The exhibition centred on a Japanese object from the Eton College Collections: a lacquer box containing the Nijūichidaishū (‘Collections of 21 Reigns’). It is an anthology of a type of Japanese poetry called waka, which was commissioned by different Emperors between the 10th and 15th centuries. This copy was donated to the College by the Japanese Crown Prince Hirohito (1901-1989), later Emperor Shōwa, after his visit to Eton in May 1921. The exhibition highlighted the Crown Prince’s visit to Eton College as part of his European tour, Japanese courtly culture, and waka, as well as recurring poetic themes such as nature and the seasons.
Originally intended to mark the centenary of the Crown Prince’s visit in 2021, the exhibition showcased items from the College Collections as well as loans from the British and Ashmolean Museums. A version of the exhibition is now available online.