Suntory Museum of Art
Exhibitions
Tenchijin-The Life and Times of Naoe Kanetsugu Introducing the Background to NHK's Taiga Drama

Tenchijin-The Life and Times of Naoe Kanetsugu
Introducing the Background to NHK's Taiga Drama

May 30 to July 12 2009

*There will be an exhibition change during the course of exhibition

Exhibition Overview

The Battles of Kawanakajima were fierce showdowns between the sworn rivals, Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin. They were two of the greatest generals of Japanese history and, after their deaths, Kenshin’s son, Uesugi Kagekatsu, established his sway over Echigo. This was in large part due to Naoe Kanetsugu (1560-1619), a minister of the House of Uesugi whose wisdom and human qualities won the high esteem of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Kanetsugu’s life spanned the end of the Warring States Era and start of the Edo Period, an age of great transition from a country divided into armed domains to unity under the Heavens. Kanetsugu, this man of great acuity, not only maintained relations with warlords all over the country while supporting his feudal master, Kagekatsu, but also himself became an important player in history. In particular, the so-called Naoe Letter that Kanetsugu sent in response to Ieyasu regarding rumors of a Uesugi insurrection is said to have been the trigger that led to the decisive Battle of Sekigahara.
This exhibition has been organized in connection with Tenchijin, NHK’s grand historical TV drama series for 2009, so the focus is placed on items from the House of Uesugi dating from Kanetsugu’s lifetime. As Kanetsugu was so highly regarded for his literary and well as material accomplishments, there is also a selection of paintings, valuable classical Chinese documents and beautiful craftworks from the Momoyama culture, with which he was closely associated. It is our sincerest wish to portray a sense of the dramatic times and culture of the warlords of those days, centered on Naoe Kanetsugu and his master, Uesugi Kagekatsu, through these historical documents and artistic treasures.

Period

May 30 to July 12 2009

*There will be an exhibition change during the course of exhibition

Hours

Sundays and Mondays 10:00-18:00 Wednesdays to Saturdays 10:00-20:00

*Last admission: 30 minutes before closing.

Closed

Tuesdays

Admission

Adult	General ¥1300	Advance ¥1100
University and High School Student	General ¥1000	Advance ¥800

Elementary, Junior-High school students and under are free.
*A group discount applies for a party of 20 or more.
*With a certificate of disability, the admission fee of a disabled person and a care-giver will be waived.

Audio Guide

¥500

*Unauthorized reproduction or use of texts or images from this site is prohibited.

Exhibition Overview

Tenchijin-The Life and Times of Naoe KanetsuguIntroducing the Background to NHK's Taiga Drama

SUNTORY MUSEUM of ART

Tenchijin-The Life and Times of Naoe Kanetsugu
Introducing the Background to NHK's Taiga Drama