Special Exhibition
The Intoroduction of Guns in Japanese History - From Tanegashima to the Boshin War
The history of guns in Pre-Modern Japan starts from their arrival in 1543 and finishes at the end of Boshin War in 1868. Over the course of about three centuries, this foreign weapon became firmly rooted throughout Japan, having great influence in various fields, including society, military, and technology.
In this special exhibition, we present the facts concerning the arrival of guns, the circumstances surrounding traveling gunsmiths responsible for the spread of guns throughout the country, and the process of development of guns through their use in battles.
We also describe the community of gunsmiths who were engaged in manufacturing guns and their techniques. Finally, the exhibition shows how Japan accepted foreign gun culture during the end of the Edo period and the beginning of the Meiji-era, where Western military technology had been introduced.
Takehisa Udagawa Representative of the Exhibition Project Committee
