From October 1 to 15, 2026, the “Kyogashi Exhibition 2026 – Kan'ei Imperial Procession Picture Scroll” is being held at the Yuuisai Kodokan and the Old Mitsui Family Shimogamo Villa. This year marks the 400th anniversary of Emperor Go-Mizunoo’s imperial procession to Nijo Castle in 1626. Inspired by the magnificent scenes depicted in the Kan'ei Imperial Procession Picture Scroll, a wide variety of contemporary Kyogashi works created by confectionery artists and craftspeople are on display.
The designs of Kyogashi were widely solicited, and selected works from both the Kyogashi Design Category and the Tea Ceremony Sweets Practical Works Category are exhibited throughout the venues.
Junichi Rekimoto, Senior Fellow of Sony Computer Science Laboratories, also participated as one of the judges. He contributed to the evaluation of the submitted works from the perspectives of cultural preservation and the exploration of new forms of creative expression.
Furthermore, as part of Sony CSL’s research theme “3D Tea Ceremony Records,” the award-winning works from the Kyogashi Exhibition 2025 were archived in three dimensions, as an effort to preserve and recreate the sculptural beauty of Kyogashi through digital technology. “3D Tea Ceremony Records” is a research project that supports cultural preservation by recording and archiving cultural assets, such as Japanese confectionery and tea utensils, as three-dimensional digital data and recreating them in digital space.
For the image capture and 3D modeling process, we received technical cooperation from Sony Corporation’s Technology Development Laboratories. At the venue, visitors can appreciate the 3D archives through Sony’s Spatial Reality Display, allowing them to experience the form and texture of the works from various perspectives.
We invite visitors to experience the unique charm of Kyogashi through an exhibition that brings together traditional culture and cutting-edge technology.
▶ For more information about Kyogashi Exhibition 2026, please visit the official website.
