Tools for Tomorrow’s Exhibitions: Art Platform Japan, Digital Resources, and Knowledge Management in Japanese Art

Abstract

This paper presents Art Platform Japan (APJ), a digital research portal providing reliable, bilingual information on modern and contemporary Japanese art. Developed by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs and now operated by the National Center for Art Research (NCAR), APJ addresses research needs and limited international visibility for curators, researchers, and global audiences. Recent social, political, and cultural changes have diversified artistic values and curatorial practices worldwide, making broader access to Japanese art information increasingly critical. APJ develops key resources including the Dictionary of Artists in Japan and SHŪZŌ, aggregating museum collection data nationwide. Functioning as a dated index to accumulated art historical information, APJ employs bilingual content and Romanized metadata to reduce language barriers and foster institutional collaboration. By bridging research and exhibition-making, APJ provides digital tools supporting Japanese art globally.