In a landmark ceremony held in Paris, the Louvre Museum has finalized the restitution of a significant collection of 17th-century maki-e lacquerware to Japan. The artifacts, which include ornate writing boxes and ceremonial vessels from the early Edo period, were identified through a multi-year provenance study as having been illegally exported during the late 19th-century Meiji Restoration.
The repatriation is part of a broader bilateral agreement between France and Japan to facilitate the return of culturally sensitive items and foster deeper academic collaboration. The Tokyo National Museum plans to host a special exhibition in late 2026 to celebrate the return of these masterpieces, which represent the pinnacle of Japanese traditional craftsmanship and artistic heritage.