Event Information 2022

Special Exhibition

The 1st Special Exhibition in 2022 ※

Arabian Costumes in Silver and Gold: Colorful, Revival, and Recycled Exhibition poster1, poster2

Title	Arabian Costumes in Silver and Gold: Colorful, Revival, and Recycled
Period	October 20, 2022 ( Thu. ) - December 23, 2022 ( Fri. )
Venue	Special exhibition room on the 2nd floor and Hall on the 1st floor
Organizer	Mineral Industry Museum, Akita University
Co-organizers	Motoko Katakura Foundation for Desert Culture and Muslim World League Japan Office
Special Collaborators	Heritage Commission, Ministry of Culture, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Wadi Fatima Social Development Center and King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies
Support Projects	“Restudying ethnographic long-term field data and co-creating a digital cultural heritage with local Muslim communities in the Middle East and North Africa” (Principal Investigator: NAWATA Hiroshi, GRANT-IN-AID FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH (A), FY2021-2023, JSPS 21H04372) and FY2022 Akita University Education and Research Project (Principal Investigator: NAWATA Hiroshi)

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Countries in the Middle East and Arabian Peninsula account for nearly 90% of Japan's crude oil imports. However, there are few opportunities to learn about the cultures of these countries. Therefore, in FY2022-2023, we planned two consecutive special exhibitions focusing on the various resources of modern Arabian countries that have rarely been introduced in Japan. The exhibitions focus on the use of materials such as metals and non-metals, inorganic and organic materials, their social value, historical distribution, and culture such as fashion and hospitality.
　The first special exhibition, "Arabian Costumes in Silver and Gold: Colorful, Revival, and Recycled," focuses on the clothing and accessories, or costumes, of the Arabian Peninsula, especially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, using valuable photographs and cultural anthropological records taken in the region half a century ago to reveal the cultural, social, and historical value of silver and gold as precious metals.
　We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the organizations that allowed us to conduct field research in Saudi Arabia, as well as to all parties involved for their cooperation and special assistance in organizing this event.

Professor,
Graduate School of International Resource Sciences, Akita University
NAWATA Hiroshi, Ph.D.

Picture 1
Decorated mask called burq‘a (Motoko Katakura Foundation for Desert Culture collection)

Half a century ago, women in some parts of Saudi Arabia wore decorated masks called burq‘a to cover their faces. A cord-like braided cord of silver or gold flat thread is sewn vertically and horizontally on the red fabric and decorated with lead ornaments and a row of silver coins on the nose.

Picture 2
Silver ring (private collection)

This ring has a cylindrical component with a ball inside that makes a sound when shaken. It was to let others know their presence and to avoid unintentional friction between men and women from different living spaces.

Picture 3
The fustān, an inner garment (private collection)

The garment, called fustān, decorated with gold embroidery and beads on purple background. This is an inner garment that is mainly for unmarried women and has a shape that widens toward the hem. But this first-class decorated garment was worn as an outer garment.

Reference
Nawata, H. ed. (2019) Exploring 50 Years of Livelihood and Landscape Change in Wadi Fatima, Saudi Arabia: Ethnographic Collections of Motoko Katakura, a Japanese Female Cultural Anthropologist. Tokyo: Kawade-syobo, 181P.

Nawata, H. (2020) “Arabian Costumes in Silver and Gold,” Mineral Industry Museum Newsletter 17: 2-4.

Arabic version

Free admission Days

Education and Culture Week (Culture Day)

Date	November 3, 2022 ( Thu. )

Akita University Festival

Date	October 15, 2022 ( Sat. ) and 16, 2022 ( Sun. )

Akita University Open Campus 2022

Date	July 30, 2022 ( Sat. )

International Museum Day

Date	May 18, 2022 ( Wed. )
Remarks	It was proposed by the International Council of Museums ( ICOM ) in 1977 to appeal to citizens about the role of museums in society.

Geology Day

"2022 Geology Day" Poster PDF

Date	May 10, 2022 ( Tue. )
Remarks	Memorial Day of the publication of the first regional geological map, "Nihon-Yezo Chishitsuyouryaku no zu" (1:2,000,000) in 1876, which was made by Lyman, an American geologist with his colleagues. The Geology Division, Geographical Bureau was also established by Home Ministry on this day in 1876.

The 63nd Science and Technology Week

" The 63nd Science and Technology Week" Poster PDF

Date	April 23, 2022 ( Sat. ) and April 24, 2022 ( Sun. )
Remarks	Science and Technology Week is held annually by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology ( MEXT ) to promote science and technology.