"The Frog in the Well Knows Nothing of the Ocean" (2025) NSDC
In numbers of eyeballs on artworks Tokyo is the unchallenged World capital of art. That's probably why President Trump and the Oasis Brothers both visited here in recent days. (That's just a humble art writer's guess!) But whether it was to bask in the glory of our rich aesthetic offerings or whether they had some other more mundane reason to be here, it's time to present Tokyo-Met's top tips for shows to see in November.
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Chair, c.1820, solid mahogany, mahogany veneer, ebony inlays, textile, Asembaum Collection / Koloman Moser, Armchair (1903) Prag-Rudniker, beech, cane, Toyota Municipal Museum of Art
VIENNESE STYLE
Subtitled "Biedermeier through Fin de Siècle," this exhibition presents a fascinating tale of very early modernism—the early 19th-century Biedermeier era of design, its later eclipse by more "backward looking" styles in the mid-to-late-19th century, and its revival by designers in the fin-de-siècle period. The PANASONIC SHIODOME MUSEUM may verge a little on the small side, but their exhibitions are always very well presented and pack a lot in. Featuring a rich array of silverware, ceramics, glassware, jewellery, dresses, and furniture that may surprise you with their sleek lines and iconic designs.
Now - 17th December.
PRICE: ¥1500
PERSPECTIVES: HOW TO PERCEIVE THE WORLD
If you're looking for a little free art in Tokyo, there are always plenty of places to go. One of the best is the SHISEIDO ART GALLERY smack bang in the luxury shopping area of Ginza (which explains how I found it!). This time they have a charming exhibition by artists and identical twins Akiko and Masako Takada. Their rather pretty and feminine art has a surprising scientific backbone, with one work expressing the colour spectrum using different sized beds while another refers to the stratification of time and accumulation that creates both our geology and the collection of knick-knacks on our bookshelves.
Now - 7th December.
PRICE: Free
Noritaka Tatehana: Self-Portrait (2025), oil on canvas
NORITAKA TATEHANA: OBSESSION:
Another good spot to see some free art is the new Toda Building right next to the also new (but not free) ARTIZON in Kyobashi. On the Third Floor, the building hosts a number of galleries which are always happy to welcome visitors who possibly might buy the art. Now one of the galleries, KOSAKU KANECHIKA, is showing a selection of recent paintings by the artist Noritaka Tatehana, who is more known for textile art and objects. The paintings, almost all of himself and his family, show an instinctive grasp of colour, space, and soul. Expect a lot more painting from him in the future.
Now - 22nd November
PRICE: Free
PRISM OF THE REAL: MAKING ART IN JAPAN 1989-2025
This exhibition at the NATIONAL ART CENTER TOKYO is a must-see for anyone who has—like me—had a long-term interest in the Tokyo art world, or else for anyone who wants to take the cultural pulse of the metropolis over the last 36 years. It throws together a lot of big names and highlights the wild times and dynamic socio-political transformation that followed the joint end of the the Cold War and the Showa Period in 1989. Featuring works by more than 50 artists, mainly Japanese, including Makoto Aida, Yasumasa Morimura, Takashi Murakami, Yoshitomo Nara, Tabaimo, Tadasu Takamine, etc. As with all contemporary art, you'll hate some of it and love some of it.
Now – 8th December
PRICE: ¥2,o00.
La Petite Communiante, Eglise de Deuil, Maurice Utrillo (1930) © Hélène Bruneau 2025
MAURICE UTRILLO
Maurice Utrillo holds a special place in the hearts of Japanese art fans, so every few years a big show comes to town and this one at the SOMPO MUSEUM OF ART is it! Organized in cooperation with Paris's own Musée National d'Art Moderne (MNAM), it brings together approximately 70 oil paintings, including works from the MNAM's collection, along with about 10 archival items from the Association Maurice Utrillo. Enjoy the vibe of Paris as the ultimate art city.
Now – 14th December.
PRICE: ¥1,800.
Aki Sasamoto, Still from Point Reflection (video), 2023 🄫Aki Sasamoto. Courtesy of Take Ninagawa, Tokyo
AKI SASAMOTO'S LIFE LAB
Veering between what seems like stand-up comedy, improv, street dancing, and odd "science" experiments with everyday objects, Aki Sasamoto is one of the more offbeat and interesting contemporary artists out there. Her latest show at the MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART TOKYO is a kind of homecoming for the 45-year-old artist, who has been based in the USA for the last 20 years or so. She has also lived in England. Much in her "Life Lab" might baffle, bore, or seem banal, depending on tastes, but this is brave and gritty art about getting a better grip on all the weird stuff that clutters up our lives. I loved it a lot more than I thought I would.
NOTE: On November 6 and 7, the artist herself will be doing performances in English. If interested in attending CLICK HERE.
NOTE: On November 6 and 7, the artist herself will be doing performances in English. If interested in attending CLICK HERE.
Now - 24th November.
PRICE: ¥1,500.
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