During a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in the 1970s, Robert Feinberg, a chemist and businessman from Maryland, found himself admiring an Edo Period (1603-1867) painting.
Since then, Feinberg and his wife have amassed an impressive collection of paintings from that period, which is now being shown across Japan for the first time. The exhibition features 90 works, many of which do not represent the popular Kano School or Tosa School styles. Instead, it features many independent schools whose works express a creativity encouraged by the freedom from stylistic contstraints. Artists include Korin Ogata, Jakuchu Ito and Yosa Buson; May 21-July 15.
Edo Tokyo Museum; (03) 3626-9974; 1-4-1 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, Tokyo; Ryogoku Station, Sobu Line. 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (Sat. till 7:30 p.m.). ¥1,300. Closed Mon. (except July 15). www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp