Exhibition

Current Exhibition

The Beloved Gods and Buddhas of Northeastern Japan

The Beloved Gods and Buddhas of Northeastern Japan

Saturday, December 2, 2023 – Monday, February 12, 2024

*Tickets can be purchased from HERE

Since the Edo period (17-mid-19th c.), statues of Buddha and deities have been enshrined in private homes and small shrines as objects of humble prayer for the people of Michinoku, who live in a harsh climate. These folk Buddhist statues were carved not by Buddhist priests but by carpenters and woodworkers, and are characterized by their unique forms and simple expressions. This exhibition introduces approximately 130 wooden statues from the northern Tohoku region of Aomori, Iwate, and Akita, and offers opportunity to think about the form of Japanese religious beliefs.