Lower Austria's Kaiserhaus Collection: Gemeitpiece in Japan!

Lower Austria's Kaiserhaus Collection: Gemeitpiece in Japan!

On May 18, 2025, the presentation of a significant hiking exhibition took place in the renowned Café Landtmann in Tokyo, which shows over 2,000 objects from the Lower Austrian Kaiserhaus collection. This collection, which was acquired by the state of Lower Austria in 2015, aims to maintain valuable cultural assets and to promote interest in imperial history. Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner and Armin Laussegger, head of the Lower Austria State Collections, presented the Japanese journalist project and underlined the close relationship between Austria and Japan.

The exhibition entitled "From Life at the Kaiserhof" will be shown at several locations in Japan from the end of 2027. During the presentation, Mikl-Leitner emphasized the importance of competitiveness, innovative strength and the influence of history and culture on the future. "The best future for our children" is the motto of the delegation trip to Japan, in which the historical relevance of the Habsburgs was also illuminated. This family has shaped politics in Central Europe since the 13th century and at times ruled a world empire.

objects of historical importance

The exhibition will include a total of 100 objects that have never been exhibited in Austria. The highlights include important personal objects of the Habsburgs:

• Bösendorfer wing, given to the Japanese tenno by Emperor Franz Joseph in 1869
• Traditional Japanese costume, the heirs to the throne Franz Ferdinand received
during his visit in Japan in 1889
• riding hat by Empress Elisabeth
• Bonjour rock by Emperor Franz Joseph
• Zigarrenetui from the possession of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, dated 1900

These exhibits form an authentic insight into the life of the imperial family and address both private and professional aspects of their existence. Historical relationships with the Japanese Kaiserhaus are also a central theme of the exhibition, which is enriched by the personal objects by Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Sissi.

cultural exchange and cooperation

The trip of the delegation to Japan was not only a means of presenting the imperial collection, but also promotes the cultural exchange between the two countries. During the travel there were positive discussions with Japanese partner institutions that are supposed to create the basis for future cooperation in areas such as digitization and artificial intelligence. In addition, Austrian culture, especially classical music, is very popular in Japan.

The Habsburg dynasty was a formative power in Austria for over 645 years, starting with Rudolf I and the Battle of Marchfeld 1278. Strategic weddings and the rise to the Empire of the Holy Roman Empire are just a few facets of its history that still has an impact on Austrian identity. The legacy of this dynasty is also reflected in the Kaiserhaus Collection, which will now address a new audience in Japan.

This hiking exhibition pursues the goal of letting Japanese immersed in the rich history of Lower Austria and the success story of cultural relationships between Japan and Lower Austria.

Further information can be found in the reports of ots.at , meinzirk.at and Austria.info read.