To commemorate its 150th anniversary, the Tokyo National Museum has decided to release BE@RBRICK figures inspired by its collection of artworks. The first in this series is "Nihonbashi" from Utagawa Hiroshige's "The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō."

The Tokyo National Museum will celebrate its 150th anniversary on April 1, 2022. Founded on March 10, 1872 (Meiji 5) with the first exhibition held by the Bureau of Museums of the Ministry of Education at the Taiseiden Hall of the Confucian Temple in Yushima, it moved to its current location in Ueno Park in 1882 (Meiji 15). Its facilities include the Main Building, opened in 1938 (Shōwa 13), the East Building, opened in 1968 (Shōwa 43), and the Heisei Building, opened in 1999 (Heisei 11). It has continued to be cherished as Japan's oldest museum, collecting and exhibiting Japanese and Eastern cultural assets.

Now, the Tokyo National Museum is embarking on a full-scale collaboration with MEDICOM TOY. Similar to previous projects with the Louvre Museum and the British Museum, BE@RBRICK figures inspired by the Tokyo National Museum's collection of artworks will be released.

Selected as the commemorative first installment is "Nihonbashi" from "The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō," published by the Edo-period ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige starting in 1832 (Tenpō 3). This work depicts the early morning scene of feudal lords departing for their Sankin-kōtai (alternate attendance) journeys, crossing Nihonbashi, the starting point of the Tōkaidō highway from Edo to Kyoto. The presence of fishmongers, having completed their morning's procurement, in the foreground conveys the vibrancy of the day about to begin.

Among ukiyo-e prints, highly popular overseas, "The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō" is one of the most recognizable landscape series. Through the new platform of BE@RBRICK, its reach is expected to expand even further.

Tokyo National Museum BE@RBRICK Hiroshige Utagawa "The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō" Nihonbashi 100% & 400% / 1000%
Size | Approx. 70mm / 280mm / 700mm
Release Date | Scheduled for release and shipping in September 2022
Price | [100% & 400%] ¥16,500 / [1000%] ¥63,800
Sales Method | Scheduled for release at MEDICOM TOY's directly managed stores and online store, as well as other select retailers. Orders will be accepted from March 24, 2022 (Thursday) 00:00 to April 10, 2022 (Sunday) 23:59.MCT TOKYO
For details, please seeour website.
Please note that the product shown is a sample under supervision and may differ slightly from the final release.
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