KOGEI GENE Project

【Tokyo Art Club】

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Project Objectives

The project has established a talent development program called “KOGEI Art Directors”, aimed at cultivating professionals who can serve as a bridge between Japan’s traditional arts, antiques, and crafts and the international community. Through a hands-on curriculum, participants collaborate with museums, art fairs, companies, and public institutions in Japan and abroad, gaining practical experience in researching international needs and fostering cross-cultural exchange. The program encourages participants to develop the perspective and skills needed to interpret, communicate, and promote the value of outstanding Japanese craftsmanship to emerging international markets. Ultimately, it aims to contribute to enhancing the international profile and standing of Japan’s craft arts sector as a whole.

Project Approach

Participants will develop international business skills through exhibitions and product development projects carried out in collaboration with local industries and companies. By connecting cultural resources with economic activity, they will also help promote inbound tourism.
The project will share both the training process and its outcomes with the wider public, while building networks that support the long-term continuation of these activities. It will also establish a model that can be applied in cities across Japan, contributing to the international development of the cultural sector.

Tokyo Art Club

Founded in 1907, Tokyo Art Club is an association of approximately 500 art dealers.
Its members specialize in a wide range of fields, including tea ceremony utensils, ceramics, swords, lacquerware, Western antiques, and modern and contemporary art. Membership is limited to those with at least ten years of experience in the art trade and requires a recommendation from an existing member, followed by a screening process.
The Club includes art dealers whose businesses have been passed down since the Edo period. Through exhibitions, auctions, and other activities, Tokyo Art Club continues to support the art market and art culture in Japan.

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