tobunkennews digest no.9 tobunken news · of the arts), in cooperation with mr. hayashida ryuta at...

The Center for Conservation Science andRestoration Techniques has been remov-ing the wall paintings of Kitora Tumulus

as part of a project called the Investigation onConservation for special historic site KitoraTumulus, commissioned by the Agency forCultural Affairs. We had aimed to complete theremoval of the paintings in the next spring termfollowing the intensive removal in the springand autumn of 2009. However, we removed allplaster from the stone chamber walls during thisterm earlier than the planned schedule (autumn2010). This work was attributed to the profi-ciency of the engineers in removal, as well as tothe development and improvement of themachines, tools and materials promoted by theNational Research Institute for CulturalProperties, Tokyo. The work in the stone cham-ber was finished in a series of conservation proj-ects of the wall Paintings in Kitora Tumulus,starting with the removal of Seiryu (blue dragon)on east wall in 2004. We will begin treating andmaunting the wall paintings in the conservationfacility.

TOBUNKENNEWS DIGEST no.9

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TOBUNKENNational Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo13-43 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo, 110-8713 JAPAN http://www.tobunken.go.jp

N E W S DIGESTno.9

Completed Removal of the Wall Paintings in Kitora TumulusBy Hayakawa Noriko, Center for Conservation Science and Restoration Techniques

Survey on Yamaji (Mountain Road) Painted by Yokoyama TaikanBy Shioya Jun, Department of Research Programming

stored by Eisei-Bunko Museum and deposited byKumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art). It is animportant piece in which Taikan heavily usedY

okoyama Taikan, a giant of modernJapanese-style paintings, painted Yamajiwhen he was 43 years old (in 1911,

Inside the stone chamber with all plaster walls removed

relief lacquerwork) and lacquer (urushi) coatingin the main shrine of Tsukubusuma-jinja. Themain shrine of Tsukubusuma-jinja, located on


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the “touches”, a reputed technique consisting ofthe blending of the Western impressionistschool and the Southern school of Chinesepainting at the time the piece was made public.It was the vanguard of the 'new Nanga-stylepainting', prevalent in the Taisho Period,escaped from the hazy style attempted byTaikan in the Meiji 30's. In addition, Mr. AraiKei (Tokyo University of the Arts) recentlypointed out that Yamaji likely used mineral pig-ments, which were new at that time. Thispainting is thus noteworthy even when examin-ing the materials used in Japanese style paint-ings during the era.

On the occasion of the restoration of Yamaji,the Eisei-Bunko Museum, which owns thepainting, and our Institute will begin jointresearch, conducting many-sided investigationalstudies with Mr. Miyake Hidekazu of theMuseum. To start with, on October 10, we con-

ducted near-infrared reflectance photographyand qualitative analysis using the fluorescent X-ray analysis method at the KumamotoPrefectural Museum of Art where Yamaji hasbeen deposited. This was done together withMr. Arai mentioned above, Mr. Taira Yuichiroand Ms. Ogawa Ayako (both, Tokyo Universityof the Arts), in cooperation with Mr. HayashidaRyuta at the Kumamoto Prefectural Museum ofArt. The result of research revealed that Yamajiconsisted of an abundant amount of modernpigments, which are different from conventionalpigments. The restoration will continue for aperiod of one year. We will gather the obtainedsurvey results; the progression status of therestoration, and various types of informationthat include reviews from the time the work wasmade public. We would like to release suchitems publicly as fundamental materials.

Survey on Deterioration of Maki-e and Lacquer (Urushi) Coating in theMain Shrine of Tsukubusuma-jinja

By Kitano Nobuhiko, Center for Conservation Science and Restoration Techniques

The Center for Conservation Science andRestoration Techniques has been inves-tigating the deterioration of maki-e (gold-

Fluorescent X-ray analysis of "Yamaji" painted by Yokoyama Taikan


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the Chikubujima isle in Lake Biwa, Shiga, is oneof the buildings which represents theMomoyama culture. It is said that part of thepalace of the Fushimi Castle was brought to thisisle and reassembled to become a shrine. It isfamous for the lacquer (urushi) coated columnsand beams running between columns, on whichthe paulownia and chrysanthemum crests andpatterns of flowers and birds were decoratedusing maki-e techniques and the full-colorwoodcarving on the walls of nave (gejin) anddoors. As 75 years have already passed since thelast repairs were made, damage to the roof andcoating is noticeable. Furthermore, decorationusing gorgeous maki-e techniques inside the

building, which is highly ranked together withthat in the Koudaiji Otamaya in Kyoto, has seri-ously deteriorated, and has become problematicamong the individuals concerned. Therefore, theCenter cooperated with the repairs currentlybeing promoted by the Shiga prefectural educa-tion board and Tsukubusuma-jinja, and con-ducted basic research to identify the cause of thedeterioration phenomena, and then made inves-tigation to prevent deterioration within the spe-cial environment of Lake Biwa. We will makeuse of the achievements obtained on this occa-sion in order to conserve the valuable maki-eand lacquer (urushi) coating of the main shrineof Tsukubusuma-jinja in the best state possible.

Observation the maki-e and lacquer (urushi) coating of the main shrine of Tsukubusuma-jinja

Observation of deteriorated maki-e portion by magnifying it


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The National Research Institute forCultural Properties, Tokyo and theArchaeological Survey of India (ASI) con-

duct joint research on the conservation of thewall paintings of the Ajanta Caves, under the

framework of the Exchange Program ofInternational Cooperation of Cultural Heritagecommissioned by the Agency for CulturalAffairs and the government subsidized budgetfor the Cooperative Project for the Conservation

Condition assesment of wall paintings

(right shrine of Ajanta Cave 2)Cleaning trial of black accretion

(right wall of right shrine of Ajanta Cave 2)

Conservation of Wall Paintings of the Ajanta Caves Research Project -Overview of the 5th Mission Report

By Suzuki Tamaki, Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation

Survey at Joshibi University of Art and Design Museum (JAM)By Kikuchi Riyo, Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage

As part of joint research at the JointResearch Center for Fashion andClothing Culture, we surveyed the tex-

tiles at JAM on July 12, 2010. This jointresearch started in November 2008, aiming toclarify the relationship between the Mitsui-fami-ly descendent short-sleeved (kosode) kimonoowned by the Bunka Gakuen Costume Museumand the associated Maruyama-school costumedesign. We conducted the detailed survey on theshort-sleeved kimonos, which were in the pos-session of the now-defunct Kanebo Ltd. and nowowned by JAM, focusing on those similar to theMitsui-family descendent kosode, including thetechniques, design and tailoring. We willadvance a close investigation on the findings

Survey at Joshibi Art Museum

obtained through the surveys, aiming at theissue of a report in next fiscal year.

In the framework of the Cooperation Projectfor the Rehabilitation of Earthquake-affectedCultural Heritage in the historic district of

Padang in West Sumatra, Indonesia, commis-


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Cooperating for the Reconstruction of the Historic Townscape of Padang,Indonesia

By Akieda Yumi Isabelle, Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation

sioned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, wehave been conducting activities to supportPadang. The city suffered severe damage fromthe earthquake of September 30, 2009. Our sup-

of Cultural Heritage in West Asia. We aim toshare knowledge on conservation and exchangeconservation techniques that are necessary forthis project.

The wall paintings of the Ajanta Caves havemany problems - the leaking of water fromcracks in the base rocks, biological damage, arti-ficial damage, and discoloration caused by pasttreatment and the deterioration of colored lay-ers. Noticeable things among these problems arethe blackened and whitened bat excrement andthe yellowed and darkened varnish (shellac,

PVAC) coated on the surfaces of wall paintings.We have currently not yet discovered any effec-tive methods that would lead to assured conser-vation. To overcome these problems, we con-ducted cleaning trial of the wall paintings ofCave 2 during this fifth mission (fromNovember 14 to December 4, 2010). Utilizingthe scientific analyses and documented dataaccumulated up until last year, we examinedappropriate conservation methods together withthe Indian conservation specialists.

The current state of registered buildings in the historic area.

A sound building, a repaired building, one left without intervention, one demolished with a fence installed (from left to right).


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port consists in integrating together with localbodies the protection and conservation of cultur-al heritage within the more general urban recon-struction process. As a first step in a series ofsurveys and activities to be executed untilFebruary 2011, we conducted a field survey onthe state of restoration of historic buildings andtwonscape from October 16 to 25.

In this survey, we recorded the current statusof the town one year after the earthquake, tak-ing the data of the damage assessment survey ofNovember 2009 (immediately after the earth-quake) as basis for comparison. Although therubble had been cleaned and the bustle of thetown had returned, the state of restoration ofthe buildings that make up the historic town-scape was varied. The number of registered her-itage buildings, whose restoration had advancedwas very limited, and many buildings were leftuntouched since the earthquake; some lots hadbeen cleared completely.

Japan Center for International Cooperation inConservation has been conducting theSafeguarding of the Bamiyan Site project

jointly with Ministry of Information andCulture, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan since2003. This year, we dispatched the 10th mis-sion from July 9 to 30 to conserve mural paint-ings and conduct archaeological investigations.

In the conservation of mural paintings, westarted work in caves C (a), C (b), D and D1which are adjacent to the East Giant Buddha.Damage caused by vandalization, objects beingcut out and sold, and graffiti by tourists wasespecially conspicuous in these easily accessiblefour caves. This year, we completed emergencytreatment of the mural paintings remaining incave C (a) and the veranda part of cave D. Thework in these four caves will continue for open-ing to the public from next year on.

Organizing materials of archeological objectsobtained in previous missions was conducted.These objects were discovered while makingtrial excavation investigations in different spots

In the discussions with the governor and thelocal organizations concerned, our understand-ing matched in that the protection of culturalheritage contributes to the reconstruction of thetown and that the cooperation of specialists,government and residents is important. We willthus continue working with local specialists,cooperating with the central, state and city gov-ernments. An on-site workshop on written cul-tural heritage is planned for November, andworkshops on historic buildings and townscapewill be held in December and January inPadang.

Immediately after our survey team returnedfrom its mission, an earthquake and tsunamihit West Sumatra again. Although Padang didnot seem to have suffered heavy damage, thisdisaster strengthened our desire to contribute tothe reconstruction of the town and the mainte-nance of a safe living environment through theprotection of cultural heritage.

and cleaning Buddhist caves, and are veryimportant materials that tell us about the histo-ry of the Bamiyan Valley. We also conducted apreliminary survey on the Shahr-e Zohak site, acandidate for excavation and investigation fromnext year on, and the spot where a castle isthought to have existed in the Bamiyan site.

Safeguarding of the Bamiyan Site Project - Overview of 10th missionBy Abe Masashi, Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation

A local conservator restoring a mural painting


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At the workshop

conservator from both Kazakhstan andTurkmenistan in Central Asia, two conservatorsfrom the Mural Restoration Laboratories at theState Hermitage Museum, Russia, and one con-servator from the Dun Huang Academy, China.Three trainees from the National Museum ofAntiquities of Tajikistan also participated in theworkshop. Using the mounting methodsimproved during this mission, all participantsexperienced all the processes of mounting wallpainting fragments on a new support.

During the mission, we completed the conser-vation treatment of six wall painting fragmentsamong those excavated from the Kala-i KahkahaI site, and exhibited them at the above Tajikmuseum. Three trainees from the NationalMuseum of Antiquities of Tajikistan learnedmethods for mounting wall painting fragmentsand the filling up of the lost portions on the sur-face of wall paintings. They were able to inde-pendently perform all conservation treatmentprocesses. We hope that these trainees will con-

Conservation of Wall Painting Fragments in Tajikistan and CapacityDevelopment (9th Mission) - Workshop -

By Kageyama Etsuko, Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation

From October 3 to November 2, the JapanCenter for International Cooperation inConservation conducted the 9th Mission

for Conservation of Wall Paintings in theNational Museum of Antiquities of Tajikistan.This was part of the Exchange Program ofInternational Cooperation of Cultural Heritageplanned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.During past missions, we examined the meth-ods of mounting wall painting fragments on asupport and decided on a basic policy. In thismission, we reviewed part of the operationprocess, aiming to further reduce the weight ofsupport and shorten the operation time.

In addition, we held a workshop entitled theConservation of Wall Paintings from CentralAsia 2010 at the above-mentioned museumfrom October 21 to the 27. At the third work-shop during these missions the theme wasmounting, which is the last process of wallpainting conservation work. Five conservationspecialists participated in the workshop: one


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From October 5 to 13, researchers of theCenter for Conservation Science andRestoration Techniques conducted a

workshop related to the restoration of paper cul-tural properties at the lecture room of Asian ArtMuseum Berlin as part of the CooperativeProgram for the Conservation of Japanese ArtObjects Overseas. The workshop held this yearconsisted of three courses - the basic course (20people), the beginners' course (12 people) andthe intermediate course (7 people) - on hangingscrolls, targeting conservators at museums andart museums, and restorers of paper. In thebasic course, a lecture was given on paper, adhe-sive and restoration, and conservation. In thebeginners' course, the structure and handling of

tinue conservation even after this project iscompleted. We also hope that they will con-

tribute to the conservation of valuable culturalheritage in Tajikistan.

Wall painting fragments exhibited in the museum

Workshop on Paper Restoration in Berlin in the Framework of theCooperative Program for the Conservation of Japanese Art Objects Overseas

By Nakayama Shunsuke, Center for Conservation Science and Restoration Techniques

Inside the lecture room of

Asian Art Museum Berlin


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The Japan Center for InternationalCooperation in Conservation have usedthe government subsidized budget for

the Cooperative Project for the Conservation ofCultural Heritage in West Asia andUNESCO/Japanese Funds-in Trust and invitedIraqi conservation specialists to Japan every yearsince 2004 for training on conservation of cul-tural heritage.

This year three specialists in conservation -Ali Ganim, Nafla Nabil and Fadil Abdul Hadi -have been invited from the Iraq National

Museum, and training will last for about threemonths from September 22 to December 9.They are to receive training on equipment forthe conservation of cultural properties, lecturesand practical training on conservation of woodproducts and metal products. It is also plannedthat they visit the National Research Institutefor Cultural Properties, Nara, the UniversityMuseum, the University of Tokyo, TheInstitute for Cultural Studies of Ancient Iraq,Kokushikan University and the Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation.

Training to clean the surface of metal

Training of Iraqi Specialists for ConservationBy Abe Masashi, Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation

hanging scrolls was explained using a model andpractical training on the coloring of silk wasconducted. In the intermediate course, practicaltraining on removal and attachment of top and

bottom axes and string attachment was con-ducted. The workshop was received well by theparticipants as a fulfilling workshop.


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Workshop on Conservation and Use of Cultural Properties "The Present andFuture of Gas Fumigants"By Sano Chie, Center for Conservation Science and Restoration Techniques

On October 19, 2010, the NationalResearch Institute for CulturalProperties, Tokyo hosted a workshop

titled as in the above, with the co-host being theKyushu National Museum. This workshop wasintended for the persons in charge of conserva-tion at the museums, art museums, etc. and thepersons in charge of protection of cultural prop-erties in local governmental organizations in theKyushu, Chugoku and Shikoku districts. Duringthis workshop, the colors of five Japanese paint-ings which changed due to the tent fumigationin the warehouse by use of a drug with theactive ingredient of aluminum phosphide, whichis not allowed to be used for the fumigation ofcultural properties, was discussed. In responseto this accident, we considered the urgent needto promote understanding of the fumigation ofcultural properties, and held the workshop incooperation with researchers whom are collabo-

rative members of the Center for ConservationScience and Restoration Techniques. The fol-lowing presentations were made: "Managementof borrowed art objects for exhibitions" by Mr.Asaka Hiroshi, the Cultural PropertyConservation Instructor at the Arts and CultureSection of the Agency for Cultural Affairs;"Details on the chemicals designated by theJapan Institute of Insect Damage to CulturalProperties" by Mr. Miura Sadatoshi, the Directorof the Japan Institute of Insect Damage toCultural Properties; "Characteristics of gas fumi-gant and impacts on cultural properties" by Ms.Sano Chie, the Head of the ConservationScience Section in the Center for ConservationScience and Restoration Techniques at theInstitute; and "Fumigation performed in muse-ums - as part of IPM (Integrated PestManagement)" by Ms. Honda Mitsuko, themanager of the museum science section of the

handed down techniques and knowledge lead tothe promotion of conservation and use ofJapanese paper cultural properties, and further-more, it is expected that they will be applied tothe repairing and conservation of Japanese artobjects overseas.

The International Course on Restorationof Japanese Paper was held from August30 to September 17. Among approxi-

mately eighty applicants engaged in the conser-vation of cultural properties around the world,ten participants from Ireland, Australia,Malaysia, etc. were selected. Various topics cov-ered in the lectures included material studies,bibliographies and so on. In the practical ses-sions the participants made infillings of missingparts, lining, attached axial rods, and produced awork into a hanging scroll. They also challengedJapanese-style book binding. In the study tour,the participants visited Mino city, a placefamous for handmade paper also used forrestoration as well. They also visited the restora-tion studios, such as the traditional mountingstudio and the cultural property conservationstudio of the Kyoto National Museum. The

International Course on Restoration of Japanese PaperBy Kato Masato, Center for Conservation Science and Restoration Techniques

Training


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The 24th Conference on InternationalCooperation on Conservation titled“Thinking of conservation with a protec-

tive shelter” was held on July 8, 2010, with 71participants. Protective shelter are sometimesused to conserve sites. To understand theadvantages and disadvantages of protective shel-ter, it is necessary to know their state after acertain number of years have passed since theywere built. For this reason, we asked three per-sons to make presentations and then we hadgeneral discussions. First, Mr. AnatBamurunwonsa of the Fine Arts Department ofThailand gave a lecture titled “Protective shelterfor a pair of Buddha's footsteps in thePrachinburi Province.” This was followed by Mr.Irisa Tomoichiro of the Cultural PropertiesProtection Division, Fukuoka Prefecture, whodelivered the lecture “Varied forms and currentstatus of protective shelter in Fukuoka.” Then,Ms. Shin Eun-Jeong of the National ResearchInstitute of Cultural Heritage, Korea, gave a lec-ture titled “Current status and case study in

covering roofs for stone cultural properties inKorea.”The lectures and discussions made usrecognize, for site conservation, the need toappropriately decide on specifications of protec-tive shelter, after understanding the conditionssuch as the ambient environment of sites, andthe importance of continuously monitoring thebuilt roofs.

arts and culture department at the Museum. Wereconfirmed that safety comes first for culturalproperties, and appealed to the participants totake part in training, etc., collect information

44th Public Lecture: The Dynamics of Interaction between Objects andPeople

By Emura Tomoko, Department of Research Programming

24th Conference on International Cooperation on ConservationBy Kuchitsu Nobuaki, Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation

General discussions

The Department of ResearchProgramming of this Institute holds apublic lecture every autumn in order to

disclose the results of our research on art histo-ry. This public lecture is the 44th with the firstheld in 1966. Since 2006, we have established acommon theme titled “The Dynamics ofInteraction between Objects and People”, and

and improve techniques in order to facilitate thesafe execution of gas fumigation used as aninsecticide and fungicide (at the KyushuNational Museum, with 126 participants).

four researchers from both within and outsidethe Institute gave presentations on October 15and 16.

On October 15, Mr. Tsuda Tetsuei (the headof Archives Section of the Department ofResearch Programming) gave a presentation,entitled "Creation of the statue of the virtuousfounder of Shinran School on the Amida Rure


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terms of the background pertaining to the main-tenance and expansion of the modern imperialsystem. Mr. Shioya Jun (Head of the ArtResearch Materials Section at the Departmentof Research Programming) gave a presentationentitled "Akimoto Shatei and Japanese-stylepaintings in the Meiji Period". He focused onthe activities of Akimoto Shatei, a brewer inNagareyama who played an important role as asupporter of Hishida Shunso as leader ofJapanese-style paintings in the Meiji Period.During the presentation he clarified the recep-tion to artworks during the Meiji Period.

We had 114 and 86 audiences respectively oneach of the two days. On the first day, Mr. ItsuoIkushima, the Chief Priest of theChikubushima-jinja Shrine and his wife, attend-

Land Buddhism in the medieval period", on thebackground of the creation of the life-sized stat-ue of the school successors and the meaning ofthe creation of the statues. Dr. Suga Miho (asso-ciate professor at Okayama University) gave apresentation entitled "Beauty of flowers andgrasses - Space of pavilions at the Tsuku-busuma-jinja Shrine", and clarified the forma-tive expression and space configuration based onthe detailed investigation of pavilions whileusing a great deal of pictures. On the followingday, Mr. Takahashi Toshiro (curator at theNaritasan Calligraphy Museum) gave a presen-tation entitled "Imperial Court Poets andCalligraphy", and clarified the cultural role ofthe activities of poets whom gathered in theImperial Court of Poets (opened in 1888), in

Presentation by Ms. Suga Miho on the first day

Mr. Takahashi Toshiro answered the questions at his presentation on the second day


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The Department of ResearchProgramming is investigating early mod-ern genre paintings, such as Genre

Figures, said to be based on the romance ofHonda Heihachiro and Lady Senhime, as a jointresearch project with the Tokugawa ArtMuseum. 2010 is the 75th anniversary of theopening of the Museum, and upon this occasiona special exhibition called the "Treasures of theOwari Tokugawa Family" was held (October 2 toNovember 7). In light of this opportunity, ondisplay since September 28 are the enlarged pic-

ture panels of Genre Figures and KabukiPerformance and Audience (both are importantcultural properties) as part of research investiga-tion results. Genre Figures is a relatively smallertwo panel folding screen, 72.2 cm height. Wehad the image outputted by magnifying it byapproximately 3.5 times in order to match theHonda Heihachiro's height with the averagebody height of 157 cm that was assumed fromthe male remains of the feudal lord class in theEdo Period. When the right panel is enlargedwith the same degree of magnification, the

Exhibited the Panels Obtained by Joint Research Investigation with theTokugawa Art Museum

By Emura Tomoko, Department of Research Programming

On October 30, the National ResearchInstitute for Cultural Properties, Tokyoexhibited panels at a school festival at

Ueno Junior High School in Taito-ku, Tokyo.We displayed two subjects: The clarifying of thestructures of nohkan and ryuteki flutes by X-rayphotography, and the survey and investigationof Buddha statues by X-ray photography.

The panels previously exhibited at theentrance of the Institute were reused, and bothsubjects were investigated using X-ray photogra-phy and results were seen.

Students at the junior high school know wellthat the state of ones chest can be revealed by X-ray photography during physical checkups.Therefore, we think that they understood what

ed in relation to the presentation of Dr. Suga.On the second day, Ms. Akimoto Yumiko, awater-color painter and the grandchild ofAkimoto Shatei attended in association withMr. Shioyas' presentation. Mr. Itsuo Ikushimaand Ms. Akimoto Yumiko answered the ques-tions from the hall and the public lecture ended

Exhibiting Panels of the Institute at Ueno Junior High School, Taito-ku,Tokyo

By Katsuki Gen'ichiro , Department of Research Programming

material of cultural properties this method iseffective for and what can be revealed with theresearch results.

This is the second time that the panels of theInstitute have been exhibited at the school festi-val at Ueno Junior High School. Although theexhibition was on display for only one day, itprovided a good opportunity for approximately300 students, teachers, and parents to knowthat a research organization which protects cul-tural properties and hands them down to futuregenerations exists near Ueno Junior HighSchool.

We hope that this activity will continue coop-eration with school education and with the localcommunity.

successfully. From the results of the question-naire performed after the lecture, we havelearned that the audience was very satisfied withthe content. We would like to actively plan forthe transmission of the results of research con-ducted by our institute.


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"Kabuki Performance and Audience" exhibited on panel

"Genre Figures" exhibited on panel


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Photos Taken at the Dawn of Japanese Aviation History in the TokorozawaAirfield Made Public

By Nakayama Shunsuke, Center for Conservation Science and Restoration Techniques

female in a kimono with crest of hollyhock, thecentral figure, will match the average height 146cm of the wives and concubines of feudal lordsin the same way. This lets us know that the dif-ference in physical size between males andfemales of the time is accurately reflected in theportraits. Kabuki Performance and Audience is36.7 cm length, made up from two scrolls onwhich there are six pictures each. We had thisscroll output by magnifying it by approximately2.5 times. We can clearly confirm the color

expression by delicate gradations and the elabo-rately drawn textural differences, and focusattention on detailed description, which hasbeen overlooked until now. When the line draw-ings and the state of colors are observed indetail, the intention and reason for the expres-sion techniques will come up. We will apply theinformation thus far obtained to the study ofworks and will work to deepen the understand-ing a variety of art pieces.

The Center for Conservation Science andRestoration Techniques began to makepublic, on the website, the photos of air-

planes such as the Farman, taken at the begin-ning of Japanese aviation at the Tokorozawa air-field. These photos were donated by Mr.Kitagawa Masanobu, who lives in Tokorozawain January 2009. The photos were taken by thelate Mr. Kitagawa Hideo, the father of KitagawaMasanobu, at the Tokorozawa airfield. Themain recording media were glass plates. We areextremely grateful to Mr. Kitagawa Masanobu

and other relevant individuals for the conserva-tion of these glass plates and the making publicof these digitized photos on the occasion of thememorable 100th year of Japanese aviation. Thephotos posted on this occasion include the firstairplane to fly in Japan, Aikoku (Patriot)-go andmany other precious shots. These will definitelybe very valuable materials for researchers andpeople who are interested in aviation. TheCenter will continue to make public such valu-able data in the future.

The first Japanese-made plane of the Imperial Japanese Army (1911)


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Publications

75 Years of the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties,Tokyo: Text

2006 marked the 75th year of the establishment of the Institute. In commemoration of this anniversary, 75

years of the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo: Text was published. 2010, Chuo Koron

Bijutsu Shuppan (＋81-(0)3-3561-5993), Price: ￥36,750

Investigative Report on the Handscroll "Autobiography" by Huai-su

A report on the investigation of Autobiography by Huai-su in the collection of the National Palace Museum

using optical methods. Huai-su of T'ang dynasty is famous for the graceful style of calligraphy. This report

contributes a new perspective to the discussion of the scroll. Color illustrations of high-resolution digital

images and images by optical methods, such as infrared, and a report by Prof. Ho, a researcher of the

National Palace Museum, are included. 2005, The National Palace Museum, Taipei, Price: NT$ 800

Listed Works of the Exhibitions in the Taisho Period

This is the publication succeeded the previous one, Listed Works of the Exhibitions in the Meiji Period pub-

lished in 1994. It covers more than 30 major exhibitions held from 1907 to 1930. Chuo Koron Bijutsu

Shuppan, Price: ￥26,250

Liturgy of Buddhist Services at Todaiji in March

A collection of reports on the liturgy of Buddhist services held at Todaiji temple in March by Sato Michiko,

researcher emeritus of the Institute. Formerly reported in periodicals, they have been republished. 4 volumes,

2005, Hozokan (＋81-(0)75-343-5656), Price: ￥58,000

Science for Conservation

Science for Conservation has been published since 1964. It contains articles on studies of conservation and

restoration of cultural properties conducted by the Institute. The articles can be downloaded as PDF files from

the website of the Center for Conservation Science and Restoration Technique (http://www.tobunken.go.jp./%

7Ehozon/hozon_pdf.html).

Conservation of Industrial Heritage 6- Problems on the Conservation of Industrial Heritage

Until now, several publications have been made on the conservation of industrial heritage based on presenta-

tions given during conferences on this matter. In this publication, papers presented at a follow-up conference

held in 2005 are recorded. 2008, not for sale

Series of Instruments for Protecting Cultural Property [3]: Database on Laws for Protection of Cultural

Property

This book introduces the Japanese Law for the Protection of Cultural Property in English. Leading judgments

in this field have been summarized in Japanese and placed immediately after related articles of the original law

in force. 2009, not for sale

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