Collection de Kenzaburō Wakai

Wakai was part of the official Japanese delegation to the exhibition. All exhibition objects were classified in departments. Japan participated in the following categories: mining and metallurgy, manufactures (a category comprising various objects from ceramics, over silk to military armaments), education and science, art, agriculture, and horticulture. In addition, Wakai exhibited his personal collection of Japanese ceramics.

The full range of Japanese exhibits at the Exposition Universelle from educational materials and photographs over children’s toys and maps to ceramics and painting. Wakai’s primarily exhibited ceramics, lacquerware and metalware. 

Numerous prominent collectors of Japanese art exhibited on this occasion, including a large display of ceramics, metalware, miscellaneous <i>objets d’art<i/>, lacquerware, netsuke, textiles, painting, arms. Wakai’s contribution comprised a selection of five kakemono.