National Crafts Museum — Attraction in Kanazawa

日本海側初の国立美術館。名称に『工芸』とあるため、古来より今に伝えられる伝統工芸について学ぶ施設を想像するかもしれないが、実際のところは博物館のような要素は少ない。移転元が東京国立近代美術館の工芸館であるため、展示されている作品も明治時代以降のもので占められている。むしろ明治時代から現代の美術家たちによる美術作品や作品群のデザインを展示する美術館、と思うだろう。勿論、（主に）近代以降の作品や作品の作成プロセスについての調査研究設備も備わっているが、展示にはそのような調査研究の要素は少ない。 建物は、明治期に建てられた洋風建築『旧陸軍第九師団司令部庁舎』を移築し、当時の色合いを再現したものである。正面入り口に向かって左側の建物が展示エリアとなっており、調査研究のエリアとなっている右側の建物は、基本的にスタッフのみの立ち入りとなる。複数ある展示スペースも比較的コンパクトであるため、全ての展示室を見て回る程度であれば1時間程度で済む。またそのようなコンパクトな展示室構成であるからか、（現時点では）常設展は無い。 展示されている工芸を美術的側面で鑑賞してもらうことが主たる美術館であるため、作品に触れたり体験したりするコーナーは無い。そのため、『工芸』の世界を広く知ってもらうには少し物足りないかもしれない。また各展示室に監視員が常駐しており、（致し方ないとはいえ）鑑賞マナーなどをしつこく注意してくることもあり、場合により鬱陶しいと感じることもあるだろう。 館内はスロープを始めエスカレーターもあるため、車椅子等の障碍を持つ方でも気軽に利用できる。とは言え、各展示室がコンパクトに設計されているため、展示会や展示方法次第では自由に動きづらいと感じるかもしれない。

This is the first national art museum on the Sea of Japan coast. With the word "Kogei" in its name, one might imagine an institution for learning about traditional crafts handed down from ancient times to the present, but in reality, the museum has little in common with a typical museum. Since the museum was relocated from the Crafts Gallery of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, the majority of the works on display are from the Meiji period onward. One would rather think of it as an art museum that exhibits designs of artworks and artworks by artists from the Meiji era to the present day. Of course, the museum has research facilities for (mostly) post-modern works and processes of creation, but there is little research component to the exhibits. The building is a Western-style building built in the Meiji period, which was relocated from the former headquarters building of the 9th Division of the Army, and reproduced in its original color scheme. The building to the left of the main entrance is the exhibition area, while the building to the right, which is the research area, is basically for staff only. The multiple exhibition spaces are relatively compact, so it takes only about one hour to visit all of the exhibition rooms. Perhaps because of this compact exhibition space, there seems to be no permanent exhibitions in the museum. Since the main purpose of the museum is to have visitors appreciate the crafts on display from an artistic perspective, there are no areas where visitors can touch or experience the works of art. As a result, the museum may be a little lacking in terms of providing visitors with a broad understanding of the world of Kogei (crafts). In addition, there are watchmen stationed in each of the exhibition rooms, and they may (though unavoidable) give you persistent warnings about your viewing manners, which may be a little depressing at times. The museum is accessible to visitors with disabilities, including those in wheelchairs, thanks to ramps and escalators. However, the rooms are compactly designed, so visitors may find it difficult to move freely, depending on the exhibition and the...

Arrived early and waited in long line. Eventually got to ticket counter to find out that permanent exhibition was closed and only a Pokemon exhibition was open. We wasted hours getting there and queuing to be told this. The shop is tiny and not worth going to. There is so much craft to see in Japan so it's very disappointing that the National Craft Museum is only interested in showing Pokemon. Very...

Interesting collection on display. However, we took the name "National Crafts Museum" to imply an emphasis on Japanese cultural items. Turns out the current exhibition Feb 2023 was the "focus on international art". Ironic, since we just arrived from Australia. But still well presented.

One "local" section was a display about Maki-e master craftsman, Gonruku Matsuda. It was fascinating....