The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is currently hosting the exhibit “Art of the Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armor, 1156-1868." This exhibit is the decade-long project of Morihiro Ogawa, the Met's consultant for Japanese arms and armor. Most of the pieces included in the exhibit are designated National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties. Several, such as the 12th century cavalry armor, will only be on display for two weeks of the months long show. The show includes every piece of Japanese arms and armor: the helmet, the body armor, the sword, and the sheath. Some designs are simple and elegant; others are pure ostentatious and showy. The exhibit emphasizes the cultural and aesthetic extremes of Japanese culture, permitting the public access to a rare artistic treat. The exhibit runs through January 10. Join discussion...

The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is currently holding an exhibit featuring Japanese Buddhist art. The exhibit is called "Zen Mind/Zen Brush" and includes 35 hanging scrolls and screens. It has gotten positive reviews and seems to be an informative and aesthetically pleasing insight into anceint Japanese culture. Join discussion...

Geisai, a Japanese youth talent search and art fair, is now mostly under the famous artist Murakami's influence. Murakami's admiration of pulling ideas from Japanese popular culture into the art culture has been a big theme this year. Many of the jurors are friends of Murakami, and the curator, Alison Gingeras, worked with Murakami on his exhibition, "Sold Out", which the article cleverly implies that Murakami has done. Join discussion...

This is is a show of bead art and lamp art in kobe. it is the third show (I presume over the course of 3 years). Famous people will show new bead art(?). take a trip to the bead art show in kobe. Its something like this, i used the english translation to find the word for lamp. Join discussion...