Japanese art and culture provide an ideal discursive space where new ideas and core issues can be developed. The dynamism and productivity that characterise Japanese art and its study, and the increased interfacing with global trends in art provide fertile ground for innovative new approaches to the understanding of art in a global context. The Sainsbury Institute is undertaking targeted explorations in Japanese art history that uncover what is happening in terms of broad human cultural evolution and aspirations. The Sainsbury Institute is uniquely positioned to contribute to these emerging debates through its networks and projects.