Arte e Cultura
Japan House London Presents Tokyo 1964: Designing Tomorrow Exhibition
Japan's hosting of the Games coincided with the country's emergence as a global leader in technological innovation. Winning the bid to host the Games increased Japan's newfound sense of confidence and creativity epitomized by innovations such as the high speed Tōkaidō Shinkansen, or 'bullet train', and elevated super-highways that dramatically transformed the urban landscape with 'space age' design through to Seiko's 1,278 state-of-the-art timing devices that performed precisely without errors.
This optimistic and creative environment challenged and enabled Japanese architects and designers working on the 1964 Games to develop some of the most radical architectural and graphic design that has ever been created.
These designs still resonate and influence today, including:
Exhibits on display include:
The majority of objects in the exhibition are generously loaned from the Prince Chichibu Memorial Sports Museum & Library in Japan – many of which will be displayed for the first time in the UK.
Kawamura Hiroyuki, Director, Prince Chichibu Memorial Sports Museum, said: "I am very pleased that we have this opportunity to share our collection in the UK in partnership with Japan House London. Please enjoy our major exhibits including the original posters designed by Kamekura Yūsaku and the models of Yoyogi National Gymnasium designed by Tange Kenzō."
Simon Wright , Director of Programming, Japan House London said: "This exhibition shows how the design project for the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games, the first to be held in Asia , was revolutionary in creating a unified language by which to communicate the Games. It became the blueprint for subsequent major international sporting events. It illustrates Japan's powerful emergence on the world stage after the dark years of the Second World War and how this Japanese design vision has influenced, and still influences, so much of what is now."
A dedicated programme of events accompanies the exhibition including a look at the remarkable volleyball win by the 'Witches of the Orient'.
Contributions to this exhibition, in the form of additional loaned items, have also come from The Seiko Museum Ginza in
Japan and Central Japan Railway Company and the National Paralympic Heritage Trust in the UK.
Tickets must be pre-booked online: www.japanhouselondon.uk
Full public information including Covid compliance and safety information can be found at: www.japanhouselondon.uk
Monday-Saturday: 11:00-18:00
Sunday: 12:00-18:00
The Prince Chichibu Memorial Sports Museum is the only integrated sports museum in Japan . In honour of Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu, who is affectionately known to the nation as the 'Sporting Prince' and his contribution to sports, it was established in January 1959 in the grounds of Yoyogi National Gymnasium, the main stadium for the historic Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games. Since then, for over 50 years, it has been collecting, archiving and sharing various sporting materials in order to preserve and spread the history of Japanese sports and culture. The adjoining library has variety of books and magazines about sports and is popular among sports fans and researchers.
Japan House London is a cultural destination offering visitors the opportunity to experience of the best and latest from Japan . Located on London's Kensington High Street , the experience is an authentic encounter with Japan , engaging and surprising even the most knowledgeable guests. Presenting the very best of Japanese art, design, gastronomy, innovation, and technology, it deepens the visitor's appreciation of all that Japan has to offer. Part of a global initiative led by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there are two other Japan Houses, one in Los Angeles and the other in São Paulo.
Japan House London has received Visit Britain's 'We're Good to Go' Standard, to reassure guests that they can visit Japan House London safely.
A visit to Japan House London's Gallery currently re-quires pre-booking a free entry ticket. Find out more here: www.japanhouselondon.uk/covid
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1525792/Japan_London.jpg