The Yamatane Museum of Art, continuing to act on our founder's principle, "Contributing to society through art, " seeks to be a museum that transmits the fascination of nihonga, modern Japanese painting, polished in the context of Japan's natural setting and customs, to future generations and to bring moving experiences, new discoveries, joy, and peace to our visitors.

In preparation for the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of our museum in 2016, we decided upon this mission statement, based on the spirit and shared values that have guided us since its founding, on July 7, 2014.

Inspired by the commitment of our founder, Taneji Yamazaki (founder of Yamatane Securities, now SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.), to contributing through art to society and, above all, culture, our museum, the first in Japan to specialize in nihonga, opened in 1966. In the half century since then, the museum has continued to engage in collecting, studying, exhibiting, and educating about and popularizing art, with a focus on modern and contemporary nihonga.

Nihonga is an art form using mineral pigments, washi paper, and other natural materials. Valuing the beauty of nature and the sense of the seasons, in its subjects and styles, nihonga reflects the traditional Japanese aesthetic cultivated through living in harmony with nature.
The Yamatane Museum of Art seeks to bring more people―people of every age group, gender, and nationality―under the spell of nihonga, its fascination refined over the centuries in Japan's unique natural and cultural context. The museum's many programs are directed at ensuring that nihonga will continue to be appreciated and to thrive in the future as well.

Today, our social environment is changing at a dizzying rate, with globalization, computerization, and technological innovation all advancing rapidly. The significance of art and culture in enriching people's lives and the role of the art museum should play are being questioned anew in this changing world. In this challenging context, our museum's goal remains, through exhibitions, outreach, and other programs, to communicate the wonders of nihonga and Japanese culture, to bring moving experiences, new discoveries, joy, and peace to our visitors.