Critical analysis of Japanese contemporary art: In context of the domestic and global art markets from 1980s to 2010

This research paper examines issues in Japanese contemporary art in the domestic and international markets from the 1980s to the present. In particular, it analyzes reasons for the scarcity of internationally acclaimed Japanese contemporary artists and the overall weakness of Japanese contemporary art, which has lagged behind in the global market since the 1990s in comparison to, for example, Chinese contemporary art.;My analysis revealed that the domestic market for Japanese contemporary art has been immature and almost nonexistent; a situation that only reduces the market activity in the long run. This absence is attributed to culture, history, and systems that surround the market, and it has resulted in the creation of a downward spiral for contemporary artists. The limited growth of these artists in the domestic market makes it imperative for some determined artists to cultivate their own markets overseas while simultaneously driving most artists to give up being active. Ironically, internationally celebrated Japanese contemporary artists such as Takashi Murakami and Yayoi Kusama left Japan and established their careers and markets in the United States long before they became recognized in Japan.;Furthermore, this paper discusses several issues involving major agencies including commercial and non-commercial sectors of art market: collectors, auction, gallery, museum, government, educational institution, and its surrounding culture.;To conclude, in order to stimulate the art market for Japanese contemporary artists, it is crucial for the market and the government to establish a sustainable, healthy environment within Japan. It is inevitable that significant changes and modifications must be carried out in some of the existing systems and culture, particularly in the areas of museum governance and public policies and funding.