Featured Events in Osaka in April, 2025 (May Updated)

Overview Theme: Designing Future Society for Our Lives Subthemes: Saving Lives Empowering Lives Connecting Lives Concept: People's Living Lab 1. A space where 8 billion people from around the world will not only view exhibits but will co-create our future society. 2.Even before the Expo begins, an online platform for sharing challenges and solutions from around the world will be launched. 3.A place where the world’s knowledge such as cutting-edge technology will be brought together, used to create new ideas, and shared, all to help resolve global issues facing mankind. Purpose World Expo has both cohesive and communication capabilities. We will use these capabilities as a trigger to sustain growth and development of Osaka, Kansai as well as Japan following on from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. What is a World Expo? A World Expo is an event that brings together people and innovations from around the world in an effort to address issues facing humankind on a global scale. The Osaka Expo 1970, Japan’s, and Asia’s, first ever, became a symbol of Japan’s rapid economic growth and one of the country’s most lauded events. Twenty years after the Aichi Expo 2005, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai will bring the international community back to Japan. A World Exposition is a place, where new technologies and products are born, triggering greater convenience in our daily lives. Elevator (New York Exhibition, 1853), telephone (Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, 1876) Family restaurants, wireless telephones, electric cars, moving sidewalks (Expo 1970 Osaka) Entry tickets embedded with IC chips, AED, dry mist (Aichi Exposition, 2005) Goals of Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai To contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)Achievement of Japan’s national strategy Society 5.0EXPO for SDGs In 2025, the world will be a mere five years away from 2030, the year the United Nations has set as the target for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), making it a crucial one for ramping up efforts to achieve these goals. Therefore, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai will become a key platform for reaching the SDGs by 2030. The key is “Society 5.0” “Society 5.0” is Japan’s national strategy to develop a human-centered society that progresses economically and resolves social issues through a system that combines both cyber and physical spaces in a sophisticated manner. It refers to a new form of society chronologically following hunting, farming, industry, and information societies. A society that is able to resolve a variety of issues on a global scale with technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, big data, and biotechnology is a society that will have achieved the SDGs. What we will realise at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai Bringing together the wisdom of the world, including breakthrough technologies, to create and communicate new ideasExpansion of domestic and overseas investmentCreation of innovation through activation of human interactionActivation of regional economies and small and medium enterprisesA chance to communicate the wealth of Japan’s cultureThe multiple merits of a world expo held in Osaka, Kansai, Japan Activation of Japan’s economy and the Osaka, Kansai regional economy, and strengthened management of small and medium enterprises resulting from expanded business opportunities are expected to have an economic ripple effect of about JPY 2 trillion.Further development of Osaka, Kansai’s world-class life sciences and biomedical achievements through new innovation in line with Expo’s theme.Further enrichment of Osaka, Kansai’s proud, long history and culture through interaction with foreign cultures, and elevation of its global recognition.Enabling Japan’s young, next-generation creators in a variety of fields to communicate their talents to the world.Japan possesses one of the safest environments and most advanced transport infrastructure in the world, and Osaka, Kansai can be easily accessed from major cities in the world.

Nearly half a century has passed since the appearance of home game consoles - "video games," which began with pixel art, have now created many new worlds with beautiful images that rival those of movies. Games have become widespread in our lives and a part of popular culture, and it can be said that they have evolved into a comprehensive art that crosses the fields of technology and expression and demonstrates the creativity and individuality of creators. Capcom, headquartered in Osaka, has developed many titles and fascinated people around the world since its founding in 1983 and has grown into a global game software manufacturer. This exhibition will generously introduce the grand process of game creation, including proposals and original drawings made by the developers' hands, graphic work such as posters and packages, experiential content, and the latest technology, as well as the imagination and realization skills of the creators involved, creating an opportunity to reexamine Japan's proud game culture.

Born in Osaka and self-taught in architecture, Tadao Ando began his architectural design career in 1969. Since then, he has produced a succession of innovative architectural works that break through preconceived notions. Since the 1990s, he has expanded his scope of activity to the world, while also working hard on social contribution projects such as environmental restoration and earthquake recovery. His vigorous work across many fields, going beyond the framework of an architect, has earned him high praise both at home and abroad. This exhibition, which will be held in Osaka, where Ando remains based, will bring together the history of his grand challenges as well as his vision for the present and future, providing a comprehensive view of the work of Tadao Ando. Please come and experience that energy for yourself. The venue is "VS." at Gran Green Osaka, the forefront of the Osaka urban renewal project, where Ando has also worked hard for many years.

Attention Spells Return fans! The first large-scale manuscript exhibition is here! Since its serialization in "Weekly Shonen Jump", this dark fantasy work liberated in the modern era has been attracting attention and has caused great repercussions in TV anime series and theatrical animated movies. This time, we welcome a grand exhibition of original paintings, and let’s experience the world of martial arts described by the author Akumi Shigeta. Through the ingenious story structure, it swings back and forth between despair and hope, firmly grasping the hearts of readers.

In 2025, Osaka will be transformed into a giant art museum! "Learning: Osaka Kansai International Art Festival 2025" will be held from April to October. The exhibition will cover various areas of Osaka and take the World Expo as an opportunity to bring an unprecedented art feast. Among the first wave of 28 international artists announced, heavyweight creators such as surreal sculpture master Ron Mueck and conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan will surely present a visual feast that subverts imagination!

This exhibition will feature 54 works by 18 ukiyo-e artists carefully selected from the museum's collection of masterpieces, including Kitagawa Utamaro, a leading figure in painting beautiful women who established the style of "large neck painting" that focuses on the face rather than the whole body, and Katsushika Hokusai, a genius artist who influenced not only Japan but the world. Please also take a look at 12 works being shown at the museum for the first time, including Kitagawa Utamaro's "Blue Chamber of Victory - Tamayauchi Komurasaki and Hanamurasaki" and Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's "One Hundred Views of the Moon - Nankaitsuki," known as the last ukiyo-e artist and active from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji era.

This exhibition commemorates the 50th anniversary of the founding of the All Japan Swordsmiths Association, the largest organization of contemporary swordsmiths in the country, and introduces the world of Japanese swords, a tradition that has been passed down for 1,000 years to the present day.

There are many "borders" in our daily lives. These boundaries range from physical to psychological, social and cultural, and shape our actions, thoughts and values. However, artists attempt to dismantle these existing frameworks and present new perspectives on identity, culture, physical space, time and genre. This exhibition introduces works that question the very nature of what we call "borders." Artists scheduled to be exhibited: Ming Wong, Alin Runjiang, Evelyn Tao-Chen Wang, Mika Tajima, Chikako Yamashiro, Christian Boltanski, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Danh Vo, Wolfgang Tillmans, and more.

Collection 2 in 2024 will focus on the work of three artists, Louise Bourgeois and Leonor Antunes, who were acquired by the museum in 2023, and Ruth Asawa, who was acquired in 2024 and will be exhibited in Japan for the first time, and will focus on the artist's technique and the way in which the work unravels and reconstructs existing materials, structures, and history. In addition, many works acquired in recent years will be introduced. The title of this exhibition is inspired by the title of a work by Bourgeois that she exhibited in the Turbine Hall of Tate Modern in 2000, "I Do, I Undo, I Redo," and the creative process of artists such as Aiko Tezuka, two of whose works were acquired in 2023.

Nihon Hidankyo, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. It can be said that this is the fruit of the activities carried out by the only country in the world that has suffered from atomic bombings, which has continued to call for the abolition of nuclear weapons and has poured its heart and soul into such efforts. The recognition that peace is the common prayer of all human kind is universal, regardless of whether we live in the East or the West. In light of the recent international situation, the Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum will hold a Special Exhibition, “Koji Kinutani Peace,” a proposal for peace through the power of art and the arts. At the root of Kinutani's world, which uses rich images and colors to explore all things in nature as a motif, is the strong belief that “Art is mightier than nuclear weapons.” His ideals and strong passion are to show the power of art as “wisdom” to help people all over the world who are suffering from the ravages of war, and to celebrate the revival of dreams and hopes in the hearts of people. Please fully experience the true essence of Kinutani’s art.

At the beginning of the 20th century, many artists from all over the world gathered in Paris, the city of art. Young artists lived in studio complexes such as the Bateau Lavoir (laundry boat) in Montmartre and La Ruche (the beehive) in Montparnasse, where they deepened their connections and worked hard on their creations. This group of artists was later called the Ecole de Paris. Many of them were painters and sculptors who came to Paris from outside France and gathered mainly around Montparnasse. Representative painters include Chagall and Soutine from Russia, Modigliani from Italy, Pascin from Bulgaria, Kisling from Poland, Tsuguharu Foujita from Japan, and French painters Utrillo and Laurencin. They did not create their works based on a clear artistic theory or doctrine, like a specific school or art movement. However, inspired by new artistic styles and theories such as Fauvism and Cubism, and sometimes drawing inspiration from primitive art in Africa and elsewhere, each artist sought his own unique expression rooted in the traditions and ethnicity of his home country. Although it reached its peak in the 1920s and came to an effective end with the Second World War, the painters of the École de Paris allowed diverse and rich art to flourish in Paris. This exhibition will feature works by Laurencin, Utrillo, Modigliani, Pascin, Foujita Tsuguharu, Kisling, and others from the Sanno Museum of Art's collection.

This retrospective exhibition is held to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Uemura Shoen's birth, and will introduce her achievements in painting through many works. Shoen's art pursues unique ideals, which is different from those of Kabuki Kiyokata and Kitano Tsunetomi who depicted female images in the same era. At the same time, as a pioneer of outstanding female painters, she also served as a guiding light for later generations, giving birth to many female Japanese painters, including Ikeda Kyoen and Shima Narien. In the Kyoto painting world with a strong Shijo school tradition, Shoen Uemura, who created her own lineage of beautiful paintings, was destined to be a pioneer in many senses, and she eventually succeeded in fulfilling the mission given by fate. This exhibition will display more than 100 outstanding works from Shoen's early to late years, including masterpieces such as "Mother and Child" (Important Cultural Property, Collection of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo) and "Jō no Mai" (Important Cultural Property, Collection of Tokyo University of the Arts), showing visitors their charm. In addition, this will be a valuable opportunity to review the true value of Shoen's art. She was the first woman to be awarded the Order of Culture and left an indelible mark on the history of modern art.

Jean-Michel Folon (1934-2005) is a unique artist born in Belgium. Poetic and humorous, his works are expressed with soft colors and a light touch, and they take the viewer on a journey of the imagination while also containing rich messages that bring awareness to the various things happening in the world. This exhibition commemorates the 20th anniversary of Folon's death and the 25th anniversary of the Folon Foundation, which he founded during his lifetime, and introduces the warm and profound appeal of his work through approximately 230 diverse works, including paintings, sculptures, and posters.

This exhibition will be held to coincide with the Osaka-Kansai Expo, as the first of the Expo commemorative exhibitions, with the theme of "Getting to Know Osaka." The aim is to widely disseminate Osaka's urban residential culture, and it will be held to coincide with the Osaka-Kansai Expo, as the first of the Expo commemorative exhibitions, with the theme of "Getting to Know Osaka." Osaka has a long history as a major city, spanning approximately 400 years from the Edo period to the present. During the Edo period, Osaka flourished as a commercial city of water transport and the "Kitchen of the Nation." During the Meiji period, the city was modernized and industrialized as it entered the modern era, earning it the nickname "Manchester of the East." During the "Great Osaka" period, Osaka became the largest city in Japan in terms of both population and area, and during the prewar Showa period, suburban residential areas and villa areas were developed, establishing a new form of urban residence. Over its long history, Osaka has developed its own unique urban residential culture, which is the foundation of Osaka today. The theme of the Osaka-Kansai Expo is "Bringing together efforts for a future society where life shines and showing hope for the future to the world," and the city's gaze is directed toward the future. This exhibition looks back on the 400-year evolution of the urban residential culture that is the foundation of Osaka's current prosperity. We hope that this will provide an opportunity for you to experience the charms of urban living and lifestyle culture in Osaka, while also thinking about urban living from the present to the future.

Kawanabe Kyosai (1831-1889) was an artist active from the Edo period to the first half of the Meiji period. With solid painting skills and classical studies, he painted a variety of subjects such as gods, Buddhas, beautiful women, customs, birds and animals in a style that was humorous, satirical and seductive, regardless of the format, such as hand-painted paintings, woodblock prints and printed books, and his versatility earned him praise for being able to "paint anything." In recent years, it has been reaffirmed that at the root of such artistic achievement lies the training and pride of the Kano school. Kyosai learned painting from ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) at the age of seven, entered the Kano school at the age of ten, and completed his training at the early age of 19. His involvement in both ukiyo-e and the Kano school makes his artistic career even more colorful. This exhibition, the first Kawanabe Kyosai exhibition in Osaka, will focus on works from the collection of the Kawanabe Kyosai Memorial Museum of Art, a public interest incorporated foundation founded and directed by Kyosai's great-grandson Kawanabe Kusumi, and will also touch upon the "Caricature Scroll" formerly owned by Kyosai, as well as Kano school and Chinese paintings from the Kosetsu Museum of Art's collection, creating an opportunity to celebrate him as a traditional painter. The more thoroughly one attempts to view his artistic career in a mainstream manner, the more things will slip through the cracks. It may be that this is where the essence of Kyosai's paintings can be found.

Natural history specimens stored in museum storage are fundamental materials for understanding nature. Osaka Museum of Natural History holds approximately 2 million items, of which approximately 400,000 are plant specimens. These specimens are used by various researchers every day, and after extensive examination, the results are published as papers. For many people, the use of these specimens in research is probably something far removed from their imagination. This time, we will be exhibiting plant specimens held by Osaka Museum of Natural History that have actually been used in research, along with the results of that research, in the hope that many people will become aware of the excitement of research using specimens.

A breathtakingly beautiful landscape A place that has been sung in waka and poetry It eventually became a famous place and a utamakura. It has become a mirror that reflects the heart. The various thoughts that were put into Let's go on a trip around the area. Beautiful scenery that will move your heart. A place that has been sung in waka and poetry It eventually became a famous place and a utamakura. It has become a mirror that reflects the heart. The various thoughts that were put into Let's go on a trip around.

The word 'niru' (similar) can be read as either 'niru' or 'katadoru' (shape). In other words, creating a shape is synonymous with making something look like something else. Creating something by resemblance represents the essence of art. People recognize things and interpret their shapes based on their resemblance to something else. And the fewer there are, the more rare they become and the more valuable and precious they become. We would like you to listen to the secret conversations between similar things that have come together here by chance, things that are usually kept secret and never meet.

Celadon is a kind of ceramic that has a trace amount of iron in its glaze and turns green after high-temperature firing. Celadon has a long history. It was born in China in the 2nd century AD, and then continued to develop and spread to the Korean Peninsula, Japan, and even all over the world. Celadon occupies an important position in the history of East Asian ceramics. Its unique beauty is not only fascinating, but also a symbol of authority and wealth. The most fascinating thing about celadon is its beautiful glaze color, and its color will change subtly due to the different firing environment and the color of the body, making celadon present a rich and diverse appearance. This exhibition selects the treasures of Chinese and Korean celadon in the museum's collection, and also introduces Japanese and modern celadon works, allowing the audience to appreciate the dazzling charm of celadon in the history of East Asian ceramics. In addition to this exhibition, special exhibitions and collection exhibitions will be held to display representative works in the museum's collection. In each exhibition, works from the special project "Treasures of Osaka - Twenty Selections of MOCO" held in commemoration of the Osaka Kansai Expo will also be displayed.

It is often said that it is difficult to understand what is depicted in 20th century art. But is that really the case? The 20th century, which experienced major wars in succession and is also known as the "century of refugees," was a time when many artists were forced to leave the lands they were used to living in and emigrate. In particular, artists who traveled to the United States pioneered new forms of expression, such as abstract expressionism, pop art, and minimal art, by promoting abstract expressionism. At the same time, the loneliness and alienation they felt in a foreign land continued to smolder deep questions that could not be easily answered, such as who they were and what art is. This was spurred on by the capitalist society of mass production and mass consumption. For example, after the sudden death of Marilyn Monroe in 1962, Warhol often created works with her as the subject, but we must not ignore the inner conflict of the great actress engraved in her death. The self that we really want to be, and the self that is forced to play the role of a seductive woman for the sake of a consumer society. Perhaps a similar conflict led Warhol to utter these not-so-simple words: "If you want to know everything about Andy Warhol... just look at the surface. That's where I am. There's nothing behind." Don't overthink it, start by taking a good look at the "surface." Enjoy the various "surfaces" with your eyes and heart, featuring 39 pieces of 20th century art from the Ohara Museum of Art (originally planned to be 35 pieces) and the Yakushi Nyorai standing statue (special exhibit) from our museum's collection.

The Monster Hunter 20th Anniversary Great Hunting Exhibition Osaka will be held in Osaka, Japan from February 20, 2025 to April 5, 2025. This Osaka exhibition will provide "Anniversary Theater", "Weapon Projection", "Equipment Interaction", "Monster Encyclopedia AR Experience", "Black Dragon Invasion" and sales of Great Hunting Exhibition commemorative peripheral products.

A waterfall that falls straight down among huge rocks and old trees. People see that figure Loved as a symbol of the majestic nature, Sometimes I discovered the existence of gods and Buddhas. He wrote many poems, stories and painted many pictures. In front of the various expressions of waterfalls, Enveloped by the roar, Feel the droplets on your skin.

After the Summer Siege of Osaka, Osaka under the Toyotomi period underwent a major transformation as the Tokugawa clan rebuilt the castle and developed the surrounding area, becoming the foundation of modern Osaka. The castle tower burned down in the mid-17th century, but Osaka Castle continued to be loved by people for a long time, and was called "Kinjo" (Spring Castle) and "Hanajo" (Flower Castle). 400 years have passed since the reconstruction of Osaka Castle. This exhibition will provide a three-dimensional interpretation of the castle's form during the Tokugawa period and the town that existed alongside it. The Honmaru Palace existed in Tokugawa Osaka Castle until the end of the Edo period. This palace was built as the residence of the Tokugawa Shogun and was decorated with partition paintings by the Kano school. This exhibition will display detailed replicas (1/10 scale) of the Great Hall and the Copper Palace of the Osaka Castle Palace. Please enjoy the works of Kano Tan'yū, which were used as reference materials, materials related to the construction, and a folding screen depicting Osaka in the early Edo period.

Shells fascinate people with their beautiful shells. There are tens of thousands of known species on Earth, making them extremely diverse creatures. The Japanese archipelago is particularly affected by both warm and cold currents, and has many islands, making it one of the areas with the largest number of shellfish species in the world. Perhaps because of this background, many people in Japan have been fascinated by shellfish since ancient times, and have tried to study them academically. This special exhibition brings together everything from herbal books to early illustrated books, actual specimens that have led to historic discoveries, and the latest research techniques, unraveling the history of shellfish research from the Edo period to the present day in Japan and its results. Come and experience what it means for researchers to be "addicted" to shellfish in this special exhibition.

Manga artist Matsumoto Eiko to hold first original art exhibition! Matsumoto Eiko's popular manga "Kakeyu-kun" is currently being serialized in the magazine "Tabi no Techo" and has recently been published by Kawade Bunko in the two chapters "Do you like hot spring trips?" and "I'm going leisurely." To celebrate the opening of the bookstore Agasa Fumouritsushi, an original art exhibition will be held. This will be Matsumoto's first original art exhibition in her career. On display will be original drawings with beautiful lines and colors, as well as tools used by Matsumoto. Be sure to take a look at the cat Kakeyu-kun, hot springs, public baths, landscapes, local specialties, and more, all of which are full of travel and poetic emotion.