JAPAN : Kingdom of Characters

In recent years, interest in Japanese subculture, particularly in anime and manga, has dramatically grown all over the world. What exactly are “characters”? Why do characters appear and become popular? What kind of social reality do they reflect? Focusing on the theme “Characters and the Japanese,” this exhibition will showcase, through visual images and panels, characters commonly known to Japanese people that have triggered fads. The purpose of this exhibition is to introduce the world of characters in a broader sense and examine their impact on Japanese society.

catalog (PDF:347KB)

This touring exhibition is completed.

Fiscal Year 2014 - 2015

  • February 27 - March 29, 2015
    The children's Museum · National Gallery (San Jose, Costa Rica)
  • February 12 - March 22, 2015
    Beit Ariela Public Library and Cultural Center, Embassy of Japan in Israel (Tel Aviv, Israel)
  • December 18, 2014 - January 18, 2015
    National Museum of Anthropology David J. Guzman (San Salvador, El Salvador)
  • October 24 - November 15, 2014
    Hispanic American Cultural Center (La Habana, Cuba)
  • September 17 - October 9, 2014
    Gezirah Art Center (Cairo, Egypt)
  • July 5 - September 7, 2014
    Young At Art Museum (Davie, Florida, U.S.A.)
  • July 3 - August 31, 2014
    SieboldHuis (JAPANMUSEUM) (Den Hague, Netherlands)
  • May 10 - June 14, 2014
    National Gallery of Jamaica (Kingston, Jamaica)
  • April 12 - June 15, 2014
    The Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities (Stockholm, Sweden)

See past exhibition schedule

Poster of characters

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