, archaeological and historical artifacts related to confectionery and sugar will be on display.
Facility Improvements・Events

Facility Improvements
For our 20th anniversary, the Special Exhibition Hall (Floor 3) and the Rainbow Tunnel lifts are being refurbished. With the support of the Kyushu National Museum Promotion Foundation, the theater in the Cultural Exchange Exhibition Hall (Floor 4) is also being renovated.

Renovating the interior of the wall-supported case

(Reference) Diagonal elevator at Nakatsu Station, Oita
Events
We will host performances of Kyushu's UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage, along with events introducing local tourism and regional specialties from around Kyushu.