Press release

Canon Launches The Tsuzuri Project Exhibition in Singapore
First exhibition outside Japan; Exhibition revives Japan’s cultural heritage by merging Canon’s digital technologies with traditional craftsmanship

Singapore, 5 March 2010 – Canon Singapore, today, in partnership with the Japan Creative Centre (JCC), launched the first Tsuzuri Project Exhibition outside of Japan.

Through the Tsuzuri Project – held in partnership with the Kyoto Culture Association – Canon aims to preserve and pass on important artifacts of Japanese culture through the application of digital technology. The Project was launched in 2007 as part of the Association’s ongoing cultural heritage preservation initiatives.

The Tsuzuri Project aims to preserve irreplaceable Japanese cultural properties, in order to provide both Japanese as well as people from other cultures the opportunity to view and understand Japanese art and culture.

Contributing to society through art
The creation of replicas allows precious original artifacts to be preserved in controlled environments that prevent further deterioration and ensures these priceless heirlooms are available to future generations.

The exhibition in Singapore features two works:

•	Unryu-zu fusuma (Dragon and Clouds) consists of four fusuma sliding door panels by artist Kaiho Yusho from the 16th Century, in the Azuchi Momoyama Period. The original belonged to the Kenninji Temple to whom this reproduction was donated to.
•	Shikikacho-zu byobu (Flowers and Birds of the Four Seasons) is a pair of six-fold screens and was created by artist Kano Motonobu, from the 16th Century, in the Muromachi Period. The original belonged to the Hakutsuru Fine Art Museum to whom this reproduction was donated to.

Melding art and technology
The Tsuzuri Project brings Canon’s vast technological expertise in the fields of digital imaging and reprography together with Kyoto Culture Association’s years of experience and know-how in the area of art preservation.

Using a Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III DSLR, panoramic photos of cultural treasures were captured using an EF 180mm f/3.5 Macro USM lens and the high-definition digital data was then downloaded to a computer where images were then stitched together. During processing, steps were taken to minimize image degradation and compensate easily for any distortion or warp that might result from lens aberration. This was then followed by repeated colour matching to ensure that each reproduction matched the tone of the original as closely as possible.

The subtle hues and textures that appear over time in cultural treasures were faithfully reproduced by the Canon imagePROGRAF iPF9000 large format printer. In addition, the printer's grayscale mode performed outstandingly with the expressive nuances of traditional Japanese ink-wash paintings. To these reproductions, skilled artisans applied gold leaves to deftly produce in these replicates an undeniable air of antiquity, typical of the originals which bear testament to the patina left by time.

Through partnerships such as this, Canon and the Kyoto Culture Association desire to continue contributing to the development of culture and society through art.

About the Exhibition
The exhibition is open to the public from Friday, 5 March 2010 to Saturday, 20 March 2010 at the Japan Creative Centre, Embassy of Japan in Singapore, 4 Nassim Road Singapore 258372.

Opening hours:
Tuesdays – Saturdays, 10:00am – 6:00pm
For 5 March, opening hours are 1:00pm – 6:00pm
For 20 March, opening hours are 10:00am – 3:30pm

Admission is free.

Appendix I - About the Artists
Appendix II - Canon technology used in the Tsuzuri Project

About Kyoto Culture Association
The Kyoto Culture Association (NPO) aims to save irreplaceable Japanese cultural properties through the use of the latest digital technology and traditional skills of Kyoto artisans with the purpose of actively contributing to the development of Kyoto culture.

About Japan Creative Centre
Launched in November 2009, the Japan Creative Centre (JCC) is the first centre of its kind outside Japan which showcases both traditional and modern Japan and serves as a model for the future. With "Innovation and Tradition" as its main theme, JCC is a place where visitors can enjoy the charms of modern and tradition-rich Japan through JCC events and activities. Indeed, current Japanese design ideals have been incorporated into the design and amenities of the Centre to create an authentic Japanese experience for visitors.

About Canon Singapore Pte Ltd
Canon is a global leader in photographic and digital imaging solutions. Canon Singapore Pte Ltd is the headquarters for South & Southeast Asia driving sales, marketing and service strategies. Besides handling the domestic market, the company leads 18 other countries including subsidiaries in India, Malaysia, Thailand and a representative office in Vietnam. The parent company Canon Inc has a global network of more than 200 companies and employs more than 130,000 people worldwide. It is dedicated to the advancement in technology and innovation and commits about 10% of its total revenue each year to R&D. Canon is consistently one of the top three companies to earn the most number of patents over the last 17 years. As a Fortune Global 500 company, Canon is guided by its kyosei philosophy that focuses on living and working together for the common good.

More information is available at www.canon.com.sg.