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The Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, the Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Western Art and the National Museum of Art. Osaka are four major museums of art which have been established for the purpose of collecting, preserving and publicly exhibiting distinguished works of art and other items, while at the same time conducting related research and projects.

The Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art emphasizes collecting and exhibiting works of modern art; the Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art concerns itself with modern works as expressed in the applied arts; the National Museum of Western Art houses the Matsukata Collection (returned to Japan from France and donated by the French Government), as well as other works associated with Western art; the National Museum of Art, Osaka presents works of modern art and other works deemed essential in revealing the development of Japanese art in relation to the arts of other countries.

Because of the recent considerable increase in the number of local public and private art museums, the recruitment and fostering of well qualified curatorial staff members as well as the systematic building of each respective museums' collection has become important tasks. National art museums are conducting various training programs, such as one that accepts curatorial staff members from local public and private museums into their departments for a certain period to allow them to study while carrying out their duties.

It will be necessary in the future to have stronger measures for guidance and assistance to local public and private museums, such as the improvement of in-service training for curatorial staff members, systematization of methods for collecting and disseminating information and materials, as well as for the further enrichment of museum projects, such as better equipment for exhibition and public display, installation, research, investigation and Public relations, to cope with needs brought about by popular demand.