A Japanese journalist interviewed foreigners in Tokyo to gather their thoughts on a recent survey by the Japan Art Center, which found that over half (more than 50%) of Japanese youths, aged 15 to 25, do not visit art museums. Foreign visitors expressed surprise at this finding, given Japan’s rich art heritage.
When asked why they think this is the case, foreign tourists suggested several reasons. A Canadian mentioned that Japanese youth might be spending more time on screens and less on traditional art. An American pointed out that smartphones and easy access to information and images online might make visiting museums seem unnecessary. A Russian cited stress and the preference for staying at home or seeking entertainment as factors.
Alongside this, it was noted that art education in Japanese schools might be insufficient. A tourist from Canada emphasized the importance of art education for nurturing creativity, while a Russian visitor mentioned a program called the “Pushkin Card,” which subsidizes young people’s visits to cultural facilities, encouraging them to engage with art more frequently.
The survey also revealed that only 24.7% of Japanese youth visit museums at least once a year. By comparison, a statistic shared by a tourist from Spain cited that there, younger generations are visiting museums more often, with support from the government in the form of reduced entrance fees and educational initiatives.
In summary, while Japan is known for its beautiful art, the survey shows a decline in museum visits among young Japanese, raising questions about how art and culture are promoted domestically compared to other countries, where measures such as subsidized entry fees and stronger art education are more common. Foreign visitors express surprise at this trend given Japan’s rich artistic heritage.
by MagazineKey4532