A GROUNDBREAKING exhibition of Japanese art has been given the seal of approval by the country’s ambassador.

Hayashi Hajime, the Ambassador of Japan to the UK, visited the Tokyo: Art and Photography show at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, which was timed to coincide with the Tokyo Olympics. The show covers the city’s long history and ranges from traditional craftsmanship to contemporary pieces – some risque and provocative.

The ambassador said: “I would like to congratulate all who have been involved in bringing Tokyo: Art and Photography to life. This ambitious show, displaying more than 200 works spanning 400 years, is what we have been eagerly waiting for. With Tokyo in the minds of Olympic and Paralympic fans and those all over the UK, it is my hope that this exhibition will give people in the UK a taste of that vibrant city, and drive home the diversity, innovation and creativity that makes itself felt there. We are delighted to have this as part of the Japan-UK Season of Culture.”

Oxford Mail: Japaense Ambasador Hayashi Hajime visits the Tokyo exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Picture by Ed Nix

Dr Mallica Kumbera Landrus, Head of the Department of Eastern Art, said: ‘It was a great honour to welcome the Japanese Ambassador and Madame Hayashi to the Ashmolean and show them our exhibition and permanent galleries. We are thrilled that the museum has been able to take part in the Japan-UK Season of Culture and we hope that Tokyo: Art & Photography will provide lots of people with the opportunity to see something of this vibrant city when they aren’t able to travel abroad this year.”

Tokyo: Art and Photography at the Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont Street, Oxford, runs until January 3.

Book at ashmolean.org/tokyo