Japan House Neo Japonism Kabuto

© NHK / Tokyo National Museum / The National Center for the Promotion of Cultural Properties

Get ready for an immersive journey through Japanese history
as you’ve never experienced it before

As recent hits like FX’s “Shōgun” drama series and Sony’s “Rise of the Ronin” video game have gained fans around the world, many have wished they could step into the world of medieval Japan and experience authentic samurai culture firsthand. Starting this February, visitors can do exactly that at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles with “NEO-JAPONISM | SAMURAI AND BEYOND: Exploring Tradition Through Technology,” an innovative exhibition in partnership with the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) that brings Japan’s past vividly to life through cutting-edge technology.

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of broadcasting in Japan started by three radio stations which later became the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), NHK is launching the NEO-JAPONISM initiative to build new bridges to the global audiences that have embraced Japanese culture, from traditional arts to anime, manga, and J-Pop. With this special exhibition, JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles is proud to spotlight NHK’s unique and popular programming, as well as the next-wave digital visualization technologies they’ve pioneered to share the treasures of Japanese history far beyond the traditional spaces of museums and books.

The exhibition unfolds across four dynamic zones: an introduction to NHK’s groundbreaking technologies; an immersive journey into samurai culture featuring historical artifacts and virtual castle architecture; a celebration of Edo-period masterworks including iconic paintings and rare ukiyo-e prints; and finally, an exploration of ancient Japanese treasures. Visitors will be able to “enter” these periods and themes through immersive installations, digital projections, 3D models, tangible artifacts, and more.

One showstopping highlight is an expansive digital projection of a famous castle from NHK’s acclaimed “Taiga” dramas, their signature year-long series that tell the stories of samurai, warlords, noblewomen, and court ladies from pre-modern Japan with gripping drama and spectacular style. The display will also feature authentic costumes from the drama series “Awaiting Kirin,” meticulously recreated under the guidance of Kurosawa Kazuko, daughter of legendary filmmaker Kurosawa Akira.

In the “Art Icons of the Edo Period” (or art of the Edo period) zone, visitors can explore Itō Jakuchū’s vibrant “One Hundred Flowers” wall paintings through exquisitely detailed renderings from 3D scans and interact with ukiyo-e masterpieces produced under the guidance of the influential Tsutaya Jūzaburō. The exhibition culminates with an awe-inspiring digital recreation of the 900-year-old Golden Hall of Chūson-ji Temple and a simulation of a late Jōmon-period Shakōki Dogū figure, complete with a precisely crafted 3D-printed replica.

Throughout the exhibition’s run, visitors can witness up-close how NHK’s revolutionary 3D scanning technology makes priceless heritage objects more accessible to all, bringing timeless treasures into our hearts and homes, and sharing them with the world through epic storytelling and multi-media experiences. In 2025, discover the real Japanese history that inspired some of today’s most compelling global entertainment as NEO-JAPONISM bridges the gap between past and present.

Announcements regarding exhibition-related programs will be made, soon.

Dates: Friday, February 14 – Monday, September 1, 2025
Closed during the Academy Awards ceremony weekend

Hours: Mon – Fri | 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sat – Sun | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Location: JAPAN HOUSE Gallery | Level 2
Fee: Free

EXHIBITION CREDITS

Presented by
JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles

Organized by
NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)
NHK Enterprises, Inc.

Special Support
Tokyo National Museum