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

Staff Members

SUEMORI Kaoru
SUEMORI KaoruSUEMORI Kaoru
Department of Advanced Human Sciences・Assistant Professor
Research Specialization
  • Conservation Science, Chinese Buddhist Art History, Cultural Heritage Studies
Individual Research Projects
  • Development of Optical Survey Methods for Museum
Personal website

Research Specialization

  • Conservation Science, Chinese Buddhist Art History, Cultural Heritage Studies

Individual Research Projects

  • Development of Optical Survey Methods for Museum Collection

Academic Qualifications

  • B.A. International Christian University 2004
  • M.A. University of Tsukuba 2006
  • Ph.D. University of Tsukuba 2018

Research Interests

  1. Application of scientific methods for conserving cultural heritage
  2. International cooperation activities related to conserving cultural heritages

Current Research Topics

Reconsideration of Chinese Grottoes Buddhist art through its techniques and materials

Research Keywords

Conservation science, Chinese Buddhist art, Cultural heritage, Egyptian artifacts

Publications (English publications only)

2020
“Deterioration Caused by a New Support Layer Bonded with Epoxy Adhesive to the Mural Paintings at Fengguo Temple in Yixian, Liaoning, China”, Lui C., K. Suemori, Q. Li, Y. He, F. Wang, H. Kang, Current Practices and Challenges in Built Heritage Conservation, The International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (IIC) 2020 Edinburgh Congress Preprints, (Studies in Conservation, Vol. 65, Supplement 1, 2020) , pp. S187-S191
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00393630.2020.1753355
2020
Thousand-Buddha images in Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes: Religious spaces created by polychromatic patternsThousand Buddha, 354 pages, Hozokan.
2019
“Visualization of the Past-to-Recent Changes in Archaeological Heritage based on 3D Digitization,” N. Mori, T. Higo, K. Suemori, H. Suita, and Y. Yasumuro, Proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on Cultural Heritage and New Technologies 2018. CHNT 23, 2018 (Vienna 2019) , ISBN 978-3-200-06576-5. http://www.chnt.at/proceedings-chnt-23/
2019
“Nondestructive Structural Survey applying CT on Mural Fragments of Maijishan Grottoes, Tianshui, China(CTを用いた麦積山石窟壁画片の非破壊構造調査),” K. Suemori, Y. Yue, T. Li, Q. Ma, G. Dong, T. Matsui, H. Yagi, and Y. Kawamura, The Proceedings of 2019 Daejeon International Symposium on Conservation of Cultural Heritage in East Asia, Daejeon, pp. 276-279, ISBN 978-89-299-1594-3 93910.
2019
“Conservation of Ancient Mural Paintings by Detaching Method: Application of the Facing Technique Using Funori (古代壁画の剥ぎ取り保存－布海苔を用いた伝統的表打ち技法の応用－),” T. NISHIURA1, H. Suita, M. Suita, I. Oka, K. Suemori, M. Sawada, A. Shoeib, The Proceedings of 2019 Daejeon International Symposium on Conservation of Cultural Heritage in East Asia, Daejeon, pp. 92-95, ISBN 978-89-299-1593-3 93910.
2019
“Optical photographic examination of mural paintings in Cave 127 of the Maijishan Grottoes, Tianshui, China,” SUEMORI Kaoru, YUE Yongqiang, LI Tianming, MA Qian, DONG Guangqiang, MATSUI Toshiya, YAGI Haruo, Traditional Techniques and Modern Technology: The Proceedings of the Sixth Symposium of the Society for Conservation of Cultural Heritage in East Asia, pp. 569-580.
2019
“Portable XRF Study for the Pigments Applied in the Wall Paintings of the Caves in Bei Wei Period at the Maijishan Cave-Temple Complex,” ZHOU Yishan, MATSUI Toshiya, SUEMORI Kaoru, YUE Yongqiang, DONG Guangqiang, MA Qian, LI Xiaoxi, Traditional Techniques and Modern Technology: The Proceedings of the Sixth Symposium of the Society for Conservation of Cultural Heritage in East Asia, pp. 629-643.
2018
“Visualization of the Past-to-Recent Changes in Cultural Heritage Based on 3D Digitization” (With N. Mori, T. Higo, H. Suita, and Y. Yasumuro), Digital Heritage. Progress in Cultural Heritage: Documentation, Preservation, and Protection (7th International Conference, EuroMed 2018, Nicosia, Cyprus, October 29–November 3, 2018, Proceedings, Part I) , pp. 3-14.
https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030017613
2018
“Common challenges for ethnographic and modern art collections: Pest control for large and complex objects containing new materials” (With N. Sonoda, and S. Hidaka), Preventive Conservation: The State of the Art, The International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (IIC) 2018 Turin Congress Preprints, (Studies in Conservation, Vol.63, Supplement 1, 2018), pp.234-241
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00393630.2018.1471886
2018
“Bead decorations appearing in Buddhist art,” Beads in the World, pp.58, National Museum of Ethnology.
2018
“Activities of the Center for the Global Study of Cultural Heritage and Culture, Kansai University,” Comprehensive Global Studies for Conservation and Utilization of Cultural Heritage, (With H. Suita), pp. 9-16.
2018
“Survey on Current Conditions and Environment of Barbar Temple” (With H. Suita, T. Higo, and A. Salman), Comprehensive Global Studies for Conservation and Utilization of Cultural Heritage, (With H. Suita), pp. 157-168.
2017
“Challenges and reflections for a sustainable climate control at the National Museum of Ethnology, Japan,” (With N. Sonoda, and S. Hidaka), ICOM-CC 18th Triennial Conference 2017 Copenhagen.
2016
(With N. Sonoda, and S. Hidaka) “Common challenges for ethnographic and modern art collections: Pest control for large and complex objects containing new materials”, Naoko Sonoda In Saving the Now: Crossing Boundaries to Conserve Contemporary Works, IIC 2016 Los Angeles Congress Preprints, (Studies in Conservation, Vol.61 Supplement 2 2016), 12-16 September, Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, The International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (IIC), S2-329 – S2-331
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00393630.2016.1188255. ISSN: 0039-3630 (Print) ISSN 2047-0584 (Online)
2016
(With N. Sonoda, and S. Hidaka) “25 years of implementation and development of IPM at the National Museum of Ethnology, Japan”, In IPM 2016, 3rd international IPM Conference in Museums, Archives, Libraries and Historic Buildings, 13-15 September, Auditorium du Louvre, RACHNet, pp.84.

Presentations

2019
“Quantitative Visualization of Secular Changes based on 3D Viewpoint Estimation for archaeological heritage maintenance: A Case Study at Barber Temple Ruins in Bahrain,” N. Mori, S. Almahari, T. Higo, K. Suemori, H. Suita, and Y. Yasumuro, Conference on CHNT (Cultural Heritage and New Technologies) 24, Vienna City Hall, Vienna, Austria. 4-6 November 2019.
2019
“Nondestructive Structural Survey applying CT on Mural Fragments of Maijishan Grottoes, Tianshui, China(CTを用いた麦積山石窟壁画片の非破壊構造調査),” K. Suemori, Y. Yue, T. Li、Q. Ma, G. Dong, T. Matsui, H. Yagi, and Y. Kawamura, 2019 Daejeon International Symposium on Conservation of Cultural Heritage in East Asia, Daejeon, South Korea, 29-30 August 2019.
2019
“Conservation of Ancient Mural Paintings by Detaching Method: Application of the Facing Technique Using Funori (古代壁画の剥ぎ取り保存－布海苔を用いた伝統的表打ち技法の応用－),” T. NISHIURA1, H. Suita, M. Suita, I. Oka, K. Suemori, M. Sawada, A. Shoeib, 2019 Daejeon International Symposium on Conservation of Cultural Heritage in East Asia, Daejeon, South Korea, 29-30 August 2019.
2017
"Ten Years of Kansai University Mission", H. Suita, A. Ito, K, Suemori. International Meeting - Saving Archaeological Heritage in Saqqara - Ten Years achievements of Kansai University Mission, Giza, Egypt. 8-9 Nov 2017:
2017
"Challenges and reflections for a sustainable climate control at the National Museum of Ethnology, Japan", N. Sonoda, S. Hidaka, K Suemori., 18th Triennial Conference of International Council of Museum Committee for Conservation (ICOM-CC), Copenhagen:
2016
“Common challenges for ethnographic and modern art collections: Pest control for large and complex objects containing new materials”, N. Sonoda, S. Hidaka, K Suemori. International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (IIC), 2016 Los Angeles Congress -Saving the Now: Crossing Boundaries to Conserve Contemporary Works-, 12-16 September, Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, USA
2016
“25 years of implementation and development of IPM at the National Museum of Ethnology, Japan”, Naoko SONODA, Shingo HIDAKA, Kaoru SUEMORI. IPM 2016, 3rd international IPM Conference in Museums, Archives, Libraries and Historic Buildings, 13-15 September, Auditorium du Louvre, France.
2015
"Collection Management of Egyptian Artifacts: Transferring means of collection care into Grand Egyptian Museum - the new house of Tutankhamun collection", Shingo HIDAKA, Kaoru SUEMORI, Yoji MASADA, Hidemasa TOKUDA, Eissa Zidan Abd El Albadea, Mohamed Badr Eidein Hassan, Shabaan Abd El-Moneim Ahmed, 1st International Tutankhamun GEM Conference –Moving and Displaying, 11-14 May 2015
2014
"Preventive measures and activities for protection of ancient Egyptian artifacts in the Grand Egyptian Museum-Conservation Center (GEM-CC)"Hanady Galal, Maha Mahmoud, Mohammed Ramadan, Bahaa Dewidar, Haytham Tawfik, Hanan Ahmed Mohalhal, Dina Mamdouh Mohamed, Aya Mahdy Abdel Wahab, Walid Mostafa, Hatim Gamil, Kaoru Suemori, Yasunori Matsuda. The 17th Triennial Conference of the International Council of Museums Committee for Conservation (ICOM-CC), Melbourne, Australia, 15-19 September, 2014
2013
"A New Egyptian Museum: Its Role and Activity in the Africa and Middle East Region" Yasunori Matsuda, Kaoru Suemori, Hussein Bassir, Hussein Kamal, Mohamed Atwa, Said Shebl, Osama Abo el Khair and Vinod Daniel. The 23rd General Conference of the International Council of Museum (ICOM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 10 - 17 August, 2013