The Yamatane Museum of Art houses a private collection of modern artworks by Japanese artists. Founded by the ex-chairman of the Yamatane Art Foundation, Yamazaki Tomiji, the collection includes traditional Japanese arts including ‘ukiyo-e’, ‘nihonga’ and textiles – including works deemed of ‘national cultural significance’ along with contemporary works by active artists.
Located in the Shibuya area of Tokyo, the museum was founded in 1966 by Yamazaki due to his deep passion for preserving and promoting traditional Japanese art. The museum houses over 1,800 works of art, and features famous artists such as Yokoyama Taikan, Takeuchi Seihō, and Kawai Gyokudō.
The museum combines two exhibition spaces for its permanent collection and special exhibits – holding between five to six each year - with a focus on the natural world including possession of several artworks by renowned painter Higashiyama Kaii. As such, the museum provides an insight into the relationship between the Japanese mind and the natural world, through depictions of landscapes and wildlife seen in many of the paintings.