28/07/2026
We extend our heartfelt congratulations on the inscription of the "Asuka-Fujiwara Palace Sites" as a World Heritage site.
The exhibition currently underway, "The World of Collotypeー Cultural Properties seen in Collotype -," features collotype reproductions of the murals from the Takamatsuzuka Tumulus—one of the constituent sites of this World Heritage property—specifically the north, east, and west walls.
Widely known for the group of female figures referred to as the "Asuka Beauties" (*Asuka Bijin*), these murals vividly convey the customs and styles of the late 7th to early 8th centuries—the dawn of the ancient Japanese state.
These reproductions were created in 2017, based on original photographic negatives taken by a photographer from Benrido the day after the site's excavation.
We invite you to take this opportunity to appreciate the vibrant colors and exquisite, detailed artistry as they appeared at the time of the discovery.