Museum History
1972
September 12:
The former headquarters of the Imperial Guards in Kitanomaru Park, Chiyoda City was designated an Important Cultural Property. The Cabinet also agreed to retain the building for use as an annex to the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo.
1973
October 5:
The Crafts Gallery Construction Committee for examining the development of an annex (provisionally named, The Crafts Gallery) at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo was established.
1976
April 16:
The Crafts Gallery Planning Office was established at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo Business Division.
S&T PHOTO ©2016
1977
November 14:
The Crafts Gallery at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, opened in Kitanomaru Park, Chiyoda City, Tokyo.
The gallery was housed in the former headquarters of the Imperial Guards (designated an Important Cultural Property in 1972).
2007
October 6:
A ceremony is held at the auditorium of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Crafts Gallery.
2016
March 22:
Based on the Basic Policy on Relocating Government Agencies, the decision was taken to relocate to Ishikawa Prefecture.
2020
February 28:
The activities in Tokyo were closed down ahead of the relocation. The building is preserved as “the former headquarters of the Imperial Guards.”
October 25:
The provisionally named National Crafts Museum opens in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture.
The buildings are the Old 9th Division Command Headquarters and the Old Army Generals Club, both of which were designated Registered Tangible Cultural Properties in 1997.
Photo: Takumi Ota
2021
April 1:
The provisional name, National Crafts Museum, becomes the official name.