July 12th (Sat) – September 7th (Sun)
The Ancient Orient Museum (Director: Tsumura Makiko), located in Sunshine City (Ikebukuro, Tokyo), will be holding two special exhibitions for the summer of 2025: "THE ANCIENT GLASS – Three Trajectories of Ancient Glass" and "Enjoy the Ancient Orient! Children's Museum" from July 12th (Sat) to September 7th (Sun).
The main exhibit, "THE ANCIENT GLASS," traces how glass, which originated in ancient Mesopotamia over 4,000 years ago, spread throughout the world and developed in its own unique way, through three trajectories: the Ancient Mediterranean World, the Ancient Orient World, and the East Asian World. Through 257 precious archaeological and artistic materials from 187 sources on loan from the MIHO MUSEUM, the Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum, the University Museum, The University of Tokyo, and other sources, the exhibition showcases the fruits of technological innovation created by ancient artisans.
The Children's Museum uses artifacts from the Ancient Orient Museum's collection to introduce the fascinating world of the ancient Orient in an easy-to-understand way. To make learning fun for even elementary and junior high school students, the museum has set themes that are easy for children to understand, such as "lifestyle," "letters," and "gods," and allows children to observe the exhibits using worksheets. There is also a corner where children can actually try out ancient tools and techniques. The museum also offers night tours (with explanations of the exhibits) and hands-on classes, making it the perfect place for independent research during the summer holidays .
In addition to the exhibition, we are also planning lectures, workshops, and collaborative events with Toshima Ward.
◆Event Overview
The museum will be divided into two sections, with two special exhibitions on different themes being held simultaneously. You can enjoy both exhibitions with the admission fee to the museum.
①THE ANCIENT GLASS – Three Trajectories of Ancient Glass
https://aom-tokyo.com/exhibition/250712glass.html
②Enjoy the Ancient Orient! Children's Museum
https://aom-tokyo.com/exhibition/250712_children.html
Date and time: July 12th (Sat) – September 7th (Sun) 10:00-17:00 (last entry 16:30)
Admission fee: 1,200 yen for adults, 600 yen for university and high school students, 300 yen for junior high and elementary school students *Discounts for groups and people with disabilities available
Sponsored by: Toshima Ward, Toshima Ward Board of Education
Special cooperation: Sunshine City
Masao Senmoto, Chief Researcher, Ancient Orient Museum
■Comment from the person in charge of "THE ANCIENT GLASS – Three Trajectories of Ancient Glass"
Glass, which is now a part of our daily lives, actually began to be made in ancient Mesopotamia over 4,000 years ago. Even with modern technology, there are still many things that remain to be discovered about the ancient glass-making process that spread throughout the world.
Through this exhibition, we hope you will be able to experience the outstanding techniques of ancient artisans and the profound appeal of glass as a material.
Tae Takami, Education and Public Relations Officer, Ancient Orient Museum
■ Comment from the person in charge of "Enjoying the Ancient Orient! Children's Museum"
Following on from last year, we will be holding the third Children's Museum Exhibition. The exhibition room will be filled with "Hands-on Corners" where you can touch and experience various exhibits!
We will also be exhibiting for the first time our newly developed educational material, "Let's Build an Ancient Mesopotamian City." We have put a lot of effort into preparing the exhibit so that anyone can enjoy learning, so please come and visit the Ancient Orient Museum this summer.
◆"THE ANCIENT GLASS – Three Trajectories of Ancient Glass" Exhibition Contents
Chapter 1: The ancient sparkle of glass
Ancient glass is said to have been invented in ancient Mesopotamia over 4,000 years ago. We will introduce some of the early glass products that were created through repeated trial and error.
Blue Star Pendant (Northern Mesopotamia, 16th-13th century BC)
Blue concentric bead necklace (Iran (Deraman, Tomb 5 on Mount Galekhti I), Iron Age IV (Achaemenid Persia), 6th century BC)
Chapter 2: Sparkling Treasures: Expensive and Luxurious Materials
Ancient glass was very expensive and a symbol of power. This exhibition will introduce ancient glass, which allowed for the creation of gorgeous forms unlike other materials and enriched the lives of royalty and aristocrats.
Decorative circular cut glass bowl (Iran, Sassanid Persia, 5th-7th century)
Floral Mosaic Panel (Egypt, 3rd century BC – 1st century AD)
Chapter 3: Sparkle of the Silk Road: Groundbreaking inventions in glassmaking techniques
The invention of glassblowing made it possible to mass-produce glass more efficiently than previous methods. This exhibition introduces a variety of ancient glass made using the glassblowing technique, which spread along the Silk Road.
Pressed (stripe and tortoiseshell) design bowl (Iran, 3rd-4th century)
Blue marble long-necked vase (Eastern Mediterranean, Ist Dynasty)
Chapter 4: The Sparkle of East Asian Lapis Lazuli
When glass was introduced to China from Western Asia, a unique Chinese aesthetic sense was fused with new Western technology, and new glass products not seen in the West began to be produced. This exhibition introduces ancient Chinese glass, which differs from Western glass.
White square lapis lazuli bead (China, Warring States period, 5th-3rd century BC)
Fine-grained lapis lazuli (China, Han Dynasty, 3rd century BC – 3rd century AD)
"THE ANCIENT GLASS – Three Trajectories of Ancient Glass" Original Goods
To coincide with this special exhibition, the museum shop will be stocking the exhibition catalogue as well as new original merchandise.
The glass pen (produced by Tachibana Glass Studio), which is based on a glass pin from the 1st to 3rd centuries, is a new product created to coincide with this exhibition.
In addition, we will offer a wide variety of related products, including clear files and accessories inspired by ancient beads and ornaments.
"THE ANCIENT GLASS: Three Trajectories of Ancient Glass" Exhibition Catalogue 2,500 yen
Original glass pen 20,900 yen
"THE ANCIENT GLASS – Three Trajectories of Ancient Glass" and other related events
Lectures
In conjunction with this special exhibition, two types of lectures will be held in a conference room within Sunshine City.
*All events require advance registration. Please see the website for details on how to register and the content of the lectures.
1. "The development and spread of ancient glass technology"
Lecturer: Professor Saeko Miyashita (Kokushikan University Institute of Ancient Iraqi Culture)
Date and time: July 21st (Monday/holiday) 13:30-15:00
Price: 500 yen (Friends Members) / 1,000 yen (General)
② "Ancient Glass – It Was a Jewels"
Lecturer: Ms. Yoko Azuma (MIHO MUSEUM)
Date and time: August 30th (Sat) 13:30-15:00
Price: 500 yen (Friends Members) / 1,000 yen (General)
●Monthly! Orihaku Online Course
The "Monthly! Orihaku Online Course" is delivered once a month, generally on the third Wednesday of the month.
The July and August events will be held in conjunction with this special exhibition and will be themed around the following themes.
*All events require advance registration. Please see the website for details on how to register and the content of the lectures.
July: "Gold Leaf Glass from the Ancient Mediterranean World"
Lecturer: Professor Yoshiko Fujii (Hellenistic to Roman glass researcher)
Distribution: One week from Wednesday, July 16th
Fee: Free (Friends Members) / 500 yen (General)
August: "East-West Exchange on the Silk Road as Told Through Glass"
Lecturer: Chizuko Kodera (Part-time lecturer at Komazawa University and Kokushikan University)
Distribution: One week from Wednesday, August 20th
Fee: Free (Friends Members) / 500 yen (General)
● Workshop for adults: "Making your first micro mosaic"
These accessories are made by arranging colorful glass pieces, each about 1 to 2 mm in size, with tweezers.
It feels like an intricate puzzle that can be redone.
You can take it home as it is and let it dry naturally for 1-2 weeks before it's ready.
* Advance application required. Please see the website for details on application procedures and fees.
Date and time: August 9th (Sat) 13:30-15:00
Venue: Sunshine City Conference Room
Instructors: Masaaki Nakano and Toto Nakano (both from Kaizuya)
"Micro Mosaic" – intricate glass accessories
●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. Please see the website for details on how to register and the lecture content.
Date and time: Saturday, August 23rd, 13:30~ *Approximately 1 hour
Fee: Free (participation is possible with admission fee only)
●Gallery Talk
The researcher in charge will explain the highlights of the special exhibition.
Dates: July 12th (Sat), 20th (Sun), 26th (Sat), August 2nd (Sat), 10th (Sun), 17th (Sat), 24th (Sun), September 7th (Sun)
*All sessions start at 14:00 (approximately 30 minutes)
Fee: Free (participation is possible with admission fee only)
"Enjoy the Ancient Orient! Children's Museum" Exhibit Contents
●Exhibition of "Children's Explanation Panels"
The Children's Museum Exhibition mascots, Orie-chan and Enta-kun, will break down and introduce the exhibits in each section. Friendly and easy-to-understand explanatory panels will be set up for elementary and junior high school students who have not yet studied world history, and adults who want to learn about the history and culture of the ancient Orient.
Example of an explanatory panel (image is from last year)
●Hands-on experience corner *Open every day during the event
①Try touching stone tools!
You can touch the actual stone tools in the museum's collection to check their shape and texture, and observe how they break.
② Try using an ancient stamp!
Try pressing stamps from ancient Mesopotamia or the ancient Indus into clay and see what images emerge.
●Ancient writing experience corner
You can experience the process of making glass beads using oven clay, which hardens when baked. By simply embedding the patterned parts into the clay, anyone can easily create their own glass bead design, and take home the finished product.
Date and time: August 1st (Fri) – 31st (Sun) 10:30-16:30
*Approximately 15 minutes required
Price: 200 yen
●Let's create an ancient Mesopotamian city!
The Ancient Mesopotamian City Kit developed by the Ancient Orient Museum is making its first appearance at the museum!
Arrange the blocky models to recreate an ancient Mesopotamian city.
Date and time: August 1st (Fri) – 31st (Sun) 10:30-16:30
*Approximately 15 minutes required
●Exhibition guide for children: "Orihaku Mystery Night Tour"
Special Nighttime Event! Explore the museum in the evening and uncover the mysteries surrounding the exhibits.
* Advance application required. Please see the website for details on how to apply.
Date and time: August 16th (Sun) 17:30~
Target: Elementary school students
Fee: Free (only admission fee)
Children's Orihaku Hands-on Course: "The Secrets of Glass Molds"
After exploring the ancient technique of glass-making using molds, you will try your hand at making a glass piece using molds using familiar materials and tools. You can take home your finished product.
* Advance application required. Please see the website for details on how to apply.
Date and time: August 3rd (Sun) 13:30~
Price: 500 yen
Lecturers: Makiko Tsumura, Tae Takami (Ancient Orient Museum)
●Toshima Museum Rally 2025
A stamp rally will be held with the participation of 15 museums in Toshima Ward.
If you collect stamps, you will receive a "Museum Diary" notebook to record your memories of the museum, as well as original Toshima Museum Rally merchandise.
Period: Thursday, August 1st to Wednesday, December 24th (scheduled)
Museum Diary
■Ancient Orient Museum Overview
Address: 7th floor, Sunshine City Cultural Hall Building, 3-1 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Business hours: 10:00-17:00 (last entrance 16:30)
Special features: The museum opened in 1978 as Japan's first museum specializing in the Ancient Near East, with the aim of introducing the ancient civilizations of Western Asia and Egypt, said to be the birthplace of civilization. It houses approximately 5,000 items from the Paleolithic period to the Sassanid period, mainly from Western Asia and Egypt, as well as many artifacts excavated from Syria.
For inquiries, please contact: Ancient Orient Museum 03-3989-3491 https://aom-tokyo.com/
*The content and schedule may change depending on the situation.
*Image is for illustrative purposes only.
*All prices include tax.
[Sunshine City Co., Ltd.] Press release
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