For the First Time in Kyushu, Treasures from the Trousseau of a Daimyo’s Daughter
　The National Treasure Hatsune Trousseau is housed at the Tokugawa Art Museum in Nagoya, Aichi. These are the wedding furnishings made to order for Princess Chiyo, the eldest daughter of Iemitsu, the 3rd shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate. She received them in 1639 upon her betrothal to Mitsutomo, the 2nd head of the Owari branch of the Tokugawa family.
　The name of this trousseau comes from the patterns adorning many of its pieces. Their subject matter is derived from chapter 23, Hatsune (“The First Warbler”) in the Heian-period classic, The Tale of Genji. These lavishly crafted pieces employ the pinnacle of maki-e lacquer techniques, in which wet lacquer is sprinkled with gold or silver powder. This splendid set stands out as a crowning achievement in the history of Japanese lacquer art.
　For our 14th installment of this Special Display, we will show 3 pieces from the National Treasure Hatsune Trousseau. These include a mirror stand and kombu seaweed box depicting scenes from Hatsune, as well as an obi sash box featuring a scene from chapter 24 of the same work, titled Kochō (“Butterflies”). In conjunction with our Special Exhibition, The Story of Hirado: Exploring the Passions of Matsura Seizan and Hiromu, we will also display bridal furnishings handed down in the Matsura family of Hirado, Nagasaki.
　Come and ring in the New Year with our Special Display of this dazzling bridal trousseau!

Exhibition Period:
1 January (Thu) – 25 January (Sun) 2026

Venue:
Room 9, Cultural Exchange Exhibition Hall (Floor 4)

Tickets
Adults	700 yen
University students	350 yen
High school students, under-18s, and over-70s	Free

* For further details on ticket prices, please refer to this page.

Leaflet

Highlights

Tokugawa Museum Collection
© Tokugawa Art Museum/DNP Art Communications

National Treasure
Hatsune maki-e mirror stand

Dated 1639
Tokugawa Art Museum, Aichi

Tokugawa Museum Collection
© Tokugawa Art Museum/DNP Art Communications

National Treasure
Hatsune maki-e kombu box

Dated 1639
Tokugawa Art Museum, Aichi

Tokugawa Museum Collection
© Tokugawa Art Museum/DNP Art Communications

National Treasure
Kochō maki-e obi box

Dated 1639
Tokugawa Art Museum, Aichi

Maki-e grooming stand with scattered plum crests and peony scrolls

Dated 1808
Matsura Historical Museum, Nagasaki

Maki-e handled bowl and cylindrical base with scattered plum crests and peony scrolls

Dated 1808
Matsura Historical Museum, Nagasaki

Maki-e mirror box and stand with scattered plum blossom crests

Dated 1808
Matsura Historical Museum, Nagasaki

Event
(Please note that it will be held in Japanese only.)

No registration required; first-come, first-served

Museum Talk:
All About the HATSUNE Maki-e Trousseau

Date:

14 January 2026 (Wed) 15:00-15:30

Venue:

Room 9, Cultural Exchange Exhibition Hall (Floor 4), Kyushu National Museum

Speaker:

Ms. Kawabata Keiko (Head of the Special Exhibitions Section, Planning Division, Kyushu National Museum)

Admission:

FREE (*an entrance ticket to the Cultural Exchange Exhibition Hall is required)