Osaka Municipal Museum of Oriental Ceramics

Overview

The Osaka Municipal Museum of Oriental Ceramics is a world-renowned museum of East Asian ceramics, centered around the "Ataka Collection," a donation from the Sumitomo Group. The Ataka Collection, amassed by Ataka Sangyo, a major general trading company, and its second-generation chairman, Eiichi Ataka, comprises roughly 4,000 pieces, mainly Korean ceramics from the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties and Chinese ceramics. This collection includes two National Treasures and thirteen Important Cultural Properties. The Korean ceramics, in particular, are remarkable for both their sheer number and stylistic diversity. As a collection, it offers a near-complete historical overview and classification by ceramic techniques, making it arguably the finest private collection of its kind in the world. The Chinese ceramics, while fewer in number, are of exceptionally high quality, reflecting a focus on masterpiece pieces; however, the collection notably lacks Qing dynasty ceramics. The museum selectively exhibits only a portion of the collection. While the Ataka Collection is often perceived as containing only masterpieces, it reportedly includes pieces the owners preferred not to display publicly. The museum displays these precious artifacts chronologically and geographically. Special exhibitions explore various aspects of East Asian ceramics. For example, the special exhibition "Splendor of Chinese Ceramics: Masterpieces from the Shanghai Museum x Osaka Municipal Museum of Oriental Ceramics," held from October 19, 2023, to March 30, 2024, showcased exceptional Chinese ceramics from the Shanghai Museum, generating significant attention. The Osaka Municipal Museum of Oriental Ceramics offers a deep dive into the world of East Asian ceramics, enriching your senses and providing a calming respite. We highly recommend a visit.