Art Platform Japan

Art Platform Japan is a new online resource for information on contemporary Japanese art. The goal of this bilingual platform developed by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs is to help global audiences learn more about artists in Japan and their works. The site, which will continue to be expanded, currently contains information on contemporary art at 85 museums around Japan and around 70,000 items. By March 2023, the database will grow to cover more than 200 museums and 100,000 items, and more than 100 texts will have been selected for translation, to be published online as they are completed.

As much of this information was previously unavailable in English, the website opens new opportunities for global audiences to learn more about contemporary art from Japan. Currently in its beta version, the site includes a searchable database of museum collections, translations of books and essays on contemporary Japanese art, and programs such as workshops and webinars. A recent series considers contemporary art after the coronavirus. Mori Art Museum Director Mami Kataoka, who chaired the project, remarks: “I sincerely hope that, along with its continued upkeep, the website will allow access to valuable information without physical travel and will become an important foundation in maintaining contemporary Japanese art’s connection to this vast world and its long history.”