This is the first solo exhibition in Japan by Elisabeth Kopf, an illustrious Austrian graphic designer based in Vienna. She was selected to become a member of the prestigious AGI (International Association of Graphic Designers) in 2006. Kopf works with visual concepts that have been refined and manipulated in order to take into account the potential responses the work will arouse in the viewer. Her work is also possessed of a generous vision and full of emotional affect, reflecting her belief in the power of communication to connect people. In order to help kick her own smoking habit, she started the "Air Cigarette" series of works in 2002 as an art project. This is the Tokyo version of that project, showcasing a total of 6 related works. Opening reception: April 24th (Thu) 19:00-21:00

Tanks, airplanes, ships, robots...in the late 1950s and 1960s, plastic models grew to become a favorite pastime of many in Japan. Children were drawn to the fact that they could now own a piece of the action, a miniature version of the object of their affection, fueling the development of the model industry that continues up until today. The particular pleasure of the plastic model was the fact that it could be customized with additional parts and built according to one's preferred specifications. "Box Art" was the face of these plastic model kits. Drawn and designed in order to catch the eye of consumers and get them to purchase the toys contained within, such artwork on the boxes of these plastic models became mainstream in the years following the war, and is even read today as a comment on postwar Japanese society. This exhibition examines "box art" in the context of postwar visual culture in Japan and its reception. The exhibition showcases about 160 examples of the genre, from the birth of the plastic model in its early days right up until the present, examining even how certain wooden models were used as teaching aids. Also on display will be dioramas using nostalgic classic plastic models assembled by master modelers. The organizers are delighted to be able to hold the exhibition in Shizuoka city, one of the most important manufacturing centers of plastic models in Japan. Special lectures are also planned. For details, see the website.

This exhibition showcases "Typeface" and "Book" by young 31 year-old designer Kenji Nishimura. Fonts such as "Rag", "Fallen Hair" and "Penis" were inspired by encounters from daily life. "Book" features new book designs from the "Boku Shobo" series for such classics as Osamu Dazai's "Ningen Shikkaku" and Ryunosuke Akutagawa's "Kappa". In addition, an editor will be invited to participate in a talk event on the weekend. Taken as a whole, this exhibition will delve deeply into what is required of a designer, and what one needs to link the products in this exhibition with one's work. Talk event "Selling Public" May 5th 15:00- Guest editor: Tamito Komiyama (Rironsha)

Ginza Graphic Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition entitled "Alan Fletcher: The Father of British Graphic Design". Alan Fletcher, who died in September 2006, was an influential figure not only within England but also in the context of an international contemporary graphic design scene. One of the founding members of the Pentagram design group, Fletcher was the creator of innovative designs shot through with a satirical wit. Moreover, he was appointed creative director of Phaidon Press, playing an important role in familiarizing the public with the idea of art books. This exhibition showcases about 60 posters from the collection of the London Design Museum that demonstrate Fletcher's unflagging curiosity for novel design. -Gallery Talk Date & Time: May 9th (Fri) 16:00-17:30 Guest: Emily King Location: DNP Ginza Building 5F Fee: Free (Reservation required)

Art Man Japan, a young group of butsudan (Buddhist altar) craftsmen from Mikawa, will exhibit their T-shirt designs at this exhibition entitled "Love My Job, Love My Town." While employing traditional techniques of butsudan making, this collective creates a completely new type of work, transcending the notion of religion that altars are often associated with. Their work has been picked up by magazines, newspapers, and TV programs, netting them much publicity and making their novel take on butsudans something of a sensation. In addition to 10 T-shirts designed by them, this exhibition also presents "Budan" and "Art Man Doll," initial works that made them popular. *The space is closed during the Golden Week holidays.

TiFdyL is an artist based between Tokyo and Canada who uses strong colors and outlines.

Exhibition by five artists who create artwork for record jackets, logos and other design projects. Opening Party : April 25th 18:00-

There is perhaps no more appropriate moniker for creator Tadanori Yokoo than "the king of adventure." He launched a successful career as a graphic designer in the 60s and the 70s, and later "retired" from commerical work during the 80s, turning instead to a late second career as a painter. Recently, he has also devoted himself to writing. A number of exhibitions have previously featured his work, but not many of them have focused on his "adventurous" side. This retrospective exhibition includes a total of 700 works, ranging from his graphic design period from the 60s, to his most recent works, shedding valuable light on his dramatic and varied career trajectory. Related Events: -April 26th (Sat) Opening Event: Outdoor Live Performance "From Pascals to the King of Adventure" -April 27th (Sun) Discussion 1: Tadanori Yokoo x Tadayasu Sakai -May 4th (Sun) Discussion 2: Tadanori Yokoo x Hiroshi Aramata -June 1st (Sun) Discussion 3: Tadanori Yokoo x Shohei Nakajo *Please check the website for more details. [Image: "Jules Verne's Ocean" (2006) Acrylic on canvas 227.3 x 181.3cm]

This is a retrospective exhibition of the graphic designer Mitsuo Katsui, who carved out a new niche for himself in the field of graphic design. The exhibition looks back on his 50-year career and focuses on the concept of "light" to trace milestones in his career and his achievements.

Formula One™, abbreviated to F1, is the highest class of motor sports. The best cars and designs, the infatuation with speed in one of the world's top sports events that captures hearts everywhere. This exhibition explores the revolutionary designs contributed to F1 over the years. [Image: © Design Museum, London Formula One™ - The Great Design Race Tour was organised by the Design Museum, London and curated by Alicia Pivaro.]

In the 1950s, Japan made a fast recovery from the wartime period and was at the beginning of a point of rapid economic growth. Design began to take part in this regrowth, especially in the trading and marketing fields. A new notion of design in terms of manufactured products, which was different from that of traditional crafted items, was in demand in order to support and grow economically. This exhibition focuses on designs that emerged in the postwar 1950s. Designs used for posters, newspaper and magazine advertisements, brochures, wrapping paper, book covers, and various forms of packaging designs will be presented along with related materials from that period. Symposium June 8th (Sun) 14:30-16:00 "Culture and Design of the 50s" Hiroshi Kashiwagi (Prof./ Musashino Art University) Naoyuki Takashima (Prof./ Musashino Art University) Hitoshi Mori (Design Historian)

Works from the museum's collection will be on display, with 5 different themes. 1. "Yearning for Blue": introduces painters, such as Rene Magritte, Marc Chagall, Raoul Dufy and Shunsuke Matsumoto who rendered the world in shades of blue. 2. "To Make Invisible Visible": from the museum's collection of contemporary Japanese art, this section showcases artists who devoted themselves to abstract expression, focusing particularly on Takeo Yamaguchi and Jiro Yoshihara. 3. "Where is Utopia?": introduces the notion of utopia and images of paradise that artists associated with Utsunomiya envisioned. 4. "Producing Images": art and design work will be presented alongside each other in the same exhibition space, arranged with the techniques of knitting, weaving and producing in mind. 5. "Revolutionary Russia -Adventures in Design": Russian avant-garde posters from the 1920s and the design work of Japanese artists who took hints from the former will be on display. Location: Exhibition Room 1

Kawasaki City Museum has been a pioneer in researching new genres of art, such as photography, comics, graphics, film and image, while also collecting valuable materials as civic resources. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Museum is hosting "Collection Pickup - Curators' Picks" Exhibition, in which curators will pick up some works from the Museum collection and introduce them from their own perspectives. Location: Art Gallery

This is the third edition of the exhibition series "Graphic Trial," which is based on the "execution of beauty." Relief printing directors and four leading art directors have collaborated to produce offset prints and exploring the possibilities of graphic expression in the process. Masaaki Hiromura, Hiroaki Nagai, Kaoru Takai, and Mari Yonetsu are the selected designers for this collaboration. Each of them has tackled various themes and experimented with all sorts of printing techniques in order to produce a final, polished image. This exhibition presents their production process, as well as posters created through a number of trials. Design Talk in Toppan Vol. 5 - Inviting the Creators May 24th (Sat) 15:00-17:00 (doors open at 14:30) Location: Printing Museum, Gutenberg Hall Reservation required (between April 14th to May 12th) Please refer to the website for more information.

Looking at the history of film of any country reveals an important connection between film and literature. In the more than 100 years of Japanese film history, we can see that many film directors and scriptwriters were influenced by various forms of literature. Coinciding with the new series of screenings, "Japanese Literature in Film," this exhibition explores how literature has influenced and been "interpreted" into film. Posters and still photographs from the NFC's collection are on display to introduce the cultural background behind this cross-disciplinary exchange. This is the first edition of the series, focusing mainly on works from the Meiji and Taisho periods. -Gallery talks are scheduled during the exhibition period. Details will be posted on their website soon. -"Japanese Literature in Film" Screenings: April 18th (Fri) - May 4th (Sun)

Starting from April 16th until the first half of December, exhibitions of around two months each every season are planned. Map series, works on paper, fingerprint series, and cross-sections.

This exhibition introduces works by Joshibi Art University graduates who have been active in photography and graphics. Works and messages with a uniquely feminine viewpoint will be on display. This exhibition is simultaneously held at Daikoku-ya Gallery in Ginza (03-3571-0008) and Joshibi Galeria Nike in Shin Nakano (03-5340-6671), each venue presenting different works by the artists.

"Cache-cache": French for hide-and-seek. Exhibition of 17 creators working in graphics, illustration, painting, comics, product, craft and interiors.

20x20 Pecha-Kucha Night vol.52 20 images x 20 seconds 20:20pm start Hosted by Klein Dytham architecture. Anyone in the architectural and design world can 'show' and tell. It may be a newly finished building, it may be a new project, a new piece of furniture, a new event, a new idea, something you want to share with everyone. Architects, architectural students, students who are looking for a job and want to promote their skills, any creative person - everyone is encouraged to take part. Each person has twenty images, each image will be shown for 20 seconds. You can talk along with your slides.