About the ARC
  1. HOME
  2. A Word from the Director of the ARC

A Word from the Director of the ARC

aword_en.png

　　The Art Research Center was established in 1998. Since then, the Center's mission has been not only to conduct historical and social research and analyses of both tangible and intangible human cultural properties such as visual and performing arts and craftsmanship, but also to record, organize, preserve, and disseminate the research outcomes. Since its establishment, the center has brought together the wisdom of researchers from different fields on the premise of integration of and collaboration between the humanities and information science. Moreover, we have been conducting joint research and project-based research -- a unique undertaking in humanities -- through external funds such as those from the Project for Promoting Advancement of Academic Research at Private Universities.

　Since the 2000s, we have been engaged in a number of projects, particularly being selected to conduct the Kyoto Art Entertainment Innovation Research (FY 2002-2006), a 21st Century COE (Center for Excellence) Program designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Under this project, we promoted Japanese culture research that integrates information science with traditional humanities. Based on the success of this project, the Digital Humanities Center for Japanese Arts and Cultures (FY 2007-2011) was designated as a Global COE Program center by the MEXT. As a major hub for digital humanities in Japan, we have been engaging in the nurturing of young researchers while promoting international collaboration.
　In order to elevate and effectively utilize the vast amount of digitized data on tangible and intangible Japanese cultural resources, the techniques required, and the networking with people at related organizations in and outside of Japan we have acquired through our research efforts and educational activities, the Center applied to the MEXT to be accredited as a Joint Usage / Research Center, and was designated a Digital Archive Research Center for Japanese Cultural Resources (FY 2014-2019). Most recently, the Center has assumed its role as the International Joint Digital Archiving Center for Japanese Art & Culture (ARC-iJAC) upon being accredited by the MEXT as an International Joint Usage / Research Center (October 2019 - present).

Our specific goals are given as follows:

  • To make the vast amount of database of resources on Japanese culture kept at the Art Research Center available to joint researchers in and outside of Japan, while providing the hitherto accumulated digital archiving and database management technologies as the basis for research project activities to promote information archiving and the circulating of joint research on knowledge.
  • To widely implement public recruit in and outside of Japan for Digital Humanities research projects to contribute to the creation of a broader research community than conventionally available, while utilizing the network of people at overseas Japanese culture research centers established thus far (including art museums and museums).
  • To develop, propose and share practical methods in regard to the passing of highly specialized cultural resources database on to future generations.

The Art Research Center, under these objectives, has been engaged in the digital archiving of valuable cultural heritage both in Japan and abroad through a wide range of research activities and projects. We also have extensive experience in the archiving and analysis of paintings--including ukiyo-e--as well as historical documents.

 In Kyoto, the birthplace of Ritsumeikan University, we have digitally archived the Gion Festival, including the construction of festival floats and their processional performances, by utilizing advanced CG, VR, and acoustic analysis technologies. We have also conducted the first full-scale 3D measurement of Nijo-jo Castle in Japan. In Nara, we have carried out digital archiving of important cultural properties, including national treasures and UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Taima-dera Temple and Tamaki Shrine.

 Furthermore, overseas, we conducted, for the first time as a foreign research institution, a comprehensive measurement of Borobudur Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Indonesia, and developed digital content based on the acquired data. Currently, we are also launching new international collaborative projects for the digital archiving of cultural heritage in the Middle East and Europe.

 Some of the above achievements are available on the Art Research Center website.

 The Art Research Center brings together researchers from diverse fields both in Japan and abroad, promoting a new style of interdisciplinary research that integrates the humanities and sciences. Within Ritsumeikan University, researchers from a wide range of faculties and institutes--including the College of Letters, College of Information Science and Engineering, College of Image Arts and Sciences, College of Arts and Design (established in April 2026), College of Policy Science, International Institute of Language and Culture Studies, College of Science and Engineering, College of Business Administration, and Asia-Japan Research Institute--are actively participating in our activities.

 As one of the few core organizations in Japan dedicated to full-scale interdisciplinary research integrating the humanities and sciences, we will continue to promote collaborative research with other universities and research institutions, strengthen partnerships with leading institutions both domestically and internationally, foster young researchers, and actively disseminate research outcomes while contributing to society. Furthermore, based on digital archiving, we aim to promote new understanding and value creation of cultural heritage, and to establish a world-class research hub in the field of Digital Humanities.