From the Heian period in 794 to the end of the Edo period in 1868, Kyoto was the cultural and political epicenter of Japan. It was the "capital of a thousand years," and the Kyoto National Museum that opened in 1897 houses cultural properties from that period. Its vast collection is in itself a representation of Japanese cultural heritage. It is a heritage we must protect and pass on to future generations to come, which the museum has done since its inception.

For the June Art for Breakfast, we invite Ms. Melissa Rinne who is a senior specialist at the museum. She will present an insider's view of the museum, taking us through its vast collection of priceless objects, historical significance, and the challenges of running such an institution with national treasures. Ms. Rinne knows museums globally, being a Japanese art curator at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco and a Japanese textile specialist. She will give us insights into how Japanese national museums are managed and how they differ from museums abroad.

Please join us and engage in a roundtable discussion at Art for Breakfast to get an insider's introduction to the Kyoto National Museum.