Illustrations based on the theme "picnic" by five creators are on display. [Image: Igloo *dining*]

Seiko Omori presents her two dimensional works combining illustrations that she used to use for women's magazine works and images of flowers and plants. Small craft items are also on display. Opening Party: May 9th (Fri) 18:00-20:00

-Related Events Concert Guests: Blue Moon Red Roses/ Sachi (violin) & Taizan Seigetsu (cello) "Disaster House" Preview Screening + Talk Show 1. About the film "Disaster House" Guests: Ochazuke-nori, Miyako Kojima, Sachi, Arisu Kobayashi 2. About "Gimmicky Toy Box from Hell" Guests: Ochazuke-nori, Miyako Kojima, Michiru Noroi and others Date & Time: May 10th (Sat) 17:00- Fee: ¥1500 (including 1 drink) [Image: Miyako Kojima]

Collaborative exhibition by two prominent illustrators. This year marks their sixth collaboration.

Group exhibition of artists from different generations and working in different styles, 2D works and paintings. This time, the artists have split the exhibition into two periods among themselves according to whether they are "drinking at the beach" types or "drinking in the jungle" types (of course, some of them are teetotalers).

This exhibition presents a wide range of works created by students at Tama Art University and Musashino Art University. Based on the theme of "fictional creatures", the exhibition has something of a rabid insanity behind it...

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.

Opening Reception: May 10th (Sat), 18:00-20:00

Manga artist Fujiko F. Fujio created an enormous number of comics throughout his life, with an ideal to amuse himself as well as his readers. This retrospective exhibition introduces works that he made throughout his entire life. From children who have only heard about Doraemon to those who grew up reading his old comics, everyone can enjoy this exhibition. -Lecture Animation "Celebrating the Release of 'Doraemon Movie Nobita and the Green Giant Legend' -- Making Doraemon Anime was Always My Dream" Date: March 20th (Thurs) Doors open 12:00-, Starts 13:00- Capacity: 50 Reserve by e-mail or phone after March 1st (Sat), 12:00. Guests: Ayumu Watanabe, Nobukazu Suzuki -Talk Event "Fujiko F. Fujio -- the Creative World" Dates: April 29th (Tue) Doors open 12:30, Starts 13:00 Capacity: 50 Reserve by e-mail or phone after April 5th (Sat), 12:00. Guests: Kazuhiko Kurokawa, Shintaro Mugiwara, Nobukazu Suzuki *Please see the website for more details. (Japanese)

This exhibition accompanies the "Setagaya Art Free Market" to be held on May 17th (Sat) and 18th (Sun) on the 3rd to the 5th floors of Carrot Tower. A wide range of works created by local creators who have participated in the market or other exhibitions held in Setagaya Ward will be on display. From painting or photography to T-shirt design, this exhibition showcases a variety of art, craft, and design works. Please see for more details.

Perhaps few people know of "Panda Kopanda (kid panda)," a film created by the duo Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki 36 years ago focusing on "carefully drawing daily life, with nothing special." This incomparably happy film about the strange life shared between an active young girl and a grown an baby panda is scheduled to be re-released in theaters this spring. This exhibition gearing up to the theater release displays Hayao Miyazaki's original image boards for the film in a bamboo forest. Miyazaki's belief in "portraying 'everyday life' as entertainment" and connections with the duo's later works are of interest. Location: Ghibli Museum, Mitaka, 2F Gallery Curation and Design: Goro Miyazaki *Please contact the museum for more details. [Image: Hayao Miyazaki From the 'Panda Kopanda' image board ©TMS]

This is a commemorative exhibition of Suzy Amakane's comic book to be published in May. Her original illustrations and paintings will be on display. More details will be announced later.

"Devil Robots" have been getting a lot of attention from around the world lately, and are pleased to be curating this show, called "COUPLES". This exhibition will consist of 20 artists that Devil Robots have been keeping their eye on for some time. The 20 artists will be divided into 10 couples and collaborate on artwork together. Nobody knows which artist will be coupled with which, making this is an exciting event to look forward to! Maybe your favorite character will be transformed into something new! Original artwork ranging from 3D to 2D work will be on display. We definitely recommend that you come and see these unique pieces in person! *All the works are available for purchase.

Internationally acclaimed artist Taro Gomi (1945-) has produced more than 350 illustrated books. His inspired touch with simple shapes, colors, and words has attracted a wide following among children and adults alike. "As a creator, there's nothing more exciting than making books. Planning, producing, printing, and seeing the completed book, or sometimes seeing something emerge from my work -- the entire process is really fun for me. I want to share this enjoyment with others and create something that my readers can savor in the same way, too," says Gomi. This exhibition introduces the processes involved in Gomi's book production, from his preparatory sketches through to their animation, and various related documents. Related Events (Please see the website for details.) -"Telling Folktales" by a volunteer group Reading of a Taro Gomi book, by volunteer staff Date: May 4th (Sun) 14:00-15:00 -Lecture by Taro Gomi "Picture Book Time" Date: May 5th (Mon/ Holiday) 14:00-15:30 This exhibition consists of two parts: Part 1, April 1st (Tue) - May 7th (Wed)/ Part 2, May 9th (Fri) - June 11th (Wed).

This exhibition presents painting and illustrations by artist Yumeji Takehisa（1884-1934). His illustrations were seen in a number of publications. This exhibition aims to introduce the life of this multi-talented individual who was active as an illustrator, poet, critic, calligrapher, designer, and producer. Gallery Talk: May 11th (Sun), 15:00 [Image: Senoh Sheet Music Illustrated by Yumeji Takehisa "Yoimachigusa (Evening Primrose)" (1934)]

Souji Omokawa became famous as an illustrator of adventure stories for children in the period just after World War II. His illustrations helped spark the imagination of children in the postwar period, and the books he illustrated were extremely popular back in those days. This exhibition presents approximately 400 of his original illustrations. [Image: "Shonen Kenya" 5th Edition (1953)]

Gardens are things that evince the various relationships between nature and humans. This exhibition explores the notion of the garden in modern and contemporary art, taking the light-filled third floor exhibition space to be an rooftop garden of sorts. Whether idealized as a sort of lost paradise in our memories, or captured as a record of nature's myriad phenomena, or even a kind of ludic space freed from the orderly strictures of the conventional world, artists have interpreted and recast this age-old trope in a stunningly varied number of ways. Showcasing their works in 10 different sections, each artist in this exhibition will approach such "cut-off pieces of nature from the land" through their own unique ways. For related programs and more, please see the museum website.

Utsunomiya Museum of Art collects post-20th century works of art and design. The permanent exhibition is rotated 3 to 4 times a year, and a thematic mini-exhibition is also held 1 to 2 times a year.

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