A World Premiere: the first photographic exhibition of the Hōryū-ji’s historical relics, to be shown outside Japan
A photographic exhibition entitled ‘The Historical Significance of Hōryū-ji and Prince Shōtoku (La importancia histórica del templo Hōryū-ji y el príncipe Shōtoku)’ opened at the Spanish-Japanese Cultural Center (University of Salamanca) in Spain on 16th March 2026. Amid growing global turmoil, this project aims to promote the spirit of ‘harmony’—that underpins the ‘Seventeen-Article Constitution’ promulgated by Crown Prince Shōtoku in 604—to the wider world. The required photography/filming work—for which exceptional permission was granted by the Hōryū-ji Temple—took 20 years to complete. This is the first exhibition of its kind to showcase the National Treasures of the Hōryū-ji, outside of Japan.
Poster: La importancia histórica del templo Hōryū-ji y el príncipe Shōtoku (Historical Significance of Hōryū-ji Temple and Prince Shōtoku)
Prospectus: La importancia histórica del templo Hōryū-ji y el príncipe Shōtoku
Objectives
Through photographs and documentary footage showcasing the Hōryū-ji’s treasures and events, this exhibition explores the temple’s history at the eastern terminus of the Silk Road. Moreover, it places the achievements of Prince Shōtoku (Prince Umayato)—who laid the foundations for Japan’s politics and culture that continue to this day—within the context of East Asian history from the 7th century onwards..
A view of the exhibition in the “Empress Michiko Hall” (Photo: Japan Authentic Heritage Initiative)
A view of the exhibition “La importancia histórica del templo Hōryū-ji y el príncipe Shōtoku”
“Empress Michiko Hall” (Photo: Japan Authentic Heritage Initiative)
Exhibited Work
The exhibition features photographic work and a video poem (15 minutes in Spanish) showcasing artefacts—that convey the grandeur of ancient East Asian Buddhism—which reached Nara via the Silk Roads. At the collection’s core are outstanding National Treasures from the Asuka period, including the Shakyamuni Triad, the Standing Statue of the Hidden Buddha, the Kuse Kannon, the Kudara Kannon, the Yumemichi Kannon, the Yakushi Nyorai, and the Four Heavenly Kings.
Prospectus: La importancia histórica del templo Hōryū-ji y el príncipe Shōtoku
A portion of the exhibition “La importancia histórica del templo Hōryū-ji y el príncipe Shōtoku”
“Empress Michiko Hall” (Photo: Japan Authentic Heritage Initiative)
A view of the exhibition “La importancia histórica del templo Hōryū-ji y el príncipe Shōtoku”
“Empress Michiko Hall” (Photo: Japan Authentic Heritage Initiative)
Salamanca Japanese Culture Week
In 1999 the “Spanish-Japanese Cultural Center” (which includes the Empress Michiko Hall) was established at the Palace of Saint-Boire
The entire city of Salamanca was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. The Spanish-Japanese Cultural Centre was established there in 1999 as an annex to the University of Salamanca, which was founded in 1208 and is the fourth oldest still-existing university in the world. The centre’s ‘Empress Michiko Hall’ (formerly the Palais San Boileau), is the only cultural facility in the world permitted to bear the name of the former Empress of Japan. The annual ‘Salamanca Japanese Culture Week’, held here every year, serves as a focus for cultural exchange between Spain and Japan through exhibitions, lectures and concerts marking its 25th anniversary this year.
At the opening ceremony of the 25th Salamanca Japanese Cultural Week on 16 March, Professor Jose Abel Vilarejo of the University of Salamanca, Director of the Spanisch-Japanese Cultural Center, and Shinichi Sato, Charge d’Affaires at the Japanese Embassy in Spain, and Mr. Yasutaka Takeda, Director of the Japan Foundation, Madrid, delivered opening remarks. Following these, Miro Ito (Initiator of the Japan Authentic Heritage Initiative/Media Art League), photo-artist and producer of the Hōryū-ji exhibition, gave a speech.
At the opening of the 25th Salamanca Japanese Culture Week, 16 March 2026.
L to R: Ms. Ito; Director Floreso, the Spanish-Japanese Cultural Centre; Ms. Martinez, Vice-Rector for Cultural Assets, Heritage and Conservation at the University of Salamanca;
Mr. Sato, Chargé d’Affaires, Japanese Embassy and Director Takeda, Japan Foundation, Madrid (Photo: Centro Cultural Hispano Japonés, Universidad de Salamanca)
At the opening event of “La importancia histórica del templo Hōryū-ji y el príncipe Shōtoku”
(Photo: Centro Cultural Hispano Japonés, Universidad de Salamanca)
The next day, Ms. Ito gave a 50-minute lecture, “Two Sages of Japan: Prince Shōtoku and Emperor Shōmu”, to students of Japanese / East-Asian art and history, at the University of Salamanca. Her emphasis on Prince Shōtoku’s core value of “Harmony”, as the first and foremost of the 17-Articles in his Constitution, resonated well and garnered many remarks like “That is precisely the message the world needs today”.
Although parts of this lecture had been presented during Ito’s commemorative lecture in 2021 at Nara Prefecture’s Great Chrysanthemum Doll Exhibition, the current global tensions, gave the topic a particular relevance, as this appeal for harmony and understanding –transcending time and space– resonated well with the young Spaniards in attendance. Consequently, Miro Ito is determined to deliver similar messages at subsequent exhibitions in many countries around the world. She vowed “I will gladly travel anywhere in the world to spread this appeal for harmony and peace—should I be invited …”
A Commemorative lecture: “Two Sages of Japan: Prince Shōtoku and Emperor Shōmu (as part of a course at the University of Salamanca)
(Photo: Centro Cultural Hispano Japonés, Universidad de Salamanca)
The exhibition will run for three months until 19 June 2026.
Please do make a trip to Salamanca or Nara in Japan.
Organised by: The Spanish-Japanese Cultural Center, University of Salamanca（Centro Cultural Hispano Japonés, Universidad de Salamanca)
Co-organised by: Japan Camera Industry Institute, Japan Authentic Heritage Initiative
Concept and Production: Media Art League
Photo permits by: Hōryū-ji Temple
Photography, text and video by: Miro Ito
English editing by: Andreas Boettcher
Spanish editing by: The Spanish-Japanese Cultural Center, University of Salamanca
Endorsed by: Embassy of Japan in Spain; Japan Foundation, Madrid
Production of cine-poetry: Nara Prefecture
Funded by: The Tokyo Club
The Historical Significance of Hōryū-ji and Prince Shōtoku
(La importancia histórica del templo Hōryū-ji y el príncipe Shōtoku)
Centro Cultural Hispano Japonés (Universidad de Salamanca)
Dates: 16th March to 19th June 2026
Opening hours: Monday to Friday (11:00 AM to 1:45 PM, 5:30 PM to 8:45 PM)
Address: Pl. de San Boal, 13, 37002 Salamanca, Spain
Tel: +34 923 29 45 60
URL: https://www.centrojapones.es/exposicion-templo-horyuji-2026/
Prospectus: La importancia histórica del templo Hōryū-ji y el príncipe Shōtoku
Prospectus: La importancia histórica del templo Hōryū-ji y el príncipe Shōtoku