Exploring a Collection Treasure: PEM’s 19th-Century Japanese Fish Scroll

Japanese art historian Midori Oka presents a fascinating lecture on one of PEM’s treasures — a 20-foot-long Japanese handscroll decorated with fish and sea creatures. This scroll was the original sketch for the embroidered designs on a 19th-century parade float cover still used during the annual Nagasaki Kunchi Festival — a celebration of the city’s history and its special connection to international trade.

This program is dedicated to the memory of Robert Jay Hamburger (1941–2021) and his deep and lifelong commitment to Japanese art and culture.