National Museum of Western Art

The museum was established on June 10, 1959, following the return of the Matsukata collection to Japan after World War II. The core of the museum's holdings consists of works acquired by the industrialist Kojiro Matsukata, who aimed to create a national museum specializing in Western art. Although the collection was held by the French government during the war, it was subsequently returned to Japan, forming the nucleus of the new institution.

Since its opening, the museum has actively purchased artworks annually to develop its permanent collection and organizes special exhibitions featuring loans from private and public collections worldwide.

The Main Building of the museum is a masterpiece designed by the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, who also developed a masterplan for the surrounding area. The building, which opened in 1959 after more than two years of construction, is square in plan with galleries raised on pilotis (columns). It features a double-height 19th Century Hall with a north-glazed pyramidal skylight and is clad in prefabricated concrete panels.

The design strictly adheres to Le Corbusier's 'Modulor' system, a proportional scale based on the human body, applied to everything from structural members to furnishings. The building was designated an Important Cultural Property in 2007.

The museum's collection is anchored by the Matsukata collection, which includes more than 400 French paintings, sculptures, and drawings. The Main Building displays pre-18th-century paintings, while the New Wing houses 19th- to early 20th-century French paintings. The drawing collection features significant works by 18th- to 19th-century French artists, and the prints collection includes works by various masters.

Notable sculptural works by Auguste Rodin and Antoine Bourdelle are displayed in the forecourt, with specific installations such as Rodin's 'Adam and Eve' and Bourdelle's sculptures undergoing seismic isolation work to ensure their preservation.

The National Museum of Western Art holds immense significance as the primary repository of Western art in Japan and a testament to international architectural heritage. In July 2016, the Main Building was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the 'The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement,' a transnational site involving seven countries. This recognition underscores the building's value as a pivotal example of Modernist architecture.

The museum continues to play a vital role in cultural exchange, education, and the preservation of art history through its extensive research and publication programs.

Since its inception, the museum has undergone several expansions and modifications to accommodate its growing collection and visitor needs. The architect Maekawa Kunio designed a new annex added in 1979, and Sakakura Associates designed a lecture hall and office building in 1964. In 1998, the museum underwent significant seismic retrofitting, including the installation of earthquake-resistant foundations and seismic isolation for the sculptures in the forecourt.

Further renovations have included the upgrade of air conditioning facilities in the New Wing and the construction of viewing rooms and storage for prints and drawings, ensuring the long-term preservation of the artworks.