Latest Events in Japan(July Updated)

From the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, René Lalique (1860-1945) was known outside of France as an original jewelry maker. However, his work was extremely broad, leaving behind a large variety of "clothing accessories" such as decorative collars and handbags. At the 1900 Paris World's Fair, held ahead of the new century, Lalique served as general manager of the jewelry department. Later in life, he had an unexpected connection with Jeanne Paquin (1869-1936), a top designer who held that position in the fashion department. The women's fashion led by Paquin and others at the time was dresses with curved lines that harmonized with the popular decorative style "Art Nouveau." Many women worked hard to create a slim waist that was suitable for the flowing silhouette. It was in the 1920s, after World War I (1914-1918), that women were liberated from corsets that were so tight that they were damaging their health. At the same time, when the trend for decoration shifted to the linear "Art Deco" style, Lalique had already made a major shift to mass production of glass products, mainly for interior design. The custom-made clothing that he concentrated on in the early days of his debut is a perfect match for the Art Nouveau style of dress, which sought elegance with a slim waist. The Lalique Museum Hakone, celebrating its 20th anniversary, is holding a special exhibition that will highlight Lalique's works from its collection from a fashion perspective and introduce the items in the form of an illustrated book. In addition, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Rene Lalique's death, a dress with a silhouette from the early 20th century, when he was active, has been recreated (photo right). As a highlight of the exhibition, we will be trying to wear Lalique's works for the first time, approaching the reality of Lalique in fashion. Please take a look at 18 carefully selected items from the museum that will help you understand Art Nouveau clothing, including anecdotes about the history of clothing, as if you were flipping through an illustrated book.

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!

In this exhibition, Wurm will explore the human body, one of the most fundamental sculptural motifs, through themes of time, volume and surface, figuration, and representation. The human form—shaped by external influences such as clothing, furniture, language, and social ideologies—is depicted as fragile, mutable, and filled with boundless possibilities. Often absurd and paradoxical, Wurm’s works expose the structures underlying social norms, institutions, and power. The exhibition will feature the Japan premiere of Wurm’s latest large-scale installation, School (2024), along with recent key works from his Skins and Flat Sculpture series.

The Setouchi Triennale is a festival of art, architecture and, more generally, culture. The festival takes place in 17 locations scattered around the eastern part of Japan's Seto Inland Sea, in spring, summer and autumn. It is a must-attend event for art lovers and countryside enthusiasts. Over the past decade, it has become the most important art festival in Japan and one of the most important in Asia. The Setouchi Triennale exhibits artwork and architecture from many artists from around the world. A recurring theme is "Restoring the Ocean".

A modern art festival held every three years in the Setouchi Islands. Held for the first time in 2010, the 100-day exhibition period is divided into three seasons: spring, summer, and autumn. Visitors can experience the charm of Setouchi in each season. During the exhibition period, it attracted about 1 million visitors from Japan and abroad, making it a representative international art festival in Japan. In addition to showing the artists' vision and ideas, the exhibits in the art festival will include 17 locations in 2025, including Naoshima, Teshima, Megijima, Ogijima, Shodoshima, Oshima, Inujima, Takamatsu Port and Uno Port, Seto Ohashi, Shido and Tsuda area, Hikida area, Honjima, Takamishima, Awashima, Ibukijima, and Utazu area. It is closely integrated with local traditional culture and the characteristics of the sea, and also shows the diversity of the local area. It is an event that people who like art and culture must experience once!

Nyoirinji Temple is also known as the "Frog Temple" and is home to around 10,000 frog statues. Wind chimes are believed to ward off evil spirits, and thousands of them are placed around the shrine with wishes for a safe summer written on them. The wind chimes are hung with colorful pieces of paper that sway in the wind, creating a magical and photogenic sight. The cool sound will help you forget the summer heat. It attracts many tourists, including families with children and the elderly.

From a young age, Kusama has suffered from visual and auditory hallucinations. Her mental health condition has had a tremendous impact on the artist’s creative activities. In the 1950s, driven by her own obsessions, Kusama created an enormous number of drawings, resulting in an opportunity to make her breakthrough as an artist. After relocating to the United States in 1957, the artist began to create a series of works that could be described as ritual of “self-obliteration,” where all existence is engulfed in infinitely repetitive patterns such as polka dots and nets while the self is immersed into a boundless world. These works express a desire for salvation from psychological disorders and simultaneously reflect her intention to liberate society from absurd oppression through happenings and other forms of expression.

Approximately 100 pieces will be on display, ranging from Kin Shiotani's early works to new works created specifically for this exhibition, to thoroughly introduce his artistic career spanning 30 years. The paintings are difficult to interpret just by looking at them, and the long titles are hard to imagine just by reading them. Please enjoy looking at both the paintings and the titles and letting your imagination run wild, asking yourself questions like "Is this what it means?", "I see!", and "That's so true!"

This exhibition introduces the world of prints by world-renowned avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama (1929-). Yayoi Kusama made her international debut at the 45th Venice Biennale in 1993 as a representative Japanese artist, but her active involvement in printmaking from an earlier stage of her career was a major driving force behind her current acclaim. In 1979, Yayoi Kusama exhibited her first prints. In contrast to her other works based on themes such as death and suffering after returning from the U.S., her prints are rich in color with vivid motifs. In addition to abstract expressions of her earlier works, motifs such as pumpkins, dresses, grapes, flowers, and butterflies covered in distinct colors and composed of mesh and polka dots are distinctive in her printworks. It is no exaggeration to say that Kusama, whose creative activities are rooted in the proliferation of dots and nets, inevitably encountered printmaking, an art of reproduction.

The Izumi Museum has a collection of more than 3,500 pieces, with a core collection of about 500 Chinese bronzes and bronze mirrors. Both in terms of quantity and quality, it is the leader in overseas bronze collections. Therefore, the "Age of Chinese Bronze" held at the Izumi Museum this spring is also worth paying attention to. If you go to visit the Izumi Museum's reopening exhibition, we also recommend that you pay special attention to this bronze exhibition, including the museum's treasure Tiger You, the early Warring States period chime bells, the Qiang bell, the Kui God drum, the owl zun, the taotie pattern square lei, the taotie pattern square yi, the ge you and other important bronze objects in the collection are all on display.

Yumeshima, the site of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, is a place that gives a sense of Osaka's unique character, which developed towards the sea. The numerous documents stored in the Osaka Castle Tower retain the image of the "water city" of the past, which can no longer be seen today. Please take the time to reflect on the history of Osaka, which was nurtured by its abundant waters.

During the Sengoku period, various cultural artifacts from Europe and Asia were brought to Japan through trade with the Western countries. This exhibition will focus on the various aspects of exchange with the world that had a major impact on Japanese society, such as the introduction of Christianity and firearms.

This exhibition will focus on the Hosomi Collection and will feature folding screens that can be enjoyed spread out in space, as well as picture scrolls that can be enjoyed by playing them out in front of your eyes. In addition to the "Toyotomi Hoko Yoshino Cherry Blossom Viewing Screen," which depicts Toyotomi Hideyoshi's cherry blossom viewing procession, and the "Suzuriwari Soushi Emaki," which was once a treasured possession of Ashikaga Yoshizumi, the 11th shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, visitors will be able to experience the unique qualities of these different painting styles and appreciate the appeal of each individual work.

This is a touring, international exhibition designed and organised by the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris, France, focusing together, for the first time, on two Impressionist/Post-Impressionist painters, Renoir and Cézanne.Featuring masterpieces like Renoir’s “Two Young Girls at the Piano” and Cézanne’s “Portrait of the Artist’s Son”, the exhibition explores the origins of modern art through approximately fifty works, including portraits, still lifes, and landscapes by these two great masters, as well as pieces by Picasso, who was influenced by them.Realised through cooperation between the Musée de l'Orangerie and the Musée d'Orsay, the exhibition travels the world, showing in Milan, then Martigny (Switzerland) and Hong Kong, before appearing at Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo, the only Japanese venue for the show.We hope that audiences will delight in the connections between Renoir and Cézanne, and in the extraordinary artistic expression of these two great masters who produced such unconstrained and diverse work on the eve of the birth of modern art.

One of Japan’s most influential and iconoclastic artists, Tadanori Yokoo has spent over six decades reshaping the boundaries of contemporary art. From his bold graphic designs in the 1960s to his later exploration of painting, photography and installation, the Hyogo native’s oeuvre makes for a kaleidoscopic journey across time, culture and personal mythology. His ever-evolving practice is marked by a restless spirit of experimentation and a refusal to settle on a single, ‘complete’ form of expression. This ongoing journey informs ‘Mikan: Myself, Incomplete’, on display at the Gucci Ginza Gallery until August 24. Offering a glimpse into Yokoo’s inner world, the show brings together around 20 works, including six previously unexhibited new pieces. Ranging from self-portraits to depictions of family, they’re all centred on the theme of incompleteness and the ongoing journey of artistic creation.

Fujimoto Yoshimichi (1919-1992) pursued realistic and deep color paintings, and in 1986 was recognized as a holder of the Important Intangible Cultural Property for colored porcelain. He developed the technique of "Yubyo-kasai" to depict the background, using shades of paint to create a three-dimensional motif and to make it look like it is one with the white porcelain surface. The main motif is a bird. The appeal of colored paintings lies in the layered expression created by overlapping paints and glazes, but by depicting a pale landscape like a watercolor painting under the colored painting of a bird, he created a unique expression that is realistic and spreads into the depths of the vessel, yet also has the abstractness of a ceramic pattern.Fujimoto studied craft design at Tokyo School of Fine Arts (now Tokyo University of the Arts), and after graduating he entered the Ministry of Education's Crafts Technical Training Institute, which was located on the school grounds, to gain practical skills, where he was taught by Tomimoto Kenkichi (1886-1963) and Kato Hashimoe (1900-1968), both of whom would later become Important Intangible Cultural Property Holders for overglaze porcelain. His family had no connection to pottery, and after graduating from the training institute he continued to create his own works while moving around from Tokyo to Gifu, Kyoto, Wakayama, Kagoshima, and other places as Tomimoto's assistant, ceramic designer, and instructor. During his time working at Kyoto City University of Arts (now Kyoto City University of Arts), he participated in the Sodeisha and Modern Art Association, and attracted attention for his ceramic objects, but after becoming an assistant professor at Tokyo University of the Arts in 1962, he gradually began to concentrate on overglaze painting as he created the right environment.This exhibition explores the relationship between the deepening of Fujimoto Noboru's expression and technique through works from the mid-1970s to his final years in 1991, when he developed materials and techniques and worked on colored porcelain.

Famous swords were the supreme treasure of samurai families. Not only were they excellent weapons, but over the years, they have been possessed by many rulers during times of war, or given as gifts at happy turning points in life, and as a result, their value has increased even more. In this way, for hundreds of years, many famous swords have been passed down from hand to hand, and have been preserved and passed down to the present day along with their gorgeous sword fittings that are befitting of their status. This exhibition will focus on the swords and sword fittings in the collection of the Tokugawa Art Museum, and will display famous swords associated with famous warlords and daimyo, as well as gorgeous sword fittings, while focusing on the various stories surrounding the works. This large-scale exhibition, befitting the 90th anniversary of the museum's opening, will feature a selection of national treasures, important cultural properties, and famous items. The profound world of swords and sword fittings, which continue to be fascinating even through the ages, will be introduced from both the historical background and the beauty of the works themselves.

Shosoin THE SHOW, an exhibition event supervised by the Imperial Household Agency's Shosoin Office, will be held on the occasion of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, where visitors can experience and enjoy the miracle of Shosoin and its treasures, which are still in good condition after 1,300 years of rare items. These treasures, which still shine and do not fade, have been passed down through the hearts and hands of people throughout the ages. This exhibition will unravel the story of the miracle of Shosoin's 1,300 years from the three perspectives of "love, beauty, and weaving." This exhibition is unique in that it will make full use of the latest digital techniques. The treasures will be scanned from 360 degrees and displayed in high-definition 3D digital data, allowing visitors to experience the details and texture of the treasures in a realistic way. In addition, the "replicas" that the Shosoin Office has been researching and producing will be exhibited in combination with video, music, and lighting, providing a new encounter with Shosoin. In addition, new works created by contemporary artists, including fashion designer Tomoe Shinohara, inspired by Shosoin treasures will be introduced. Photography and posting on social media is permitted throughout the venue, not just at the photo spots. This is an exhibition event that is truly colored with the splendor of a show, with cutting-edge creators directing the words and space.

Kuroda Jutaro, a prominent figure in the Kyoto Western-style painting scene, was not only a painter but also a prolific writer. His literary works conveyed the trends of European art, particularly those in France, and played a significant role in the acceptance of Western art in Japan. His 1947 publicationKyoto Yoga no Reimeiki(“The Dawn of Kyoto Western-style Painting”) provides a systematic account of the development of Western-style painting in Japan, focusing on Kyoto. With the publication of a revised and expanded edition in 2006, the book remains an essential work for understanding the Kyoto Western-style painting scene today. This Special Display traces the formation of Kyoto’s Western-style painting scene as told by Kuroda, introduced through the Museum Collection. From pioneers such as Tamura Soryu, the establishment of the Kyoto Prefectural School of Painting, the formation of the Kansai Bijutsukai, and the arrival of Asai Chu in Kyoto, please enjoy exploring the foundations that shaped the development of Western-style painting in Kyoto.

There are many artists and works that are still unknown to the world in Japanese art. For example, in the case of Ito Jakuchu (1716-1800), an exhibition held at the Kyoto National Museum in 2000 triggered an unprecedented boom in Jakuchu's work, but before 2000, Jakuchu was a "hidden treasure trove" for the general public. Since then, Jakuchu and other eccentric painters have been unearthed, but there are still many hidden treasures from the Jomon period to modern times. This exhibition aims to unearth these treasures once again and establish them as beautiful gems in the history of Japanese art. We would like the audience to use their own eyes to find "future national treasures."

A celebration of Hello Kitty 50 years in the making. Come enjoy this exhibit showcasing Hello Kitty’s uniqueness! Hello Kitty made her debut 50 years ago, and has become a global icon and beloved household name. Look across the world and stories like hers are quite rare. So, what made, and continues to make, Hello Kitty so popular? The hint lies in her connection to each and every one of her fans. At this exhibit, the secret will be revealed in various corners of the exhibit, including the largest assemblage of Hello Kitty goods in history, artist collaborations with Hello Kitty overflowing with personality, and original video made for the event.

The "Japanese Graphic Design 2025" exhibition selects about 300 works from the yearbook, covering 10 major categories including posters, book binding, product packaging, brand logos, digital media, films, and space design, supplemented by physical exhibits and video materials, to fully present the current creative enthusiasm and professional depth of Japanese graphic design.

"Ukiyoe Immersive Art Exhibition" is an immersive digital art museum where visitors can experience the world of ukiyo-e through 3D CG animation and projection mapping. The exhibition is based on more than 300 masterpieces by world-famous ukiyo-e artists such as Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Utagawa Hiroshige, Kitagawa Utamaro, Tōshūsai Sharaku, and Utagawa Kunisada. The venue consists of approximately nine immersive zones, allowing visitors of all ages to fully immerse themselves in the dynamic world of ukiyo-e. This exhibition has already been held in Nagoya, Milan (Italy), Kagoshima, and Tokyo, attracting over 200,000 visitors worldwide. All areas of the venue allow photo and video shooting, enabling visitors to take stunning pictures while stepping into the enchanting world of ukiyo-e. Enjoy a limited-time immersive exhibition where masterpieces of ukiyo-e, which have captivated the world across generations, come to life in a dynamic and engaging way.

The National Museum of Western Art will hold the "Nationalmuseum of Sweden Drawing Collection - From Renaissance to Baroque" exhibition from July 1st to September 28th, 2025. The Nationalmuseum of Sweden, located in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, is one of the oldest art museums in the world, based on art collected by the Swedish royal family. In particular, the museum's drawing collection is known for its rich quality and quantity, even on a global scale. This time, we will hold an exhibition that introduces a selection of masterpieces from the drawing collection, from the Renaissance to the Baroque. Since drawings are easily affected by changes in the environment, light, and vibration, it is usually difficult to exhibit drawings held overseas in Japan, so this will be the first time that the world's best collection of drawings, about 80 pieces, will come to Japan. This exhibition allows you to fully enjoy the charm of drawings, which are filled with all of the artist's skill and imagination, including works by masters such as Dürer, Rubens, and Rembrandt.

Sou Fujimoto (born 1971 in Hokkaido) has design offices in Tokyo, Paris, and Shenzhen, and is involved in a wide range of projects around the world, from private homes to universities, commercial facilities, hotels, and complexes. After garnering attention with his Aomori Museum of Art Competition in 2000, he has completed a series of highly acclaimed projects, including the Musashino Art University Museum and Library (Tokyo, 2010), the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2013 (London), and in recent years the apartment complex L'Arbre Blanc (The White Tree) (Montpellier, France, 2019) and the music complex House of Hungarian Music (Budapest, 2021). He is currently one of the most notable Japanese architects, serving as the venue design producer for the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo.

Fukahori Ryusuke (born in Aichi Prefecture in 1973) is an artist who is fascinated by goldfish and continues to create works of art. This exhibition will feature around 300 works, from his early period to his latest, with a focus on his Goldfish Sake series, which the artist named himself after the incident of being saved by a goldfish. His virtuoso 2.5D (dimensional) paintings (which look like swimming goldfish when viewed from above, but what about from the side?) bring to life the cruelty, strangeness, beauty, loveliness and transience of life.

This fireworks display will be held at Ajiura Beach in Hitachinaka, one of the most beautiful beaches in Ibaraki Prefecture. In 2025, the event will be held for seven days in July and August, mostly on weekends. For about 10 minutes, colorful fireworks will be launched from the sea surface, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful sight of the fireworks reflected on the water. It is conveniently located a 5-minute walk from Ajiura Station on the Hitachinaka Seaside Railway. Although the event is short, impressive fireworks such as the 8-inch and 13-inch ones light up the night sky. Feel the sea breeze and enjoy the fireworks on a pleasant summer night.

The Gujo Odori is one of Japan's oldest and longest-running Bon Odori festivals, with a history of over 400 years. Held in the scenic Gujo Hachiman Castle Town, this two-month festival invites locals and visitors to dance in the streets every night, passing on a rich cultural tradition.

From July 17 to August 31, Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden will host the Summer Garden Festival, a seasonal event where visitors can enjoy a variety of different activities. There will be fields of blooming sunflowers, a cooling mist garden, nighttime illuminations, and drinks from the terrace bar featuring mint and edible flowers grown on site. Families with children shouldn’t miss out either – there are a number of activities designed just for kids. From making your own cosmos seed paste “dumplings” to take home and plant, to exploring the garden’s herb scavenger hunt, there’s plenty to keep kids interested.

The British Museum of Natural History is coming to Japan for the first time! A full-body reconstructed skeleton of the 37-meter-long "Patagotitan mayorum" is on display! The exhibition "Titanosaur: Life as the Biggest Dinosaur," which was well received at the British Museum in London, is coming to Japan! Yokohama will be the first stop on its international tour. The museum will introduce the world's largest sauropod, Patagotitan mayorum, through an impressive, fully restored skeleton measuring approximately 37 meters in length, and interactive exhibits. Many specimens from Japan are also gathered here! Learn about not only giant sauropods, but also the history of the gigantism and prosperity of dinosaurs. Under the supervision of the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum and the Fukui Prefectural University Dinosaur Research Institute, numerous specimens of dinosaurs other than sauropods and other creatures are collected from all over the country and exhibited in one place. The museum introduces the history of the flourishing of dinosaurs and the evolution of living things through a wide range of specimens, including non-dinosaur paleontologists and extant mammals. A moving specimen?! An impressive dinosaur robot is also on display! This robot is made by Kokoro Co., Ltd., a company that makes high-quality dinosaur robots that are exhibited in museums both in Japan and overseas, such as the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum and the British Museum of Natural History. Even adults will be amazed by its life-size, realistic appearance.