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A collection of folk culture from the Middle & Near East and Central & South America

Kyoto University of Foreign Studies Museum of International Cultures was established as a research and exhibition facility for folklore materials from the Muslim world, Mexico, Brazil, and other countries. Living up to the university’s motto “PAX MUNDI PER LINGUAS” (World Peace through Languages), the museum aims to deepen international understanding through museum activities, such as public lectures and research workshops, thereby contributing to academic and cultural advancement and world peace. The museum’s collection includes household utensils from the Muslim world; archaeological materials (replicas), folk crafts, and folklore materials from Mexico; Mayan folklore materials from Guatemala; contemporary Latin American artworks; folklore materials from the state of Bahia of Brazil; materials concerning Portuguese voyages to Asia during the Age of Discovery; replicas of Chinese terracotta warriors; ancient South American artworks; Middle Eastern materials; and Southeast Asian crafts. The museum also owns a collection of some 260 works by Shinobu Tobita, a Japanese artist who was active in Mexico. With the entire collection totaling approximately 5,000 pieces, the museum holds two or three exhibitions a year.