Suntory Museum of Art

The Suntory Museum of Art is a private museum of Japanese art and decorative arts located in Tokyo Midtown, Roppongi, Tokyo. Founded in 1961 by Keizo Saji, then president of the Suntory beverage corporation, the museum operates under the collection theme of "Art in life" and specializes primarily in Japanese antiques. Its holdings comprise more than 3,000 cultural objects, including one National Treasure, 16 Important Cultural Properties, and 21 Important Art Objects. Together with the Mori Art Museum and the National Art Center, Tokyo, it forms the "Roppongi Art Triangle," a cluster of major art institutions in one of Tokyo's most prominent cultural districts.

The museum opened in November 1961 in the Palace Building in Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo, with Keizo Saji explicitly stating that it began with no permanent collection. Contrary to conventional museum practice, Saji declared that "artworks are currently at zero," aiming instead to create special exhibitions that examined Japanese art from the past through a contemporary lens, emphasizing the spirit of beautiful culture in everyday life. In 1975, the museum relocated to the Suntory Building in Akasaka, Minato. When the Tokyo branch of Suntory moved to Odaiba in January 2005, the museum temporarily closed. It reopened on March 30, 2007, in Tokyo Midtown, on the former site of the Defense Agency, with a building designed by architect Kengo Kuma. The museum underwent renovation beginning in November 2019, reopening in July 2020 with enhanced earthquake-resistant ceiling, LED lighting, and renewed entrance, shop, cafe, and staff uniforms, again supervised by Kuma.

The collection, developed continuously since the museum's first year, encompasses approximately 3,000 objects displayed across 1,000 square meters of gallery space. It is organized into six categories: paintings, lacquerware, ceramics, glass, dyed textiles, and other works. The holdings range from vintage Japanese art to Eastern and Western glassware. The museum does not maintain a permanent exhibition space, instead organizing special thematic exhibitions that draw from its collection. This approach aligns with its founding philosophy of presenting art as integrated with life rather than as isolated objects.

The museum's most celebrated work is the Heian-period lacquerware box known as Fusenryo raden makie tebako, designated a National Treasure. This piece features geometric patterns with mother-of-pearl and gold-dust inlay. Among Important Cultural Properties, the pair of Momoyama-period folding screens "Kings from the Far West on Horseback" (Taisei oko koma zu byobu) is particularly significant, reflecting the period when Jesuit missionaries introduced Western artistic influences to Japan. The museum also holds the "Suntory Scrolls," a set of three scrolls painted by Kano Motonobu in 1522 depicting The Tale of Shutendoji, designated an Important Cultural Property in 2015. This work is the oldest known depiction of the Mount Ibuki version of the demon-slayer legend and profoundly influenced later artistic production. Another Important Cultural Property, the Sake Dendoko Picture Scroll by Kano Hajime, represents an ancient Muromachi-period example of the Shutendoji narrative that shaped subsequent depictions.

The museum occupies the third floor of Tokyo Midtown Galleria in Roppongi, within the Tokyo Midtown complex on the former site of the Defense Agency. Architect Kengo Kuma designed the 2007 building, conceiving it as an urban parlor. The design incorporates his characteristic integration of traditional Japanese materials and contemporary spatial concepts. The 2019-2020 renovation, also supervised by Kuma, enhanced structural safety while refining the visitor environment. The museum's location within Tokyo Midtown places it within a major mixed-use development that includes retail, dining, and green space, contributing to its accessibility and urban integration.

The Suntory Museum of Art is located at 3F, Tokyo Midtown Galleria, Roppongi, in Minato-ku, Tokyo. It is owned by the Suntory corporation and operates as a private cultural institution. The museum is closed on Tuesdays, as well as during New Year's holidays and exhibition preparation periods. Opening hours are typically 10:00 to 18:00, with extended hours until 20:00 on Fridays. Admission fees vary by exhibition, generally ranging from approximately 1,300 to 1,700 yen for adults, with reduced rates for students. The museum is accessible from Roppongi Station, and its position within Tokyo Midtown allows visitors to combine their museum visit with other cultural and commercial activities in the area, including the nearby 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT.