Designed with our younger audience in mind, yet fun and fascinating for all ages, this exhibition goes on a colorful, atmospheric exploration through Japan to show how popular stories have shaped the country’s art, design, and technology across the centuries. Divided into four thematic sections—Sky, Sea, Forest, and City—it presents over 150 historic and contemporary objects, ranging from animated movies, origami, and ukiyo-e woodblock prints to dolls, robots, and youth fashion.
To spark more creativity, activities inspired by the exhibition are offered in both the Upper-Level Galleries and Martin ArtQuest. Fold origami boats, play taiko drums, design anime characters and create collaborative manga comic strips, watch charming animations, and more!
Journey through Japan: Myths to Manga celebrates the spirit of playfulness and imagination at the heart of Japanese culture.
Created by the V&A – Touring the World
Exhibition gallery
Katsushika Hokusai. Under the Wave off Kanagawa, from the series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, ca. 1831. Woodblock print; 9 3/4 x 14 1/2 in. V&A: Given by the Misses Alexander, E.4823-1916. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Epoch Co. Ltd. for Tomy. Sylvanian Families camping set and animal figurines, 1987–95. Flocked plastic; dimensions variable. V&A: Given by Tomy UK Ltd., A: B.49, 69:1, 70:1, 78:1, 85:1-1998. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Utagawa Hiroshige. Treasure ship, 1847–52. Woodblock print; 10 3/8 x 14 7/8 in. V&A: E.3461-1886. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Studio Ghibli, directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Still from My Neighbor Totoro, 1988. © 1988 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli
Sakar International, Inc. Hello Kitty rice cooker, 2014. Plastic, metal, electrical components; diameter: 8 5/8 in. V&A: FE.19-2015. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Unidentified maker. Fisherman’s festival robe, 1900–1930. Cotton, stencil paste-resist dyeing; 55 1/2 x 52 in. V&A: FE.102-1982. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Noritaka Tatehana in collaboration with Ryūkōbō. Heel-less shoes, 2021. Leather, silk, metal; 11 x 4 x 8 1/2 in. Image courtesy of Kosaku Kanechika NT-HIS-21-006. Photo: Keizo Kioku. © Noritaka Tatehana K.K.
Exhibition supporters
The Frist Art Museum is supported in part by
Events and programs
Art History Course: Human Experience and Japanese Art
Adult ARTlab: “Make Cute: An Exploration of Kawaii Through Mixed Media”
Family Drop-In ARTlab: “Kawaii Charms: Craft Your Own Cute”
Adult ARTlab: Traditional Japanese Bookbinding with Suminagashi
Adult ARTlab: “Ikebana Essentials: Discovering the Art and Technique of Japanese Flower Arrangement”
Resources
