The Museum of the Ancient Orient , located in Sunshine City (Ikebukuro, Tokyo), will be holding a special autumn exhibition, "From the Ancient Orient to the Iwami Silver Mine – The World Moved by Silver," from September 19th (Saturday) to December 6th (Sunday), as part of the commemorative events for the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the Iwami Silver Mine and the 20th anniversary of its designation as a World Heritage Site in 2027 .
Human history took a dramatic turn with the encounter with metals. Gold and silver captivated people with their beauty and luster, eventually becoming symbols of wealth and power. Copper and iron, on the other hand, supported the development of civilization as tools and weapons. Among them, silver evolved from a material for measuring value to coins, and in various ways became a link between distant regions. During the Age of Discovery, it became an indispensable element in people's economic activities. It was during this era that the Iwami Silver Mine (Oda City, Shimane Prefecture) produced vast quantities of silver.
In 2027, the Iwami Silver Mine will celebrate a major milestone: the 500th anniversary of its discovery and the 20th anniversary of its designation as a World Heritage Site. This exhibition is one of three commemorative exhibitions to be held in Tokyo, Izumo (Shimane), and Oda (Shimane). Through ancient Oriental ornaments, silver vessels, a variety of coins, and materials related to the Iwami Silver Mine, the exhibition traces the history of how "silver" has connected people and the world. Take this opportunity to enjoy the charm and history of silver, as it will be the first time the Iwami Silver Mine is introduced in such detail in Tokyo.
Event Overview
Date and Time: September 19th (Sat) – December 6th (Sun), 10:00 – 17:00 (Last entry 16:30)
*The museum will be open until 8:00 PM on Sunday, October 18th and Friday, November 20th (last entry at 7:30 PM).
Admission fee: General admission 1,500 yen, University/High school students 1,000 yen, Junior high/Elementary school students 400 yen. *Group and disability discounts available.
Co-sponsored by: Ancient Orient Museum and Shimane Prefecture Commemorative Project Executive Committee for the 500th Anniversary of the Discovery of the Iwami Silver Mine
Supported by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Agency for Cultural Affairs, Toshima Ward, Toshima Ward Board of Education / Special cooperation: Sunshine City
Comments from those involved
Makiko Tsumura, Director of the Museum of Ancient Orient
As the title "From the Ancient Near East to the Iwami Silver Mine" suggests, the first half of the exhibition traces the history of how silver has influenced the world, from humanity's encounter with metals to beautiful silver products from the ancient Near East and the Silk Road, as well as silver coins from Greece, Persia, and Rome. The second half then moves to the Iwami Silver Mine. By learning about the history of silver around the world, its importance in global history becomes clear. This special exhibition is enjoyable for silver lovers, history buffs, coin enthusiasts, and art and craft lovers alike, offering new discoveries along the way.
Atsushi Tabara, World Heritage Office, Cultural Properties Division, Shimane Prefectural Board of Education
Next year, 2027, marks a momentous year: the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the Iwami Silver Mine and the 20th anniversary of its designation as a World Heritage Site. This special exhibition commemorates these milestones by exploring the relationship between humans and silver, and introducing the Iwami Silver Mine, which produced vast quantities of silver and had a significant impact on the global economy and culture. This is the first time that such a comprehensive collection of materials related to the Iwami Silver Mine will be exhibited in Tokyo, so please come and see it.
Exhibition content
Chapter 1: The Encounter Between Humans and Metals
This section introduces the process by which humankind encountered and began to utilize metals (gold, silver, copper, and iron), and the respective roles of each.
Gold ornaments (private collection) demonstrate the advanced metalworking techniques and authority of the time.
Chapter 2: Silver Sculpture
This exhibition introduces the history of silver's use in jewelry, vessels, and statues, showcasing its beauty and luster, and the technological advancements that supported it.
Amulet of Nefertem (Collection of MIHO MUSEUM): A statue of Nefertem, an ancient Egyptian god.
Chapter 3: Silver as Money
This presentation will explore the role of silver, from its function as a material that signifies value, through the birth of coins, to its role in supporting trade and driving economies and cultures. It will cover the history of coins, silver coins from Greece, Rome, Persia, and the Silk Road, and related research.
Cleopatra VII Silver Coin (Collection of the Museum of the Ancient Orient): A silver coin depicting Cleopatra VII, the last queen of ancient Egypt, and her husband and political ally, the Roman general Antony, on opposite sides.
Chapter 4: The Silver Age – The Age of Discovery
This article introduces the role of silver in the Age of Discovery, when global trade began, and the resulting cultural changes.
Globe (owned by the Nanban Culture Museum): A globe finished with lacquer.
The Tissera Map (owned by the Nakamura Library of Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine) is a map created in Europe at the end of the 16th century. It shows that the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine was known even in distant Europe.
Chapter 5: Iwami Silver Mine
This article introduces the Iwami Silver Mine, which played a significant role in the Silver Age, from the perspectives of silver production and the mining society.
The three antique silver coins—Bunroku Sekishu Silver, Imperial Collection Silver, and Official Use Silver (owned by the Shimane Prefectural Museum of Ancient Izumo History)—are all believed to have been made from silver from the Iwami Silver Mine and are closely associated with figures such as Mori Motonari and Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
The Silver Mine Work Scroll (owned by Nakamura Library of Iwami Silver Mine) is one of the Iwami Silver Mine scrolls. It vividly depicts scenes of mining operations.
In conclusion
The museum displays artifacts related to the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine's World Heritage designation, such as old Hagi silver coins and the World Heritage designation certificate. There are also information and hands-on exhibits about the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine.
Audio guide/merchandise
The audio guide for the special exhibition will be narrated by Tomokazu Seki, a voice actor familiar to fans of the museum's audio content, including the official audio guides for the Ancient Orient Museum, such as "The Beginning Story," "Reading of the Epic of Gilgamesh," and "Reading of the Enuma Elish."
To coincide with this special exhibition, the museum shop will be selling a catalog featuring all of the exhibited materials.
Additionally, on Saturday, September 19th, the first 100 customers will receive a "Iwami Ginzan Ballpoint Pen" as a gift.
Iwami Ginzan Ballpoint Pen (Image)
Related Events
●In-person course *Advance registration required
Olympic Museum Lecture: "The Birth of Copper and Iron in the Black Sea Circum-World"
Shortly after the end of the Ice Age and the beginning of the Neolithic Age, humankind encountered mineral resources and native copper in the Middle East. Once the technology to melt ore and obtain metal was discovered, it spread to the western and eastern coasts of the Black Sea. This time, we will trace those footsteps.
Lecturer: Yasumichi Murakami (Professor, Center for Asian Ancient Industrial Archaeology, Graduate School of Advanced Research, Ehime University)
Date and time: October 24th (Sat) 13:30-15:00
Price: 1,000 yen (Friends of the Museum members: 500 yen)
*Capacity: 150 people
Restored early Bronze Age meteorite iron tools
Iwami Silver Mine Lecture: "East Asian Gold and Silver Legends and Spain and Portugal"
This book explores the activities of Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands in the East Asian maritime region from the 16th to the 17th centuries, and the underlying context, from the perspective of gold and silver.
Lecturers: Mihoko Oka (Professor, Historiographical Institute, University of Tokyo), Yuzhong Li (Associate Professor, National Tsing Hua University)
Date and time: November 3rd (Tuesday/holiday) 13:30-16:00
*Capacity: 150 people, participation is free.
Map of Asia (Collection of Nakamura Library, Iwami Ginzan)
Iwami Silver Mine Lecture: "The Magistrate's Journey from Edo to Iwami – Okubo Nagayasu and Kawasaki Heiemon"
How was the Iwami Silver Mine controlled during the Edo period? We will explore the reality of the situation through the eyes of Okubo Nagayasu and Kawasaki Heiemon, who left a significant mark on the Iwami Silver Mine.
Lecturers: Yoshifumi Nakano (Director of Iwami Ginzan Museum), Kanako Shimizu (World Heritage Office, Cultural Properties Division, Shimane Prefectural Board of Education)
Date and Time: November 15th (Sunday), 13:30 – 16:00
*Capacity: 150 people, participation is free.
Site of the magistrate's office
● Online course *Pre-registration required
Autumn Special Exhibition Online Lecture: "Gold, Silver, and Copper of Ancient West Asia"
This special exhibition will introduce the history and production techniques of gold, silver, and copper, focusing on the materials on display.
Lecturers: Hidetoshi Tsumoto (Head of Research, Museum of Ancient Orient), Makiko Tsumura (Director, Museum of Ancient Orient)
Streaming: September 30th (Wed) *Available for viewing until December 13th (Sun)
Price: 500 yen
Monthly! Oriental Expo Online Course
The "Orihaku Online Lecture Series," which is streamed once a month, generally on the third Wednesday of the month, will be held in October and November with the following themes, coinciding with this special exhibition.
▸October: "Unraveling the Reality of High-Grade Silver Ore from Iwami Silver Mine"
Lecturer: Takashi Ishibashi (Chairman, Earth Science and Social Education Organization)
Release date: Wednesday, October 21st
Price: 500 yen
"Fukuishi," a silver ore mined at the Iwami Silver Mine during the Edo period (Collection of the Iwami Silver Mine Museum)
▸November: "Archaeology of the Achaemenid Persian Empire"
Lecturer: Yui Arimatsu (Associate Professor, Hiroshima University)
Release date: Wednesday, November 18th
Price: 500 yen
Xerxes Gate in Persepolis, the capital of the Achaemenid Persian Empire (Iran) *Photo taken by the instructor
Oriental Museum Online Collaborative Lecture: "Ancient Near East as Told by Coins"
Lecturer: Makiko Tsumura (Director of the Museum of Ancient Orient)
Broadcast: Every second Wednesday from October 14th (Wednesday) through January (4 episodes)
Price: 2,000 yen for 4 sessions (free for Friends of the Museum members)
● Children's Experience Workshop at the Olympic Museum for Elementary and Junior High School Students: "The Secrets of Coin Making"
While learning about ancient coins, you'll create your own stamping mold with your favorite design and experience making your own coin.
Date and Time: Sunday, October 4th, 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Price: 500 yen *Admission fee is required separately.
Coin-making experience (image)
● Guided tours of the exhibition for the visually impaired
This is an exhibition guided tour designed for people who are blind or have low vision.
Date and Time: Saturday, November 21st, 11:00 AM and 1:30 PM (the content is the same).
*About 1 hour
Fee: Free (Participation is possible with only the admission fee)
Guided tour of an exhibition for the visually impaired (image)
Guided tour of an exhibition for the visually impaired (image)
●Crafting Workshop: "Let's make a one-of-a-kind silver pendant by hammering! (*) and engraving" *Advance registration required
The front of the pendant will be engraved with your name or message (approximately 20 characters) using your favorite uppercase letters and numbers, and the back will have a hammered finish to create a unique silver pendant just for you. (Approximately 2.5 cm in diameter. Can also be used as a glasses holder.) *Hammered finish: A traditional technique of creating patterns on the surface by repeatedly striking metal with a small hammer.
Instructor: Ryusen Watanabe (Traditional Craftsman of Toshima Ward)
Date and time: October 12th (Monday/holiday) 11:00-12:00 / 13:30-14:30 / 15:00-16:00
Price: 10,000 yen *Admission fee is required separately.
Location: Inside the Museum of the Ancient Orient
Silver pendant (image)
●Gallery Talk
The researcher in charge will explain the highlights of the special exhibition.
Please see the webpage for the date and time.
Fee: Free (Participation is possible with only the admission fee)
Gallery Talk (Image)
[Click here for event details]
Reference: Sunshine City Fountain Square event "Marutto Iwami Festival"
An event will be held to promote the attractions of Shimane Prefecture, including the Iwami Silver Mine. In addition to a performance of Iwami Kagura, which was also showcased at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, there will be an event featuring Tomokazu Seki, who is in charge of the audio guide for the special exhibition, and Shimane Prefecture's tourism character, "Shimanekko," is also scheduled to make an appearance!
Date and Time: Sunday, October 18th, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Location: Sunshine City Fountain Square (Alpa Shopping Mall B1)
Co-sponsored by: Shimane Prefectural Board of Education, Museum of the Ancient Orient
Sunshine City Fountain Square
*This press release PDF can be downloaded here → https://prtimes.jp/a/?f=d20364-1146-eabfa7036a97a00736709b93970ea49b.pdf
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■ Overview of the Museum of Ancient Orient
●Location: Sunshine City Bunka Kaikan Building 7F, 3-1-4 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
●Opening hours: 10:00 – 17:00 (Last entry at 16:30)
●Inquiries: Museum of the Ancient Orient 03-3989-3491 https://aom-tokyo.com/
● Admission fee: Varies depending on the exhibition
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*Please note that the content, schedule, and operating hours may change depending on the circumstances.
*The image is for illustrative purposes only.
[Sunshine City Co., Ltd.] Press Release
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