This research project has been undertaken jointly by the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures (SISJAC) and the Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University (ARC). It is creating a pilot project centred on the construction of a portal site for an online open access database that will make accessible research materials in UK collections. In parallel, the project seeks to enhance research networking among curators in UK museums with Japanese collections.
SISJAC and the University of East Anglia (UEA) have established a new MA programme started in September 2020. The development of an online catalogue will provide opportunities for our students to be involved in the creation of a cutting-edge resource and help to foster relationships with leading museum collections in UK, providing a state-of-the-art resource for research and teaching. This should lead us to a richer, more powerful understanding of the emergence of Japanese arts and cultures.