Drawn from the rich collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum, Journey through Japan: Myths to Manga reveals how much-loved folktales continue to be woven into Japanese culture, technology, and design. From sky to sea, and into the forest and the city, the exhibition will offer visitors an exciting and atmospheric journey through Japan and across centuries.
The exhibition explores a wealth of playful and powerful artistic expression with more than 100 objects ranging from Hokusai’s celebrated woodblock print Under the Wave off Kanagawa to the equally iconic manga Astro Boy by Osamu Tezuka. Guests can also enjoy clips from animated films such as Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbor Totoro and Ponyo, contemporary design including Noritaka Tatehana’s dizzyingly high heel-less shoes and Rumi Rock’s space-age fabric, and the ever-popular Pokémon!
The exhibition also features a series of engaging interactives designed especially for children, including an origami activity that accompanies a moving installation of 1,000 paper cranes—a symbol of remembrance from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Japan.
Created by the V&A – Touring the World
