【Sunshine City】 Looking back on the “Egyptian pattern boom” of the Showa era, marking the 100th anniversary of the Showa era and the year of the new discovery of royal tombs. Ancient Orient Museum 2025 Autumn Special Exhibition “I Still Love Egypt (Heart) Showa-era Japan and Ancient Egypt”
Sunshine City Co., Ltd. Press Release: September 2, 2025 To mark the 100th anniversary of the Showa era and the year of the new discovery of a royal tomb, we look back on the “Egyptian pattern boom” of the Showa era. The Ancient Orient Museum’s 2025 Autumn Special Exhibition “I Still Love Egypt (Heart) Showa-Era Japan and Ancient Egypt” Held from September 27th (Sat) to November 24th (Monday) With the “Showa 100th Anniversary” and the discovery of a new royal tomb in Egypt in February of this year (※), interest in ancient Egypt is expected to rise again in 2025. The Ancient Orient Museum (Director: Makiko Tsumura), located in Sunshine City
(Ikebukuro, Tokyo), will hold its special autumn exhibition, “I Still Love Egypt (Heart): Showa-Era Japan and Ancient Egypt,” from Saturday, September 27th to Monday, November 24th (postponed).
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perspective. *Source: “Royal Tomb in the Valley of the Kings: First Major Discovery in 100 Years Since Tutankhamun,” National Geographic Japan, March 9, 2025
(https://natgeo.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/25/022800113/) ▼▽You can download a PDF of this release here▽▼ Event overview Dates and Times: Saturday, September 27th – Monday, November 24th (Holiday), 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Last entry at 4:30 PM) *Open until 8:00 PM on Thursday, October 2nd and Friday, November 21st (Last entry at 7:30 PM) Admission Fee: ¥1,000 Adults, ¥800 for University and High School Students, ¥600 for Junior and Elementary School Students *Group and disability discounts available Sponsored by: Toshima Ward, Toshima Ward Board of Education / Special Cooperation: Sunshine City Cooperation: Kitanagoya City Museum of History and Folklore (Showa Everyday Life Museum) Webpage “I Still Love Egypt (Heart) Showa-Era Japan and Ancient Egypt” Exhibition Contents Chapter 1: Fabrics Ancient Egyptian motifs, such as sacred animals and the sun, were printed on fabrics in a variety of patterns. This exhibit features dresses, skirts, kimonos, hanten coats, handkerchiefs, ties, drawstring bags, mosquito nets, and more, all made from these fabrics.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20364/1032/20364-1032-d2fa21dd194fa1a740d4a305445e09fe-520×705.png Skirt / Kitanagoya City Museum of History and Folklore Chapter 2: Paper Introducing paper products decorated with various designs from ancient Egypt. Illustrations and designs of ancient Egyptian architecture, tomb murals, and human figures were used on the covers of school notebooks and book jackets, as well as in bookstore wrapping paper and decorative cardboard boxes.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20364/1032/20364-1032-66a32575a5da6e9c2010d63dc2633bbd-524×696.png Notebook (Social Studies) / Kitanagoya City Museum of History and Folklore Chapter 3: Ceramics and Glass This chapter introduces ceramics and glassware decorated with ancient Egyptian motifs. Egyptian-patterned products, seamlessly integrated into everyday items, are extremely diverse, including mugs, cups and saucers, tea sets, kettles, sake bottles, sake cups, tea sets, and cups. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20364/1032/20364-1032-d4947310c05860f268f8f775e4bc3ef4-762×572.png Tableware (mug) / Collection of Kitanagoya City Museum of History and Folklore Chapter 4: Trees Ancient Egyptian designs were also used on furniture such as wardrobes and chests of drawers, small sliding doors for closets, jewelry boxes, and letter holders. Some are lacquered and feature intricate carvings such as sunken reliefs. This chapter introduces such wooden products.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20364/1032/20364-1032-98037e2c455d0e8bfaf54dd9d5c4fdd4-859×572.png Clothing case / Kitanagoya City Museum of History and Folklore Chapter 5: Metal and Leather Ancient Egyptian motifs also appeared on ashtrays and pen trays made from metal and leather. The bottle opener, with its design reminiscent of the goddess Hathor, whose headdress was given the function of removing bottles, is a very witty touch.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20364/1032/20364-1032-82357639ec8db6778ebc54f0bfe7bf84-525×692.png Bottle opener (goddess statue) / Kitanagoya City Museum of History and Folklore Chapter 6: Subculture Ancient Egyptian civilization was also incorporated into manga, television programs, record jackets, and other media of the Showa era. The Nemeth hood worn by ancient Egyptian kings is used in “Giant Robo” and “Brave Raideen,” and the ongoing series “The Royal Crest” tells the love story between the protagonist Carol and the ancient Egyptian king Memphis. Meanwhile, hieroglyphs are used on the record jackets of the Northern Irish rock band Rosetta Stone, which were also sold in Japan. Goods To coincide with this special exhibition, the museum shop will be stocking the exhibition catalog as well as Egyptian-themed merchandise. We have a wide variety of products related to the theme of the exhibition, including original items such as fans with Egyptian mummy mask motifs and compact mirrors with scarab motifs, as well as related books and imported goods from Egypt.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20364/1032/20364-1032-2a232f102248a7c53a231e9e41836ef1-2048×1536.jpg Original Fan from the Ancient Orient Museum (Ancient Egyptian Mummy Mask and Scarab) / 2,400 yen
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20364/1032/20364-1032-7e841016775eb4120857f67dd4e6949e-712×672.jpg Keiko Tazawa, Director of Research, Ancient Orient Museum Ancient Egyptian civilization enjoyed explosive popularity with the
Tutankhamun exhibition in 1965. In fact, ancient Egypt had been introduced to Japanese people long before that. How did the Japanese come to know, accept, and love ancient Egyptian civilization? We hope that through this exhibition, you will experience the resonance between Japanese people and ancient Egyptian civilization. Related events ●Lecture “Stories Connecting the Showa Era and Ancient Egypt” Through the perspective of a curator with a background in ancient Egyptian studies, we will introduce the path to building and utilizing the ancient Egyptian pattern collection discovered among the daily life materials of the Kitanagoya City Museum of History and Folklore (Showa Museum of Everyday Life), as well as the collection’s features and appeal. *Advance registration required. For details on application and lecture content, please visit the webpage. Lecturer: Professor Akiyoshi Ito (Kitanagoya City Museum of History and Folklore) Director) Date and Time: Monday, October 13th (National Holiday), 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Fee: 1,000 yen Venue: Conference Room in Sunshine City
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20364/1032/20364-1032-dd8f280c9b6909c33abfd657c4ee1f5c-831×623.jpg ●Children’s Orihaku Experience Course “The Secret of Egyptian Patterns” This is an experiential workshop for children where they can research ancient Egyptian patterns and create their own unique Egyptian designs. *Advance registration required. For details on application and the lecture content, please visit the webpage. Speakers: Keiko Tazawa (Chief Researcher, Ancient Orient Museum), Takami Tae (Ancient Orient Museum education extension worker) Date and time: October 19th (Sunday) 13:30~ Price: 1,000 yen Venue: Inside the Ancient Orient Museum ●Special Lecture “Serving the Gods: The World of Ancient Egyptian Temple Ritual” Ancient Egyptian temples were not simply religious facilities; they were central to maintaining global (cosmic) order. This lecture will explore the spiritual world of ancient Egyptians and explore how they built relationships with their gods through temple rituals. *Advance registration required. For details on application procedures, fees, etc., please visit the webpage. Instructor: Tazawa Keiko (Head of Research, Ancient Orient Museum) Date and Time: Sunday, October 26th, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Venue: Conference Room, Sunshine City
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20364/1032/20364-1032-6a7d8b8c210d1f815c7c047de6c5003f-1908×1271.png ●Children’s Workshop: “Experience the Work of an Ancient Egyptian Priest” What kind of offerings did people make to the gods in ancient Egypt? Learn about rituals through the work of a priest while wearing costumes and using tools. *Advance registration required. For details on application procedures, fees, etc., please see the webpage. Lecturers: Keiko Tazawa (Head of Research at the Ancient Orient Museum), Takami Tae (Ancient Orient Museum Education Officer) Date and Time: Saturday, November 8th, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM / 2:15 PM – 2:45 PM / 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM Venue: Conference Room, Sunshine City ●Exhibition guided tour for the visually impaired This is an exhibition guided tour for people who are blind or have low vision. *Advance
registration required. For details on application and lecture content, please visit the webpage. Date and Time: Saturday, October 25th, 1:30 PM – *Approximately 1 hour Fee: Free (participation is possible with museum admission fee only)
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20364/1032/20364-1032-9c5eb174445a8847f2af1552aa77ea0e-2083×1901.jpg ●Gallery Talk The researcher in charge will explain the highlights of the special exhibition “I Still Love Egypt (Heart).” Date and time: September 27th (Saturday), October 5th (Sunday), 11th (Saturday), November 9th (Sunday), 15th (Saturday), 24th (Monday) All from 14:00 *About 30 minutes Fee: Free (participation is possible with museum admission fee only)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20364/1032/20364-1032-b11052a0aa8ccf8bef45d9edded7d326-1443×1040.jpg ●Monthly Orihaku Online Course The “Monthly Orihaku Online Course” is delivered once a month, generally on the third Wednesday of the month. The October and November events will be held in conjunction with this special exhibition, with the following themes. *Advance registration required for all events. For details on application and lecture content, please visit the webpage. October “Understanding the View of Kingship in Ancient Egyptian Civilization through Patterns” Lecturer: Professor Tomoaki Nakano (Chubu University) Streaming: Wednesday, October 15th, 3:00 PM for one week Price: 500 yen
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20364/1032/20364-1032-358ee4da7bba17a2a0598e891a00dcb3-960×1280.jpg November “Ancient Egyptian Shipwrights” Lecturer: Professor Ayano Yamada (Associate Fellow, Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties) Distribution: One week from 3:00 PM on Wednesday, November 19th Price: 500 yen
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20364/1032/20364-1032-bb197c0a01b0770bc21ec4ef54138b76-3900×2599.jpg ■Ancient Orient Museum Overview Location: 7th floor, Sunshine City Bunka Kaikan Building, 3-1 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo Business hours: 10:00-17:00 (last entry 16:30) Features: Opened in 1978 as Japan’s first museum specializing in the ancient Orient region, with the purpose of introducing the ancient civilizations of the West Asia/Egypt region, which is said to be the birthplace of civilization. It houses approximately 5,000 materials from the Paleolithic period to the Sasanian period, mainly from the West Asia and Egypt regions, as well as many artifacts excavated from Syria. Contact: Ancient Orient Museum 03-3989-3491 https://aom-tokyo.com/ *Contents and schedule may change depending on the situation. *The image is for illustrative purposes only. *All prices include tax. Click here for the PDF version of this release
