Maps are an indispensable part of our daily lives. Since ancient times, people have created maps as a form of expression to represent the world in which they live and to convey geographical information. In due course, printed maps appeared to convey this information to even more people, and they continue to underpin the activities of society.
Today, maps are found not only in print but also on a broad range of electronic media such as applications on smartphones and other digital devices as well as online spaces, further extending their scope of communication. When did people first gain access to maps in printed form? In Japan, the first printed maps emerged during the early modern period.
This exhibition focuses on Japan's early modern period and the relationship between printing and people in the creation of maps and topographies. The maturation of woodblock printing technology during this era led to the production of a wide variety of maps and topographies that developed in their own unique ways. Maps of cities, Japan, and the world were distributed in print, forming an image of the world suited to the times. The materials on display at this exhibition include maps of Japan generated by Ishikawa Tomonobu, Nagakubo Sekisui, and Ino Tadataka that offer a glimpse into the Japanese people's geographical sensibilities and landscape consciousness.
Our sincere gratitude goes out to all those who helped and supported us in organizing this exhibition and preparing the catalog.