This is the third ART FAIR TOKYO, and builds on the success of ART FAIR TOKYO 2007, which resulted in the series gaining an international reputation as one of the most comprehensive fairs in Asia. With its high quality levels and its signature style of a range of genres that runs from traditional arts and crafts to traditional and modern Japanese painting and contemporary art, ART FAIR TOKYO has an increasingly visible presence among the many art fairs in Asia.The recent interest in Asian art on the international art markets is reflected in Japan's growing enthusiasm for art, to the extent that purchasing art is increasingly seen as an essential part of peoples' lifestyles. ART FAIR TOKYO aims to help the Japanese art market grow into a mature industry, instead of just ending as a transient trend.For 2008, 108 galleries have been selected, including 7 overseas based galleries from 6 cities (Seoul, New Delhi, New York, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Madrid). Programs associated with ART FAIR TOKYO 2008 include a "Dialog in Art" talk event with invited guests similar to that in the 2007 curatorial program. There will also be guided tours of the Fair and local art projects in Marunouchi near the venue, all of which aim to provide enjoyment to a broader demographic.Last year, ART FAIR TOKYO 2007 attracted approximately 32,000 visitors, with total fair end sales—which exclude sales finalized after the fair closed—reaching US$10 million. Markets around the world are currently experiencing an accelerating art boom, and Japan is no exception. This is resulting in an upturn in a domestic market that had been suffering from deflation in the years since the economic bubble. Young collectors are discovering the joys of bringing art into their homes and workplaces. The range of ways to enjoy art is broadening, and more and more people are making the shift from simply looking at art to buying it.ART FAIR TOKYO 2008 reaches out to the world from the international metropolis of Tokyo, presenting exquisite works of art without restriction on period or genre. ART FAIR TOKYO stands out among the many art fairs in Asia for the variety of genres it covers, ranging from antique and traditional forms of art to nihonga, modern painting, and contemporary art. The Fair is also well respected for its uniformly high standard of exhibits. ART FAIR TOKYO 2008 will be held at its regular venue, the Tokyo International Forum in Yurakucho, a convenient location for business people visiting Tokyo on tight schedules. From this year the period of the fair is timed to include both weekdays and the weekend of April 5th and 6th, and it is thus expected to attract even more visitors than in the past.For experienced aficionados, the attraction of the fair is the availability of good work by some of the world’s biggest names. Also, the galleries tend to exhibit works by the artists they are most excited about now, which means the fair provides an opportunity to catch up on the latest art trends.