Japan bursts with imagination and inventiveness. Its many islands are home to towering mountains, dense forests, deep seas, and bustling cities. These varied landscapes shape beliefs and spark extraordinary creativity. From elegant kimono to cute plushies, and from historical prints to the latest manga (graphic novels), Japan makes some of the world’s most engaging art and design.
Join us on a journey from the sky to the sea, through the forest, and into the city. Explore how these exciting places, together with a sense of playfulness, shape Japan’s mythical tales. Discover how these stories inspire art, characters, films, and games loved across the world.
This dynamic exhibition is designed especially for kids and young-at-heart grownups.
Ready? Let’s go!
SKY
空
From sunrise to sunset and through the night, the skies above Japan are a constant inspiration.
Over hundreds of years, people have told and retold legends about the adventures of powerful characters and heavenly beings above the clouds. Some are about how to live a good life, some about love, and some about fiery arguments.
Japanese artists take inspiration from these stories of the moon, stars, and sun. Whether in woodblock prints or videogames, cosmic anime (animation) characters or space age design, the sky above is reflected in the world below.
SEA
海
Japan has over 14,000 islands surrounded by deep seas. Below these waters sit active volcanoes and colliding tectonic plates that can churn the seas into giant, destructive waves.
The sea is packed with food, shells, and natural treasures, but it also has many dangers. Its secrets spark stories in peoples’ imaginations. In Japan epic tales set both above and below the waves are woven into myths and legends.
You can see how important the sea is to Japan through its starring role in famous works of art such as Katsushika Hokusai’s Under the Wave off Kanagawa and films like Studio Ghibli’s Ponyo.
FOREST
森
Much of Japan is covered by trees. Its ancient forests are places where people can find peace and quiet. Out of these woods come tales of mystery and enchantment.
As a home to woodland animals, the forests inspire mythical stories of shape-shifting creatures like tanuki (raccoon dogs) and kitsune (foxes) and heroes with superhuman qualities, such as Princess Kaguya and Momotarō.
These stories reflect our complicated relationship with wildlife and emphasize the need to live in harmony with nature. Japanese art, design, and film draw on the magic of the forest and highlight its many wonders.
CITY
街
Japan is home to lively and rapidly transforming megacities. Just over four hundred years ago, Tokyo was a small fishing village, but today it is home to fourteen million people— that’s about seven times as many as live in the greater Nashville area!
Japan’s urban streets inspire fantastical tales. Ghosts and other supernatural beings step out of these stories to pop up in place names, as shopfront mascots, and at PokéStops in the popular smartphone game Pokémon Go.
This playful spirit fuels the nation’s creativity. It drives the culture of kawaii (cute) and is central to anime (animation), manga (graphic novels), and gaming technology now found in homes worldwide.
