Discover Japanese Treasures in Manchester for Japan Week

Celebrate Japan Week by uncovering the fascinating Japanese artifacts housed in some of Manchester’s most iconic cultural institutions. From centuries-old incense burners to intricately drawn maps and temple bells, these treasures offer a unique glimpse into Japan’s rich artistic and spiritual traditions all right here in Manchester. 

Explore these four must-see highlights: 

Step into the newly redesigned foyer of the Manchester Museum and be greeted by a magnificent Japanese incense burner (kōro) from the Meiji era (1868–1912). Originally dismantled and stored for more than 65 years, this towering 3.7-metre bronze masterpiece was painstakingly reconstructed from 14 separate parts weighing a total of 0.7 tonnes. 

Used traditionally in Buddhist rituals and tea ceremonies, the incense burner embodies the meticulous metalwork and spiritual symbolism that define Japanese craftsmanship. 

The Manchester Art Gallery boasts a diverse collection of Japanese art, celebrating both traditional aesthetics and modern innovation. Past exhibitions like Modern Japanese Design (2015) showcased everything from origami-inspired lighting to sleek, minimalist furniture. 

Highlights have included works by ceramicists Yasuko Sakurai and Ikuko Iwamoto, glass artists Keiko Mukaide and Ayako Tani, and designers like Shiro Kuramata and Toyo Ito. These collections reflect the Japanese reverence for natural materials and harmonious design. 

Nestled within the gothic grandeur of the John Rylands Research Institute and Library, this remarkable collection of Japanese maps offers rare insights into historical worldviews and cartographic techniques. 

Acquired in 1901, the collection includes around 60 Edo- and Meiji-era maps and atlases, many of which were digitised in 2016. Originally assembled by the 25th Earl of Crawford, these maps reveal how Japan viewed itself and the wider world in an age of growing global exchange. 

Visit Chetham’s Library, the oldest public library in the English-speaking world, to see a striking Japanese Buddhist Bonsho bell. Traditionally used in temples to signal prayer times, this bell’s deep, resonant tone is steeped in spiritual and cultural meaning. 

Believed to have been brought to Manchester in the 1920s by Assistant Librarian Joseph Phelps, an avid admirer of Japan, the bell rang out in 2019 as part of the Bells for Peace event, marking Manchester’s commitment to unity and reflection. 

This Japan Week, experience how Manchester connects East and West through timeless craftsmanship, artistic innovation, and historical curiosity. Find out more about what's happening around Greater Manchester here.