Published to record a groundbreaking project that brings works of modern Japanese sculpture to European audiences for the first time, including sculptures from the Taisho and early Showa periods (c.1912-37), by the master sculptors Takamura Kotaro, Hashimoto Heihachi and Sato Chozan.The exhibition (A Study of Japanese Sculpture, Henry Moore Institute, 28 January - 19 April 2015; Musashino Art University, 15 May - 16 August 2015) focuses on sculptural representations of nature, including polychrome carvings of dried fish, birds, a crustacean and cabbage, a stone carved in wood and a hand, modelled in clay, cast in bronze and supported on a carved wood base which extends into the core of the work.This collaboration with the Slade School of Fine Art and Musashino Art University poses questions for sculpture through a study of subject matter, scale, materials and display.The essay also documents a response to a seminar featuring Hirotake Kurokawa (Musashino Art University), Akira Fujii (Denchu Art Museum), Clare Pollard (The Ashmolean Museum) and Sophie Raikes (Henry Moore Institute).Image: K.