All Porcelain, All the Time: The Toguri Museum of Art
Alice Gordenker
You wouldn't find it unless you were looking for it, but nestled away among embassies in an upscale neighborhood of Tokyo is a museum housing one of the world's best collections of old Japanese porcelain. Just a 15-minute walk from the bustle of Shibuya Station, the Toguri Museum of Art nevertheless feels a world apart, with quiet galleries and a small but lovely traditional garden. more...
Bronzes Right at Home: The Asakura Museum of Sculpture
Michael Pronko
Fumio Asakura (1883-1964) was a leading figure in modern Japanese sculpture. A visit to the museum that occupies the building where he lived and worked is a delight after its recent restoration. The space is so vibrant that one feels as if Asakura is still there, talking about art, showing his recent works, and guiding you around his marvelous hybrid Western-Japanese residence. more...
November in Nishiogi: A Townful of Art
Alan Gleason
The neighborhood around Nishiogikubo station, on the Chuo Line about 15 minutes west of Shinjuku, has long been a hangout for artists, writers, and other bohemian types. In my nearly 14 years of residence here, the variety of small privately-owned businesses (nary a Starbucks in sight) and do-it-yourself cultural events within walking distance have always ensured that there is never a dull moment. more...
