Exhibition “The Beauty of Exchanging Gifts in Japan -Giving Shape to One’s Thoughts and Emotions-“

International Premiere Exhibition

The Beauty of Exchanging Gifts in Japan

Giving Shape to One’s Thoughts and Emotions

BANGKOK

[Duration]	Thu 18 March – Sun 25 April 2021 \| 10.30 – 19.00 (Closed on every Monday and Songkran holidays)
[Opening]	Thu 18 March 2021 at 16.30 hrs. Admission 73 people
[Total admission]	1,661 people (Exhibition) 25 people (onsite) 1,500 people ( onlone) (Special Talks)
[Admission]	Free of charge
[Venue]	Gallery 1fl. TCDC Bangkok The Grand Postal Building, 1160 Charoenkrung Road, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Service Area: 02-105-7400 ext. 213, 214 (Closed Mon) TCDC Office: 02-105-7441 (Mon-Fri)
[Media coverage]	N:\2 AC Dept\01 Arts and Cultural Projects\FY2020\Travelling Exhibition_Okurimono\Report

KHON KAEN

[Duration]	Wed 5 May – Wed 30 June 2021 \| 10.30 – 18.00 (Closed on every Monday)
[Opening]	Wed 5 May 2021 at 17.00 hrs.
[Total admission]	1,195 people (Exhibition) 37 people (online) (Special Talks) 23 people (onsite) 302 people (online) (Furoshiki workshop)
[Admission]	Free of charge
[Venue]	TCDC Khon Kaen 123 Mitrapab Rd., Amphoe Muang Khon Kaen, Khon Kaen 40002 TEL 043-202396
[Media coverage]	N:\2 AC Dept\01 Arts and Cultural Projects\FY2020\Travelling Exhibition_Okurimono\Report

**Uchikake dress:** *Design of Penglai Island on white figured silk satin ground, late 18thcentury*

The Japan Foundation, Bangkok, in collaboration with Creative Economy Agency (CEA) via TCDC Bangkok and TCDC Khon Kaen are pleased to co-organize the traveling exhibition “The Beauty of Exchanging Gifts in Japan: Giving Shape to One’s Thoughts and Emotions.” This exhibition is the newest collection of the Japan Foundation and will remarkably set out its journey to Thailand as the first destination country in the world.

Curated by Nagasaki Iwao, Director of Kyoritsu Women’s University Museum and Professor of Department of Textiles and Clothing, this exhibition showcases the formalities and rituals of gift exchanging in Japan by revealing the characteristics, beauty, and variety of gifts exchanged and presented, along with the thoughts and philosophies of the Japanese people that exist behind them.

In Japan, the exchanging of gifts is not simply an act of giving something to someone but an expression of gratitude or wishing for the happiness of the receiver. The pattern, design, color, material and method of producing the gift bestowed all reflect the giver’s thoughts and feelings towards the receiver. Why do the bride’s parents give the shiromuku, pure white kimono, with kissho patterns which feature motifs of a bamboo, pine, plum tree, somethimes with crane and turtle, to their daughther? Why do Japanese people use Fukusa and Furoshiki for wrapping gifts? How do Japanese parents treat their new born babies and children while wishing for their healthy growth? Why do haori and hanten jackets, the Japanese short winter coat, have crest or sign on them and what are they for?

The answers to the questions lie in this exhibition as more than 90 exhibits are divided into four parts to visually present shapes to the giver’s thoughts and emotions of Japanese people during their major stages of life, including

**Maiwai:** *Design of treasure boat on navy cotton ground, early 20th century*

Part 1: Various Gifts related to Wedding: Costumes and implements prepared for wedding ceremonies and the gifts presented during the celebrations serve to reflect the spirit of praying for happiness of the bride.

Part 2: The Heart and Art of Gift-wrapping Fukusa and Furoshiki: The Japanese spirit in the act of “gift-wrapping” as well as the Japanese aesthetic is spoken through nemerous patterns and designs.

Part 3: Gifts from Parents to Children: The gifts from parents to children unveil their affection and wishes for wellbeing and healthy growth towards their children in the context of Japanese culture.

Part 4: Exchanging Gifts to Strengthen Bonds: Gifts given and exchanged are to strengthen or confirm group bonds such as those in a master and servent relationship, employer and employee or residents within the same region or community.

We hope the exhibition will serve as an opportunity for viewers to engage with and understand the manner by which the “sense of harmony with nature” and “strong connections between people” that together form the foundation of Japanese culture, are embodied in the rituals of gift exchanging in Japan.

Part 1: Various Gifts related to Wedding

**Uchikake dress** *Design of Penglai Island on red silk crepe ground, early 20th century*

**Yogi** *Design of pine tree and crane on light blue silk crepe ground, early 19th century*

**Set of sake cups and stand for wedding ceremony** *Design of ground on black lacquer, late 19th century to early 20th century*

Part 2: The Heart and Art of Gift-wrapping Fukusa and Furoshiki

**Fukusa (wrapping cloth for ceremony)** *Design of wave, anchor and plover on red silk crepe ground early 19th*

**Fukusa** *Design of treasure boat on yellowish green silk crepe ground, 19th century*

**Fukus**a *Design of pine tree, cranes and the sun on light brown ground, 20th century*

Part 3: Gifts from Parents to Children

**Cap and Bib** *Design of paulownia and phoenix on white silk crepe ground, 20th century*

**Hitotsumi (child’s dress**) *Design of chrysanthemum on gray silk crepe ground, late 19th century*

**Child’s identification tag** *Design of Daikokuten (god of wealth) on silk crepe ground, early 20th century*

Part 4: Exchanging Gifts to Strengthen Bonds

**Maiwai (fisherman’s ceremonial coat)** *Design of “Sanbaso” performance on navy cotton ground, early 20th century*

**Yukata of Kabuki actor Onoe Kikugoro** *Design of Kikugoro grid, 21th century*

**Leather coa**t *Design of letter “Kubo” on brown ground, late 19th century*

The Japan Foundation, Bangkok
10th Fl. Serm-Mit Tower, 159 Sukhumvit 21 Rd., Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Tel: 02-260-8560-4/ Fax 02-260-8565
Facebook: jfbangkok | Website: www.ba.jpf.go.jp

Co-organized by:

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Supported by:

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Opening of the exhibition
The Beauty of Exchanging Gifts in Japan:
Giving Shape to One’s Thoughts and Emotions
Thursday 18 March 2021
Gallery, 1 Fl TCDC Bangkok

Photos of Special Talks “Okurimono, Giving to You by Love:
The Overlapping Implication of Giving Culture of Japan and Isan”
By Asst. Prof. Keeratiporn Jutawiriya and Asst. Prof. Watchara Suyara and the Installation View
5 May 2021
Gallery, 1 Fl TCDC Khon Kaen

The Workshop “Learning the Arts of Furushiki Wrapping”
By Mr. Sano Keiichi, the founder of Furoshiki Bangkok,
Saturday 19 June 2021
Auditorium room at TCDC Khon Kaen