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GV EXTERIOR exhibition hall
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LV INTERIOR officials around ceremonial around ceremonial ribbon
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SCU Prime Minister Miki (nearest)
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SV Princess Mikasa cuts ribbon, officials applaud and walk into expo hall
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CU PAN from exhibit No.1 bronze rectangular ting (cooking vessel) to official looking on
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CU A bronze axe with animal mask design
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CU PM Miki and Chinese official Wang Yeh-Chiu (wearing chinese jacket) looking at exhibits
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CU SV bronze wine vessel in shape of rhinoceros (2 shots)
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CU Miki looking
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SV CU Terra cotta warrior figure wearing warrior armour of the Chin dynasty (2 shots)
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CU PAN man looking at bronze sacrificial basin in figure of tiger gnawing at tail of Ox (Han Dynasty)
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CU SV gilded bronze lamp from Han dynasty (2 shots)
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GV People looking at exhibits
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Initials RH/0012 RH/MF/MR/0036



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: An exhibition of Chinese bronze, gold and silver ware - some dating back to the 16th century BC - has opened in Tokyo, Japan.

The exhibition, which comprises 130 pieces, was officially opened on Monday (29 March) by Princess Nikasa, the sister-in-law of Emperor Hirohito. The opening was performed at a private showing of the exhibition, and was also attended by the Japanese prime Minister, Mr Takeo Miki. The display opened to the public on Tuesday (30 March) and will continue until late May.

All the items on show date from the yin Period (16-14th centuries BC) to the Tang period 618-907 AD). Most of them are bronze, but there are seven silver and gold items and nine terra cotta pieces. They range from wine and food vessels and cooking vessels to musical instruments, bells and exe heads.

The Chinese official responsible for bringing the display to Japan, Mr Wang Yeh-Chiu, was also present at the private viewing.

SYNOPSIS: The National Museum of Japan in Tokyo where a display of Chinese bronze, gold and silver ware opened on Monday. The Prime Minister, Mr Takeo Miki was one of the officials who attended the opening ceremony, which was performed by Princess Mikasa, the sister-in-law of Emperor Hirohito.

The items date from the Yin Period - 1600 years before Christ - to the Tang Period which ended over a thousand years ago.

Most of them are bronze, but there are several silver, gold and terra cott pieces.

This Yin dynasty cooking vessel was unearthed in Honan province in 1974.

A bronze axe with animal mask design belongs to the later Yin Dynasty.

Mr Miki and Mr Wang Yeh-Chiu, the Chinese official who brought the exhibition to Japan examined the display which opened to the public on tuesday.

This bronze rhinoceros which is actually a wine vessel from the Han Dynasty, attracted Mr. Miki's interest.

A terra cotta figure of a man in warrior's armour dates from the Chin Dynasty about two hundred years BC.

The exhibition will remain open until late May. This sacrificial pan was found in Yunnan province four year ago.

A gilded bronze lamp from the Han Dynasty is one of the one-hundred-and-thirty exhibits on show until late May.