Tokyo >> The Cultural Affairs Agency has selected two special exhibitions to be held as part of the Japan Cultural Expo, or Nihonhaku, an arts and culture festival that will coincide with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

The two exhibitions are part of the “Tsumugu Project: Promoting, Restoring and Preserving the Beauty of Japan’s Art,” an initiative jointly planned by the agency, the Imperial Household Agency and the Yomiuri Shimbun.

The project aims to preserve and hand down masterpiece works from the Imperial collection and national treasures that exemplify Japan’s beauty.

The selection of the two exhibitions was earlier this month at the expo’s launch event at the National Theatre in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. “The 30th Anniversary of the Enthronement / Cultural Exchanges of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress: Sharing the Beauty of Japan” will be held through April 29, while “Masterpieces of Japanese Art: From Sesshu and Eitoku to Korin and Hokusai” will run from May 3 to June 2. Both exhibitions will be held at the Tokyo National Museum.

The expo, with the theme of “the people of Japan and nature,” will feature various events through 2021. Art exhibitions, theatrical performances and cultural festivals will reflect the beauty of Japan, covering various subthemes such as art and cultural treasures, performing arts and food culture and nature.