"Nihon bijutsu-shi" refers to the chronological explanation - or the academic field - of Japanese art history, such as the trend of Japanese art, the transition of its style, the research of the representative works and artists in each period, their mutual influence, and the historical background of the works and artists - that is, the works' and artists' relation with Japanese politics, economy, religion, customs, society, literature and others.
日本美術史（にほんびじゅつし）とは、日本の美術の流れ、様式の変遷、各時代の代表的な作品や作家の研究、相互の影響関係、作品や作家を生んだ時代背景（政治、経済、信仰、風俗、社会、文学などとの関連）などについて述べたもの、またはそうした分野を研究する学問のこと。