This year marks the 10th anniversary of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure anime. To commemorate the event, a special anniversary exhibition will be held around Japan starting in August! The first venue will be Ikebukuro Sunshine City in Tokyo.

Fans will be able to trace the history of the many JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure anime releases, and the exhibition will feature characters from Phantom Blood and Stone Ocean.

Come enjoy celebrating this major milestone and check out some special illustrations drawn exclusively for the exhibition! Special video screenings and a behind-the-scenes look at the animation production process will be held as well. 

（C）荒木飛呂彦&LUCKY LAND COMMUNICATIONS/集英社・ジョジョの奇妙な冒険THE ANIMATION PROJECT

Art collective teamLab will open a permanent nighttime exhibition, ‘teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka,’ at Nagai Botanical Garden in Osaka in the summer of 2022.

The Nagai Botanical Garden, which originally opened in 1974, reopened on April 1, 2022, after tree thinning, tree rearrangement and replanting to accommodate new root growth, and soil improvement to create an environment where plants can thrive and grow in the far future. The garden covers over 240,000 square meters and is home to 1,200 species of plants, flowers, and trees.

This summer, teamLab will transform the garden into an art space where the past, present, and future intersect, blending with nature’s changing seasons and the presence of guests.

TeamLab’s environmentally friendly art project, ‘Digitized Nature,’ aims to show “nature itself becoming art in its natural state” by using only digital technology. Nothing in the gardens needs to be destroyed to create art.

At teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka, the daytime botanical garden will become an art space at night. The space will be transformed by actual wind and rain, as well as by the behavior of the birds and the actions of visitors to the site. 

Come enjoy an illuminated garden filled with art on a warm night this summer!

©チームラボ

Tokyo’s TeNQ Space Museum, located in Tokyo Dome City, will hold a special Cinnamoroll exhibition to celebrate the Sanrio character’s 20th anniversary! The adorable white puppy won first place at the Sanrio Character Awards for two consecutive years and has been a beloved part of Sanrio’s lineup for two decades. From July 7 until October 17, guests can visit this unique walk through Cinnamoroll’s history. The exhibition’s key visual has been unveiled ahead of the event.

Clear Folder

Face Towel

Postcard (2 varieties)

Visitors will learn tons of Cinnamoroll trivia at the exhibition and can also participate in Cinnamoroll Roulette, a fun fortune-telling event!

In addition, the first-ever Cinnamoroll Strawberry News Poster Gallery will be available to peruse. An academic exhibit unique to TeNQ where visitors can learn about the many kinds of clouds will also be opened in honor of Cinnamoroll, who was born on a fluffy cloud in the sky. Original merchandise will also make an appearance. It’s sure to be fun for the whole family!

©2022 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPROVAL NO. SP630141

Two incredible new Junmai Daiginjo bottles, the highest-quality sake, have been released in limited quantities. Hitou ASCENDING and Touka ILLUMINATING were made by sustainable means and incorporate NFT art to share the process of sake creation with the world.

While sake companies keep traditional Japanese production methods alive, some are seeking to solve problems in the sake industry by turning to current technology, like the blockchain and NFTs. In this age of convenience and automation, this particular sake maker is aiming to show the true value and authenticity of Japanese craftsmanship to the rest of the world. 

Certain types of sake can only be made and enjoyed at certain times of the year, as they are not suitable for storage at room temperature and can only be consumed for a brief period to get the best taste. Many sake fans around the world might not be aware of this, so the new NFT collaboration aims to educate!

The bottles contain unique ukiyo-e NFT art prints of a dragon and phoenix on the bottle, respectively. Those who purchase a bottle will also find the year of production and bottle number etched onto the glass with lacquer. Be sure to keep the bottle even after the delicious sake is gone!

Story

Rice / Tobe Rice
In Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, farmers have been cultivating this unique brand of Koshihikari rice without the help of pesticides or fertilizers for over two decades. The rice is called the best in all of Japan, and one-third of its yield is used to make sake.

Water / Pure Groundwater

The Japan Median Tectonic Line, also known as the ‘Dragon’s Vein,’ is a massive fault line that is home to numerous sacred sites, including  Suwa Grand Shrine, Toyokawa Inari Shrine, Tenkawa Benzaiten Shrine, Ise Grand Shrine, and the Koyasan Mountain. The groundwater found here is some of the purest found in Japan and flows from the Bungui Pass in Ina, Nagano Prefecture. The pass has been featured in many publications as one of the most famous power spots in Japan.

Brewing / Ono Brewery

While dealing with some of the harshest winter weather in Japan, the brewery has continued to create sake the old-fashioned way–with human hands. For the creation of these two bottles, the brewers took on the challenge of making a very small amount of sake, something they had never done before. Based on the concept of “making the most of the environment,” the rice was prepared in a special room with no air conditioning under the watchful eye of the master brewer.

Bottle Art/ Ukiyo-e Artist, Shun
The art displayed on the bottle is printed in a unique way, allowing it to be put on display separately. The Japanese-style art is perfect for the collaboration and was inspired by one specific hope: that a new path will open to those who work hard after the many difficulties and troubles caused by the pandemic.

Bottle Making / Maruyoshi Kosaka Wood & Urushi Works

The circular label symbolizes the moon (water) and the sun (fire), each representing a world where different values are not only accepted but welcomed. Hand-painted and made with pure platinum and gold leaf by the talented craftsman at Maruyoshi Kosaka Wood & Urushi Works in Shiojiri, Nagano, these advanced painting techniques are sure to impress.

Each Bottle Features the Brewing Year, Number Printed in Lacquer

Marked with a unique serial number, all proceeds from the sales of these special sakes will be used to maintain and promote sustainable agriculture, support sake brewers, and bring traditional Japanese craftsmanship to the world.

Anique has opened an online exhibition to celebrate the release of the animated film Bubble until June 30, 2022! The event is also offering limited-edition merchandise.

Merchandise Lineup

Acrylic Stand Diorama

Pin Set

Postcard Set

Clear Folder

Mug

Purchase Bonus: Round Stickers

The exhibition will serve as a deep dive into the world of Bubble, focusing on four categories: story, worldview, characters, and artwork.

Guests can enjoy browsing images from the film, and can also see valuable creation materials like storyboards and original sketches.

Jun Shison, who voices Hibiki in the film, contributed comments to the exhibition, along with director Tetsuro Araki.

Merchandise is also available to buy now! These items can only be found at this exhibition, so order while you can.

Have you watched Bubble on Netflix yet?

©2022「バブル」製作委員会

An exhibition focusing on the Mugen Train and Entertainment District Arcs of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba will open at Sapporo Factory in Hokkaido from July 15 until August 7, 2022.

Fans of the series won’t want to miss this huge showing of Demon Slayer materials, including a video exhibit showing off some of the best fight scenes from the film and anime series on a massive screen. 

Stay tuned for more details!

©吾峠呼世晴／集英社・アニプレックス・ufotable

The Nakamura Keith Haring Collection in Yamanashi Prefecture will be holding a celebratory exhibition in honor of the location’s 15th anniversary from May 14, 2022 until May 7, 2023.

In April 2007, the Nakamura Keith Haring Collection opened in Kobuchisawa, located at the foot of Mt. Yatsugatake. The only museum in the world dedicated entirely to New York-based artist Keith Haring, Kazuo Nakamura collected the works and acts as the director of the museum. Over 300 works of art are on display along with 500 other pieces, from photographs and videos to merchandise. The new exhibition features approximately 150 works.

Three Lithographs (People Ladder), 1985

Icons (Radiant Baby), 1990

Untitled, 1984

Untitled, 1988

Untitled (Subway Drawing), 1981-1983

The ‘Chaos and Hope’ exhibition was originally held during the museum’s first year of operation and looks back at Haring’s first experiences in New York City in 1978. The artist was present at the dawn of the hip-hop movement and was struck by the clash between typical white art and underground minority artists. In only five years, Haring rose to stardom. Sadly, while traveling the world, he contracted AIDS, passing away at the age of 31. Behind the bright and cheerful artwork he left behind, he hid his inner suffering and desire for hope and freedom.

All Keith Haring Artwork ©Keith Haring Foundation
Courtesy of Nakamura Keith Haring Collection.

Italian luxury fashion brand Fendi has teamed up with Harajuku Omotesando Keyaki-kai on a new street art project! ‘TSUNAGU – Omotesando Street Art Project’ was unveiled on April 29, 2022.

The project, which aims to improve the city’s scenery and share positive messages, is on display in Omotesando, a popular area with young people. The canvas is the formal site of the Oriental Bazaar, an iconic part of Omotesando for over four decades. Under the theme of ‘hope,’ three young artists will be displaying their artwork in a massive temporary enclosure on the site. Hopefully, Japan really will open tourism soon so that guests from around the world can enjoy these inspiring pieces!

The first piece of art was unveiled on April 29 and was drawn by Dai Tamura, a young Japanese artist who has attracted worldwide attention after becoming an illustrator for the NBA. The dynamic and powerful compositions vividly depict endangered animals and plants alongside delicate flowers to symbolize hope for the futures of these beautiful creatures. 

Be sure to keep an eye out for the next installation coming soon!

The Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media will house a new work by DJ Licaxxx, the fifth installment of the ‘sound tectonics installation.’ The new work, Reason and Emotion ‘22, will be on display in the museum’s courtyard. 

Licaxxx is a popular DJ and beatmaker who has been active in many unique fields over the past few years. The artist has created music for commercials and other advertisements while also contributing works to museums and art spaces.

The new sound installation features trackmaker Dan Kubo and electronic musician Kazuki Muraoka as collaborators. The goal of this ongoing project is to critically examine the act of viewing art in general, including music, and to generate music in real-time based on the current environment. The installation is impacted by weather, temperature, and the number of people viewing the work. The courtyard venue faces the main foyer and features a large glass atrium. 

Come enjoy a new listening experience like no other before the installation disappears in November.

Popular illustrator and alcohol ink artist Jiji will release her first artbook in May! 

Images

Behind-the-Scenes

This is the first collection of works by Jiji to be compiled and released. ‘Jiji ILLUSTRATION AND MAKING BOOK’ will include around 110 illustrations, including both past creations and new images made exclusively for the book’s release. The compiled illustrations were made in a variety of ways, including with alcohol ink, fountain pens, and by digital means.

The Heike Story anime series premiered in Japan on Fuji TV’s +Ultra programming block on January 12. With character designs by Fumiko Takano, fans instantly fell in love with the show’s cast of characters, and an art book will be released soon, with preorders opening this week.

The Kyoto International Manga Museum has opened an exhibition displaying character concept art from SCIENCE SARU’s The Heike Story and INU-OH anime from April 21 to June 27. The exhibit commemorates The Heike Story‘s TV broadcast and INU-OH‘s theater opening in Japan. Fumiko Takano (The Heike Story) and Taiyo Matsumoto (INU-OH)’s character concept drawings are on display in Gallery 4. 

Both titles are based on Hideo Furukawa’s modern language rendering of the classic Japanese epic The Tale of the Heike.

The Heike Story will additionally release an art book titled The Colors of The Heike Story in June. The book will feature an interview between art director Tomotaka Kubo and series director Naoko Yamada, and is scheduled for release in June. Those pre-ordering the book will receive a special gift.

©高野文子 /「平家物語」製作委員会 
©松本大洋 /2021 “INU-OH” Film Partners

Art collective NAKED is teaming up with Panasonic LUMIX digital cameras for a new version of the NAKED BIG BOOK. The new work is on display at LUMIX BASE TOKYO in Aoyama until May 29, 2022. 

LUMIX BASE TOKYO is a gallery inspired by the LUMIX brand of digital cameras. The location is meant to serve as a base for the next generation of creators and strives to bring tons of creative energy to those looking to hit it big as artists in the future. 

Naked and LUMIX have come together to make LUMIX BASE TOKYO not only a showroom but also a place where guests can experience creativity in a new way. The NAKED BIG BOOK,” the brand’s most famous work, has been decorated with seasonal flowers and will be exhibited for a limited time. 

NAKED BIG BOOK invites visitors to enter a storybook world with each turning page. The work uses projection mapping on a giant book sculpture to inspire audiences and wow guests with the wonders of technology. The book has appeared at FLOWERS BY NAKED and other locations throughout Japan in the past. 

The exhibition will also feature original artwork inspired by LUMIX’s marketing campaign for 2022, ‘COLORS OF LUMIX.’