JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles invites visitors to extend their stay at the exhibition NEO-JAPONISM | SAMURAI & BEYOND: Exploring Tradition Through Technology to experience a special extension showcasing the spectacular design, utility and artistry of samurai weaponry – curated with the support of Jidai Arts. This display – which spans authentic blades, fittings, and helmet with maedate (frontal crest) and menpō (face armor) – provides a rare chance to see these historic items close up and marvel at their intricate beauty which defies their age of up to 500 years.
The bladed weapons exhibited comprise a katana (long sword), a wakizashi (short sword and companion to the katana), and a formidable naginata (polearm), each as functional as they are beautiful in their form and meticulous polish. A collection of koshirae (sword mounts), tsuba (hand guards), kozuka (handles), and menuki (handle ornaments) present the detailed artistry and forward-thinking design for functional components which allowed for weaponry to transcend utility and become a form of personal expression and adornment for the samurai. A kabuto (helmet) with the maedate (frontal crest) and menpō (face armor) showcase how armor evolved in response not only to hand weapons but to firearms as well, and how its components could be adorned to reflect the personality and interests of their samurai owner and create an intimidating and imposing presence on the battlefield.
Complementing the close-up access to samurai era art and artifacts through NHK’s digital technologies featured in the exhibition, NEO-JAPONISM | SAMURAI & BEYOND: Exploring Tradition Through Technology, this extension to the exhibition offers guests an opportunity to see how the weaponry itself came to represent its own form of high art through its detailed rendering of personal and spiritual motifs.
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Related Exhibition
NEO-JAPONISM | SAMURAI AND BEYOND: Exploring Tradition Through Technology
Dates
Fri. Feb. 14 – Mon. Sep. 1, 2025
Hours
Mon. – Fri. | 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sat. – Sun. | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Location
JAPAN HOUSE Gallery, Level 2
Fee
Free
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Katana Swords | Blades of Legend
As Japan’s samurai evolved from historical warriors into pop culture icons over the centuries, one important object has remained by their side: the samurai sword. This weapon was often considered to be an extension of the warrior’s own spirit and represented far more than a mere instrument of war; each blade was instead a fusion of practical engineering, artistic mastery, and cultural significance.
