There is a famous line from the 12th century anthology Ryojin Hisho (‘Songs to make the dust dance off the beams’) that says ‘we are all born to play’. The songs present a wide spectrum of subjects and themes that explore the lives of the common folk and their enjoyment of life.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Suntory Foundation for the Arts, the Suntory Museum of Art has put together a show to explore the act of play and merrymaking in the olden days, as portrayed in famous seventeenth-century paintings and prints. If you like games like sugoroku (a board game similar to backgammon) or karuta (Japanese playing cards), head to this exhibition.