Conversations with …Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Markus Sesko, Associate Curator of Asian Arms and Armor, Department of Arms and Armor, The Met

Join experts for lively 30-minute dialogues on works of art on view in the galleries. In this talk, join a Met curator to explore the luxurious aspects of Japanese sword fashion of the Edo period (1615–1868). Presented in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and in conjunction with the exhibition Samurai Splendor: Sword Fittings from Edo Japan.

Free with Museum admission. Note: Space is limited; first come, first served.

Masks are strongly recommended. See our visitor guidelines.

Assistive listening devices with headsets or neck loops are available from the Ticketing Center in the Great Hall. We encourage you to bring your own headphones. For other access accommodations, contact access@metmuseum.org or 212-650-2010.

Image: Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi) (detail). Blade, 16th century; mounting, 19th century. Japanese. Steel, wood, brass, lacquer, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), ray skin (same), silk, silver. L. 30 1/4 in. (76.9 cm); L. of blade 27 3/16 in. (69.1 cm); L. of cutting edge 21 11/16 in. (55.1 cm); D. of curvature 3/4 in. (1.9 cm). Wood, brass, lacquer, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), ray skin (samé), silk, silver. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Brayton Ives and W. T. Walters, 1891 (91.2.52)