The National Museum of Ethnology (Minpaku) is a research center for ethnology and cultural anthropology.

Past Thematic Exhibitions

Arte Popular ― Contemporary Expression of Mexican Crafts
Photo Exhibition
Photo Exhibition
November 9, 2017 ~ December 26, 2017
Unknown Land, Greenland: Its Nature and Culture
Unknown Land, Greenland: Its Nature and Culture
September 4, 2014 ~ November 18, 2014
Minpaku Toy Expo: The Antique Toy Collection
Minpaku Toy Expo: The Antique Toy Collection
May 15, 2014 ~ August 5, 2014
Arirang: The Soul of Korea
Arirang: The Soul of Korea
May 2, 2013 ~ June 11, 2013
Transmitting Memories: Tsunami Disaster and Cultural Heritage
Indian Popular Art: Encounter with European Modernity
Indian Popular Art: Encounter with European Modernity
September 22, 2011 ~ November 29, 2011
The Eye of the Ethnologist: Umesao Tadao
The Eye of the Ethnologist: Umesao Tadao
March 3, 2011 ~ June 14, 2011
Beyond the Boundary in Asia
Beyond the Boundary in Asia
October 14, 2010 ~ December 7, 2010
Water and Vessels-From Cupped Hands to the Planet
Bon Deities in Tibet
Bon Deities in Tibet
April 23, 2009 ~ July 21, 2009
Viewing the World through Coins and Banknotes
Viewing the World through Coins and Banknotes
March 20, 2008 ~ September 30, 2008
Impressions of MINPAKU
Impressions of MINPAKU
March 6, 2008 ~ April 22, 2008
Creating and Communicating with Seed Beads
Creating and Communicating with Seed Beads
October 4, 2008 ~ December 18, 2008
Ainu Culture Depicted in Rare Books in the MINPAKU Library
Ainu Culture Depicted in Rare Books in the MINPAKU Library
September 6, 2007 ~ September 25, 2007
Collecting the World: MINPAKU Staff Selections
Collecting the World: MINPAKU Staff Selections
July 26, 2007 ~ March 4, 2008
MINPAKU Museum of Insects
MINPAKU Museum of Insects
July 13, 2006 ~ September 5, 2006
Touch and Grow Rich: You Can Touch Our Museum!
Touch and Grow Rich: You Can Touch Our Museum!
March 9, 2006 ~ September 26, 2006
Worlds in Landscape Models
Worlds in Landscape Models
October 13, 2005 ~ February 28, 2006
Minpaku Aquarium
Minpaku Aquarium
July 21, 2005 ~ September 20, 2005
Street Art in Africa
Street Art in Africa
February 26, 2005 ~ September 27, 2005
Minpaku Zoo
Minpaku Zoo
July 15, 2004 ~ November 23, 2004
Inuit Art of the Arctic
Inuit Art of the Arctic
July 4, 2002 ~ July 23, 2002
From Bento to Mixed Plate
From Bento to Mixed Plate
April 19, 2001 ~ August 28, 2001
Exhibition of Recently Donated Items
Exhibition of Recently Donated Items
February 24, 2001 ~ August 21, 2001
Fans from Around the World
Fans from Around the World
August 26, 2000 ~ February 18, 2001
Mandala: The Space where deities reside
Mandala: The Space where deities reside
February 26, 2000 ~ August 22, 2000
Life and Religious Culture in Rural Rumania
Life and Religious Culture in Rural Rumania
August 27, 1999 ~ February 20, 2000
Popular Art in the Andes
Popular Art in the Andes
February 27, 1998 ~ August 25, 1998
The Fascinating World of Beads  in the Southern Africa
The Fascinating World of Beads in the Southern Africa
August 29, 1997 ~ February 24, 1998
Tenjin Dolls: A Gift to the God
Tenjin Dolls: A Gift to the God
February 28, 1997 ~ August 26, 1997
Life on a Riverbank in Nepal
Life on a Riverbank in Nepal
February 29, 1996 ~ August 27, 1996
Modern Asian Letters from the Collection of NAKANISHI Ryo
Modern Asian Letters from the Collection of NAKANISHI Ryo
September 28, 1995 ~ February 27, 1996
Ceremonial Coinage in Equatorial Africa
Ceremonial Coinage in Equatorial Africa
March 30, 1995 ~ September 26, 1995
Yarn Art in Huichol
Yarn Art in Huichol
September 1, 1994 ~ February 28, 1995
Sea-Shore Fishing in the Sea of Japan
Sea-Shore Fishing in the Sea of Japan
February 24, 1994 ~ August 30, 1994
Agrarian Villages and Fishery Villages in Estonia
Agrarian Villages and Fishery Villages in Estonia
September 1, 1993 ~ February 22, 1994
Zhuang Culture in China
Zhuang Culture in China
February 25, 1993 ~ August 31, 1993
Ethnology and Culture of Laos
Ethnology and Culture of Laos
August 27, 1992 ~ February 23, 1993
The Sepik Region of Papua New Guinea
The Sepik Region of Papua New Guinea
November 30, 1989 ~ May 28, 1990
The Art of Earth and Fire: Terra-cotta in Indonesia
Stock Farmers in the Upper Nile: Life in Narim
Stock Farmers in the Upper Nile: Life in Narim
May 31, 1990 ~ November 27, 1990
Fishing Implements of the Northern Bay of Bengal
Fishing Implements of the Northern Bay of Bengal
May 25, 1989 ~ November 27, 1989
Ainu Traditional Clothing
Ainu Traditional Clothing
November 25, 1988 ~ May 22, 1989
Brazilian Popular Woodblock Prints
Brazilian Popular Woodblock Prints
May 26, 1988 ~ November 23, 1988
The Beauty of Kites: China
The Beauty of Kites: China
November 26, 1987 ~ May 23, 1988
Iranian and Turkish Textiles
Iranian and Turkish Textiles
May 28, 1987 ~ November 23, 1987
The Kingdom of Bhutan: Its Yak and Rice Culture
The Kingdom of Bhutan: Its Yak and Rice Culture
November 27, 1986 ~ May 25, 1987
North American Indian Culture
North American Indian Culture
May 29, 1986 ~ November 24, 1986
A Culture of Wood: Finland
A Culture of Wood: Finland
November 28, 1985 ~ May 26, 1986
The World of Indian Soil
The World of Indian Soil
May 30, 1985 ~ November 25, 1985
Life in Egypt
Life in Egypt
November 15, 1984 ~ May 17, 1985
West African Textiles: Narrow Cotton Cloths
West African Textiles: Narrow Cotton Cloths
May 24, 1984 ~ November 1, 1984
American Indian Basketry
American Indian Basketry
November 17, 1983 ~ May 22, 1984
Ethnology of Switzerland and Austrian Alpine Regions
Burmese Statues and Marionettes
Burmese Statues and Marionettes
December 16, 1982 ~ June 7, 1983
Lives of Australian Aboriginal peoples
Lives of Australian Aboriginal peoples
May 13, 1982 ~ December 14, 1982
Traditional Clothes of Chinese Minority Groups
Traditional Clothes of Chinese Minority Groups
March 26, 1981 ~ July 21, 1981
Ethnological Materials from Bulgaria
Ethnological Materials from Bulgaria
June 12, 1980 ~ March 24, 1981
West African Statues
West African Statues
November 15, 1979 ~ June 10, 1980
Clay Dolls, Local Toys, and Nebuta Floats
Clay Dolls, Local Toys, and Nebuta Floats
March 29, 1979 ~ November 13, 1979