Ueno Konjaku Monogatari (The Flower City of Ueno through the Time Tube)
Original Painting and Supervisor |
Metal Craft Artist, Professor Emeritus of Tokyo University of the Arts, Director-General of the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition MIYATA Ryohei MIYATA Ryohei |
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2017
縦2.0m × 横8.5m
Full view of the ceramic relief artwork "Ueno Konjaku Monogatari (The Flower City of Ueno through the Time Tube)" installed at Ueno Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line
Close-up of the artwork (detail)
Close-up of the artwork (detail)
Planning ： Japan Traffic Culture Association
Sponsorship ： Metro Cultural Foundation
Artist Profile
MIYATA Ryohei
MIYATA Ryohei
Metal Craft Artist, Professor Emeritus of Tokyo University of the Arts, Director-General of the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition
Born as a wax pattern metal casting artist, the second generation Aido Miyata's third son. Participated in numerous art exhibitions both in Japan and abroad by such works as the "Springen" series with dolphins as motifs, and got Grand Prize, Minister of Education, Science and Culture Prize, and Prime Minister Prize at "Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition", and Special Prize at "The Japan Fine Arts Exhibition", etc. Won The Japan Art Academy Award in 2012. Served as President of Tokyo University of the Arts for many years, and also served as Chairman of Culture Council of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Management Committee of Japan Broadcasting Corporation, Director of The Japan Fine Arts Exhibition, Managing Director of Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Association, Committee of Yokozuna Deliberation Council, etc. He also chairs the selection committee for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, emblems, medals, torches and more. From 2016 to 2021, he will steer the cultural administration of Japan as the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs. He also chaired the selection committee for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games emblems, medals, torches, etc. In 2022, he was appointed Director-General of the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition. He is currently a professor emeritus and advisor to Tokyo University of the Arts, a counselor to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and a visiting professor at Nagaoka Institute of Design.Location ： Full view of the ceramic relief artwork "Ueno Konjaku Monogatari (The Flower City of Ueno through the Time Tube)" installed at Ueno Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line
Artist's Comments
During the Edo Period, the area surrounding Ueno prospered as a town revolving around the Shogun’s family temple “Kanei-ji Temple”.
With the waves of modernization, civilization, and enlightenment, the National Industrial Exhibition and the Benten Horse Race around Shinobazu Pond were held in the bountiful forest of Ueno. The area became a place where people gathered to enjoy.
Horsecars and city trams were running in the town, and the first underground railway in the Orient, the Tokyo Underground Railway (currently the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line) between Ueno and Asakusa, opened in 1927.
Even though the train was just one car long and the riding time was only 5 minutes, people waited on long lines and overflowed on the platform.
From that time on, many cultural facilities have been built and Ueno has become a hub of Japanese culture.
Please enjoy spending some time in past and present Ueno in this stained glass.