The world-renowned Japanese classic, The Tale of Genji, is being celebrated in a unique and immersive exhibition in Tokyo this winter. Running from September 25, 2024, to January 13, 2025, this event offers visitors an extraordinary opportunity to explore the cultural significance and enduring appeal of what is often considered the world’s first novel.

Learn the History of “The Tale of Genji”

Authored by Murasaki Shikibu during Japan’s Heian period (794–1185), The Tale of Genji is a romantic and philosophical narrative centered around the life and loves of the eponymous Prince Genji. Originally preserved as a manuscript accessible only to the court and aristocracy, this literary gem was a privilege of the elite for centuries.

The Edo period (1603–1868) marked a turning point for the story’s reach. The advent of print media democratized access to The Tale of Genji, making it widely available to the common people of Edo, which we now know as Tokyo. This transformation played a pivotal role in cementing its place as a Japanese cultural treasure and a work of global significance.

Exhibition Details

Venue: P&P Gallery

Location: Toppan Koishikawa Bldg., 1-3-3 Suido, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8531

Schedule: Sep 25 (Wed) 2024-Jan 13 (Mon) 2025

Closed: Mondays, October 15, November 5, December 28-January 5, 2025; *Open, however, on October 14, November 4, January 13, 2025

Hours: 10:00 – 18:00 (final admission: 17:30)

Fee: Adults ¥500; University Students ¥300; High School Students ¥200; Junior High School Students and Under, Seniors 70 & Over free.

More Information: https://www.printing-museum.org/en/collection/exhibition/p20240925.php