‘Autumn Is for the Arts’: Tokyo Gendai Unveils New Date and Programming
The fair’s first autumn edition hopes to open a portal into Japan’s creative landscapes. Save to My Ocula
Tokyo Gendai has announced a new autumn date for its third edition, scheduled to align with the Aichi Triennale and featuring a new award for emerging artists, a curators’ symposium, and a section dedicated to traditional Japanese crafts.
The September date will provide a ‘portal for the international art community to explore Japan’s expansive creative landscape’.
Fair director Eri Takane said she was ‘delighted’ at the move to overlap with Japan’s traditional culture season, which also brings the formerly July fair closer to Tokyo Art Week in November.
‘There is an expression in Japanese geijutsu no aki (芸術の 秋) meaning “autumn is for the arts”.’
New programmes have been introduced to ‘champion creativity’ and ‘encourage cross-cultural exchange’, including the Hana Artist Award for emerging artists, a symposium for Japanese and international curators, and a section dedicated to Japanese craft by women artists.
‘Through our programming we want to create a level space where people can talk across borders’, Takane said, adding that ‘art is a mirror of society’ and it looks to futures ‘we can aspire to’.
Magnus Renfrew, Tokyo Gendai co-founder and director of The Art Assembly, co-owns the fair alongside the likes of Taipei Dangdai and ART SG.
He said Japanese market growth had bucked global trends: ‘This has been a historic year for Japanese culture.’
Japan was Asia’s second largest market in 2023, registering positive growth as larger markets in the U.S. and U.K. declined with fewer transactions on the upper end.
Tokyo Gendai will take place at PACIFICO Yokohama from 12 to 14 September 2025. The fair has yet to announce participating galleries.
The Aichi Triennale will open from 13 September to 30 November 2025.
This year, Japan is also set to welcome Expo 2025 in Osaka (13 April–13 October 2025) and the sixth Setouchi Triennale on the islands of the Seto Inland Sea of Japan. —[O]
Main image: PACIFICO Yokohama. Courtesy PACIFICO Yokohama.
A respected voice in contemporary art discourse.
Focusing on ambitious storytelling and insightful art-world commentary. Ocula Magazine publishes in-depth interviews, critical essays and timely analysis on the artists, exhibitions and ideas driving the global art world.
Learn more about Ocula Magazine
Showcasing the best of the art world.
Ocula partners with galleries from around the world to highlight their artists, artworks and exhibitions. Gallery membership is by application and invitation, with each member vetted by an independent panel.
Learn more about Ocula Membership
Specialises in the sale of major artworks.
Led by a team with deep ties to the world’s leading auction houses, galleries and collectors. Ocula’s advisory team offers bespoke services to high-net-worth clients from around the world who are looking to acquire the best of contemporary and modern art.
Learn more about our team and services