The is one of the pre-eminent national art museums in Japan. Introduction The Nara National Museum is located in Nara, which was the capital of Japan from 710 to 784. Katayama Tōkuma (1854–1917) designed the original building, which is a representative Western-style building of the Meiji period and has been designated an Important Cultural Property in Japan. Junzō Yoshimura (1908–1997) designed a supplemental building in 1973. Collections The museum is noted for its collection of Buddhist art, including images, sculpture, and altar articles. The museum houses and displays works of art belonging to temples and shrines in the Nara area. Properties kept in the Shōsōin repository are exhibited each year in the autumn. In the museum's collection is the 12th-century , 11th or 12th-century mandala Jōdo mandara-zu, and the 9th-century sculpture of the seated Buddha Yakushi. History The Nara National Museum was established in 1889 as the Imperial Nara Museum (帝国奈良博物館). The Nara National Museum held its first exhibition in 1895. As prehistory to the opening, there was a Nara exhibition. In 1874, Nara exhibition company of semi-governmental management was established by the then Nara governor Fujii Chihiro. The Museum was renamed the Imperial Household Museum of Nara. It has been known by its present name since 1952. Timeline The growth and development of today's museum has been an evolving process: 1889—Museum is established as the "Imperial Museum of Nara." 1895—First exhibition is opened. 1900—Museum is renamed the "Imperial Household Museum of Nara." 1914—Shōsōin department is established. 1947—Imperial Household Ministry's responsibility for Museum's collections is transferred to the Ministry of Education. 1950—Museum is associated with the Committee for the Preservation of Cultural Properties. 1952—Museum is renamed the "Nara National Museum". 1968—Museum is affiliated with the Agency for Cultural Affairs. 1969—Original Museum Building is designated an "Important Cultural Property". 1972—A new exhibition building (the West Wing) is completed. 1980—Buddhist Art Library is opened. 1995—100th anniversary of the Museum's opening is held. 1997—East Wing and the underground corridor are completed. 2000—Conservation Center for preserving cultural properties is completed. 2001—Museum is renamed "Nara National Museum" of the "Independent Administrative Institution National Museum" (IAI National Museum). 2005—IAI National Museum is expanded with addition of Kyushu National Museum. 2007—IAI National Museum is merged into Independent Administrative Institution National Institutes for Cultural Heritage (NICH), combining the four national museums with the former National Institutes for Cultural Preservation at Tokyo and Nara Facilities Original Museum Building The