Few objects have surfaced from early Imperial tumuli as, being graves of an extant family, excavation is at present prohibited by the Imperial Household Agency. Nevertheless, the occasional object has come to light in the course of repairs following damage by natural disasters, and one of the most beautiful is the head of a haniwa terra-cotta figure from the gigantic tomb of the 5th-century Emperor Nintoku in Sakai City, Osaka.

The head portrays a very young girl with an expression of studied concern as if witnessing some grand Imperial ceremony for the first time. The eyes and mouth are indicated by holes cut through to the hollow inside, and are powerfully expressive, like windows to the soul. Also in this first group of works showing at the National Museum of Tokyo, is one of Japan's earliest complete paintings: a portrait of Prince Shotoku (c.574-622) accompanied by two young princes dressed in flowing robes and curled-up- toed slippers reflecting the fashion of mainland Korea and China at the time.

Importing Buddhism and a writing system had a profound effect on Japan's development and the evolution of its own, unique culture. Adapting Chinese kanji to an already-established spoken language proved a major challenge, but during the following few centuries we see flowing texts — poetry, records and letters — inscribed in kanji and phonetic hiragana on beautiful decorated paper that seems to enhance the profound meaning of the words. Peerless examples can be seen in the show, some combined with paintings on hand-scrolls, providing both a written and illustrated narrative of legends and historic events.