Unlocking the History of Meibutsu
Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 5pm EDT
Live Zoom Webinar

Join the Japanese Art Society of America for an upcoming Zoom webinar exploring the fascinating world of meibutsu, the celebrated “famous things” that have shaped the way objects are valued, remembered, and preserved in Japan. Art historian and scholar Christine Guth will draw on her recent book, Exemplary Things: Meibutsu in Premodern Japan, to trace the rich and multifaceted history of meibutsu and its important role in shaping the identification, classification, and preservation of Japanese cultural heritage.

Meibutsu is a Japanese cultural keyword—with no exact anglophone equivalent—that has had a pervasive and enduring influence in Japan. Literally meaning “famous thing” or “thing with a personal name,” it has served to designate articles of the highest quality, from utensils used in the tea ceremony, swords and incense, to regional crafts and foodstuffs. Initially, this honorific was applied to luxury goods imported from China collected by the elite but over time it became a branding device for domestic products, especially those available along the heavily traveled Tokaido Road linking Kyoto and Edo.

To register for this fascinating conversation, click here.