NGMA’s ‘Tokyo Before/After’ Brings a Century of Japan’s Visual History to Delhi

The National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi opened an ambitious photographic exhibition titled Tokyo Before/After on September 3. Curated to span almost a hundred years, the show presents a visual chronicle of the Japanese capital, tracing its evolution from pre‑war streets to the neon‑lit metropolis of today.

Visitors can walk through a sequence of archival prints, street scenes and candid moments that capture Tokyo’s architectural, social and cultural transformations. The gallery has arranged the images thematically, allowing viewers to compare early‑20th‑century neighborhoods with their contemporary counterparts, highlighting both continuity and change.

For the South‑Asian diaspora, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to engage with a neighboring nation’s heritage through a medium that transcends language. As India and Japan deepen ties in trade, technology and tourism, understanding each other’s past can enrich community conversations and foster a broader appreciation of shared Asian narratives. The NGMA’s initiative underscores Delhi’s growing role as a hub for cross‑cultural dialogue, inviting residents and overseas South‑Asians alike to explore the visual story of a city that has long fascinated artists, filmmakers and travelers.

The exhibition will run for several weeks, inviting historians, photographers and curious citizens to reflect on how urban identities evolve over time.