Japan Art Academy (日本芸術院, Nihon Geijutsu-in) is the highest ranking artistic organization in Japan. The Academy discusses art-related issues, advises the Minister of Education on art-related issues, and promotes art (fine arts, music, literature, dance and drama though the annual Japan Art Academy Award (Nitten), the premier art exhibition in Japan. As a legal entity, its status is that of a special independent organization under the aegis of the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Its headquarters is in Ueno Park, Tokyo.

The Japan Art Academy should not be confused with the Japan Art Institute, which is a completely different organization.

History

The Japan Art Academy was founded in 1907 as the Fine Arts Reviewing Committee (Bijutsu Shinsa Inkai) of the Ministry of Education. It was intended to provide quality standards and a venue for art exhibitions in Meiji period Japan. The first exhibition, or Bunten, was held in 1907. It was renamed the Imperial Fine Arts Academy (Teikoku Bijutsu-in) in 1911, and headed by Mori Ōgai. The Bunten exhibition was correspondingly renamed the Teiten.