This year marks the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum's 40th anniversary since its opening in 1983. The museum's main building, completed in 1933, originally served as the Residence of Prince Yasuhiko Asaka (1887-1981). This Important Cultural Property, constructed during the Art Deco period of the 1920s and 1930s, has withstood the test of time and remains in pristine condition.
As part of the annual 'Looking at Architecture' exhibition series, the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum showcases the unique beauty and charm of the Former Residence of Prince Asaka from different perspectives each year. The exhibition explores the building's architectural elements, such as design, technique and material. It also places an emphasis on the Asaka family, who were the former owners of the residence.
Through photographs, video footage, art and craft objects, furnishings, and costumes left behind by those who used to come and go in this space, visitors get a glimpse into the family's life during the residence's time as an imperial home. The exhibition also features recreations of the residence's interior using furnishings and fittings from its era, offering a captivating journey through the history of the building and the history of Japan's imperial family.