Model, DJ, and photographer Hikari Shibata will hold her first photo exhibition in five years, THROUGH THE WINDOW, at the FLOAT Gallery in Tokyo for four days starting September 8, 2023.

The exhibition’s title was inspired by Shibata’s shyness, which has always led her to photograph landscapes rather than people. Many photos were taken through windows, and both the view and reflections are meaningful and personal to Shibata herself.

This year’s exhibition features photos of daily life taken in Copenhagen, Denmark’s largest city, where Shibata stayed for a total of three weeks in March 2023. It will also feature photographs snapped in Berlin, Los Angeles, and New York City.

Shibata will visit the gallery in person to present her creations. In addition to the sale of exhibited photographs, guests will also be able to purchase T-shirts, hats, and Shibata’s first photobook, the latter of which is available in limited quantities. The self-published 112-page hardcover book was entirely designed by Shibata herself. T-shirts will be available in two colors and feature the title of the exhibition, while hats will come in three colors with an embroidered graphic image of the sun reflected in a window.

Starting March 4, the permanent museum teamLab Forest Fukuoka will transform its artwork into a stunning spring theme. Guests will be able to enjoy gorgeous cherry blossoms for a limited time, and starting March 24, the Catching and Collecting Forest will also be transformed in the same way.

TeamLab’s works are created in real time by procedural generation, meaning that they are always changing and evolving. Each work changes depending on the season.

▼Starting March 4

Both Shifting Valley, Living Creatures of Flowers, Symbiotic Lives – A Whole Year per Year and Animals of Flowers, Symbiotic Lives II – A Whole Year per Year are only available to see during spring. Come and see animals made entirely of cherry blossoms as they roam through the museum!

The work titled Soft Terrain in Granular Topography shows multicolored grains of light pouring from the sky, while Flutter of Butterflies, Ephemeral Life surrounds visitors with brightly colored butterflies

▼Starting March 24

In the Catching and Collecting Forest, visitors can explore with their smartphones and catch various animals made entirely of cherry blossoms.

©永井豪／ダイナミック企画　©ダイナミック企画・東映アニメーション　©ダイナミック企画　©東映アニメーション　©松本零士／零時社・東映アニメーション

From March 21 until April 5, 2023, Matsuzakaya Nagoya will host The World of Super Robot & Hero: Kazuhiro Ochi Art Exhibition, celebrating the creator’s 45th anniversary as an artist. Ochi is well-known for his work on Mobile Suit Gundam and dozens of other popular anime series, from Martian Successor Nadesico to Urusei Yatsura.

Ochi has personally selected over 100 items to be put on display at the exhibition, including illustrations from Mazinger Z and Devilman, both of which are celebrating their 50th anniversaries. Fans can also expect to see illustrations from the newly-announced UFO Robot Grendizer project along with original sketches, promotional materials, and much more.

Available merchandise will include an art book signed by Kazuhiro Ochi himself, prints, and character goods. New Cutie Honey and Cosmic Fantasy products will also be available for purchase.

The animator himself will also be in attendance on select days, so don’t miss this rare opportunity to meet an anime legend!

Guests spending over ¥5,000 (including tax) at the exhibition during days in which Ochi is in attendance will receive an autographed illustration card only available at the Nagoya venue.

Exhibition Merch at a Glance

©Go Nagai／Dynamic Planning Illustration by K.Ochi

　©KAZUHIRO OCHI

イラスト／越智一裕 ©永井豪／ダイナミック企画

From March 14 until April 23, 2023, Tokyo Midtown Hibiya will hold Hisashi Eguchi’s Tokyo Girlfriend illustration exhibition, set to show off the artist’s unique perspectives on people and cityscapes. The exhibition will feature new illustrations of the titular girlfriend standing in the streets of Hibiya drawn especially for this exhibition, as well as various other girlfriends both large and small.

GING NANG BOYZ Kimi to Boku no Dai 3ji Taisen-teki Renai Kakumei CD Jacket (2005)

A LONG VACATION – Eiichi Ohtaki 40th Tribute Illustration (2021) ©2023 Eguchi Hisashi

Hisashi Eguchi, a manga artist and illustrator, continues to convey the charm of the city and its people by vividly depicting Tokyo and the many unique happenings within. As Tokyo Midtown Hibiya celebrates its 5th anniversary along with many other nearby businesses, the Tokyo Girlfriend exhibition of illustrations by Hisashi Eguchi is being held to celebrate.

The exhibition will feature a new painting of the mysterious girlfriend standing in the streets of Hibiya, newly created for the Tokyo Midtown Hibiya exhibition. A number of original pieces using Pantone overlay, Eguchi’s favorite painting medium in the 80s and 90s, will also be on display for the first time.

During the exhibition period, guests can enjoy autograph sessions, live sketches in which Eguchi himself will draw a portrait of selected subject on the spot, and workshops where he will teach tips on how to be a better illustrator.

Don’t miss your chance to meet one of the greatest illustrators of the modern era!

©2023 Eguchi Hisashi

From February 11 to February 26, an exhibition inspired by the popular rock band CreepHyp will be held at the PARCO GALLERY on the 6th floor of the Nagoya PARCO West Building. The event is being held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of CreepHyp.

The exhibition is themed around a ‘Museum of Voices.’

A person’s voice is said to be a true expression of their personality. This exhibition will give fans a new sense of what CreepHyp is and will feature their music, their MC content, and various radio appearances.

Visitors will be able to listen to the member’s voices, but they’ll also be able to step on them, dive into them, look at them, and experience plenty of other ways to enjoy the band’s content. Completely immersed in this world of voices, this experience promises to be like no other. Come experience it while you can!

The exhibition was largely created by CHOCOLATE, the creative team behind CreepHyp’s past exhibitions. Exclusive merchandise will also be available on-site.

Fans of the pop rock band Macaroni Empitsu will want to head to Tokyo from February 17 to March 6, 2023 to enjoy a newly-reworked 10th-anniversary exhibition. Guests are invited to look through various macaroni holes around the exhibition hall to catch glimpses of some curious and rare items only on display for a limited time.

After being held at several locations around Japan, the exhibition will return to Ikebukuro PARCO in Tokyo next month.

Items appearing in the Macaroni Empitsu 10th Anniversary Book -Macaroni Kuronikuru- will be on display, and a short film titled Aspirations will be screened following its premiere in Shibuya.

Graphic designer Shun Sasaki served as the art director for the exhibition.

Fans won’t want to miss out on the exhibition’s original merchandise featuring key visuals and lyrics from the band. Come get a glimpse at the history and personal lives of Macaroni Empitsu’s members while you can!

[Comment from Vocalist Hattori]
“Macaroni Empitsu’s exhibition is making a triumphant return to Tokyo! New content has been added this time around, so be sure to come fall into the macaroni hole!”

The globally popular anime series Chainsaw Man will get a mini-exhibition at TSUTAYA and TSUTAYA Books locations nationwide from December 23, 2022 until January 22, 2023. A special poster is being prepared for the exhibition and original drawings will be on display. New merchandise will be available during the event period. For more information, follow MAPPA’s official Twitter page (@MAPPA_Info) for updates!

Original Reproductions to be on Display

One original reproduction will be displayed at each of the approximately 300 participating stores. 

Original Goods

Details on MAPPA x TSUTAYA Chainsaw Man Mini-Exhibition Goods

Acrylic Keychain (4 varieties), ¥935 each / Pin (4 varieties, random), ¥550 each / Acrylic Figure (4 varieties), ¥1,925 each / Clear Folder (4 varieties), ¥440 each / Leather Sticky Note Book (4 varieties), ¥605 each / Premium Postcard Holder (1 variety), ¥1,760 each / Mobile Accessory Case (1 variety), ¥2,200 each

As a purchase bonus, guests spending ¥2,200 (including tax) or more will receive a limited edition postcard (4 varieties).

©藤本タツキ／集英社・ ＭＡＰＰＡ

Following the conclusion of the current ‘Little Best Friend Woodstock’ exhibition, the Snoopy Museum will hold a food-centric event from January 14 until July 9, 2023!

Selected Works on Display

Peanuts Comic (January 20, 1991)

Peanuts Comic (September 6, 1988)

Peanuts Comic (February 7, 1988)

Peanuts Comic (September 14, 1954)

Peanuts Comic (March 27, 1986)

Peanuts Reprint (Partial / January 13, 1973)

Goods at a Glance

Approximately 40 rare original drawings of Snoopy and his friends will appear at the exhibition, all focused on the character’s favorite foods. Food features prominently in the Peanuts comic strip, whether it be friends eating breakfast or school lunch.

The exhibition features items from the collection at the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, California. 

Snoopy loves to eat and loves doughnuts and marshmallows, but absolutely hates coconuts. Of course, the gang loves cookies, and eating lunch while chatting is the highlight of the day! Come enjoy this tasty event in 2023.

(C) Peanuts Worldwide LLC

Yoshitaka Amano, known by international fans as the artist behind the legendary Final Fantasy video game series, is celebrating his 70th birthday with a unique art project from November 23 until December 8 at Myoshin-ji in Kyoto. 

On the first day of the event, the venue, decorated with autumn leaves, was crowded with visitors including foreign tourists, who marveled at the fantastic space filled harmoniously with gold and blue. The exhibition will be held at Myoshin-ji, the head temple of the associated branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism. This collection of works was designed to question visitors’ sensibilities and provide a new kind of art exhibition for fans to enjoy.

After the exhibition, the main art piece by Yoshitaka himself will be converted to 3DCG, and a Virtual Golden World will be developed in collaboration with the Yoshitaka Amano VR Museum. By integrating traditional and modern art methods, guests will be able to engage more deeply in the art by enjoying digital works, the metaverse, and NFTs.

Don’t miss this curious exhibition!

The NFT marketplace HINATA will start selling collaborative pieces on November 25, combining classical drafts of Kyoto printed silk images with modern art pieces by up-and-coming creators.

Kyoto Printed Silk Draft x Modern Ukiyo-e Artist Ono Tako

Draft (Left) and Spring Dreamland – Sunshine by Ono Tako

Ono Tako is a modern-day ukiyo-e artist who creates unique paintings combining Eastern and Western elements.

A beautiful woman stands in front of lush spring scenery in this gorgeous piece.

Although this is clearly an ukiyo-e piece, it has a more modern flare, expressing a more universal standard of beauty while also infusing traditional elements.

A total of six works will be available in two variations: the soft and warm Sun and the calm and tranquil Shade. 

Ono Tako: https://twitter.com/ono800

Kyoto Printed Silk Draft x Illustrator Omulettomato

Draft (Left) and Full Moon by Omulettomato

Omulettomato is an illustrator who is rapidly gaining popularity for their feminine portraits.

Three different drafts depicting beautiful Japanese nature have been combined and transformed into a modern lady with moe elements.

A total of eight works will be available in three variations: Daybreak, Sunrise, and Full Moon.

Omulettomato: http://omutoma.tumblr.com

Enjoy this curious collaboration and own a piece of classical and modern Japanese culture.

From December 10 until December 18, 2022, creative company NAKED will hold NAKED GARDEN ONE KYOTO at Ninna-ji! The event is part of a larger next-generation art project being held around Kyoto until Christmas Day.

This exhibition marks the first metaverse-centered event at Ninna-ji, and guests will be able to enjoy a virtual fashion show in collaboration with Jotaro Saito, a kimono designer from Kyoto. Participants will begin by creating their own avatar by snapping a photo of their face. After that, they will be able to choose a kimono by Saito to use as clothing for their avatar before taking to the runway with other visitors from all around Japan.

NAKED’s goal is to bring traditional Japanese kimono culture into the digital space, and the company believes that this is only the beginning. In the future, NAKED hopes to bring other artists into the metaverse as well.
 

NAKED Distanced Lanterns

NAKED Tsukubai

Five-Storied Pagoda Projection Mapping

DANDELION PROJECT

Virtual Fashion Show

Limited Edition Paper Goshuin

This year’s event also includes the DANDELION PROJECT, popular with art fans around the world. Created by Ryotaro Muramatsu, the art project has appeared in a number of towns and cities around the world, inviting participants to create flowers and send them around the globe digitally as a hope for peace. Visitors can use their smartphones to send dandelion fluff digitally to other participants around the world, sharing a wish for world peace. 

This year, the participatory art piece was installed in the main temple. Why not visit this stunning exhibition in Kyoto this winter? 

Global creative agency monopo is teaming up with Shokuraku Asano, a 100-year-old obi maker from Kyoto! The company is working to create a digital experience for interested viewers, sharing each artisan’s personal story. Those who love Japanese culture are welcome to enjoy traditional Japanese crafts in an entirely new way!

Using a one-of-a-kind QR obi, a new storytelling method is showing off the hard work and love that goes into the company’s textiles. A special website and video allow interested viewers to experience the process of making an obi digitally, simply by using their smartphone. Even those unable to visit Japan to see these obi in person can dive into the history of the area’s textiles and become more acquainted with one part of Kyoto’s manufacturing culture. 

Kyoto was the ancient capital of Japan. The city is known for its history and preservation of Japanese culture, and prior to the pandemic, the city was constantly filled with visitors from around the world anxious to learn more about the country’s traditional culture. When the pandemic hit the world in 2020, it changed the city forever–tourists disappeared and the city became much quieter. Now that Japan has opened its borders, however, tourists are returning in droves.

While Shokuraku Asano upholds tradition, it also seeks to leave a mark on new generations by embracing new technology. This unique project is worth noting, so get your smartphone out and start learning!

We applaud monopo’s attempt to share this incredible traditional Japanese craftsmanship with people around the world.