Issue 23 Summer 2018

Dear Friends,  Welcome to our Summer 2018 e-magazine. In this edition, we have exciting reports on projects led by our Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Fellows who are all wrapping up their fellowship research with us and preparing for their exciting onward journeys. We are delighted to feature Durham University’s Oriental Museum and introduce exhibitions on […]

Museums with Japanese Art

From Kamakura to Cosplay: The development of the Japanese collection at the Oriental Museum, Durham University Oriental languages have been taught at Durham University since the University was founded in 1832. This excellence was recognised after the Second World War when Durham was selected as one of five British universities to be developed as a […]

Japanese Art Exhibitions outside of Japan

Japanese art exhibitions worth catching this summer With longer days and more beautiful sunshine to be enjoyed, summer brings a lot of reasons to head out including seeing great exhibitions on Japanese art. Just as summer months can lift moods, I believe art can also restore our inner energy. How exciting then that this summer […]

Behind the Scenes

As you read this latest issue of our e-magazine, we will be preparing for a busy season of summer schools and other events. Our fifth cohort of students, mainly from central and eastern Europe, will be in Norwich for our fifth Japan Orientation summer school, generously funded by the Toshiba International Foundation. No sooner do they depart […]

Fellows and their Research

Jungeun Lee on the narrative of display I came as a Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Fellowship to the Sainsbury Institute immediately after completing my doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh in spring 2017. Here, I have been able to focus on writing a book manuscript and articles while sharing my research with Japanese specialists and […]

Research Highlights

Quarterly Research Update Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, 1865 The past three months saw a buzzing array of activities led by our three Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Fellows for this academic year. Our Third Thursday Lectures for April, May and June were delivered by Dr Amanda Kennell, Dr Stephanie Su and Dr Jungeun Lee […]

Treasures of the Library: Sumo prints

Many of the Cortazzi ukiyo-e collection held at the Sainsbury Institute are Yokohama-e, or prints depicting non-Japanese foreigners. There are, however, some unique exceptions including Sumo-e or prints depicting sumo wrestlers. Sumo, as familiar to many, is a wrestling match that takes place on a dohyō mound. Two rotund yet herculean rikishi wrestlers battle out strength by […]