Maro's first solo exhibition in two years! New pastel works, original picture book illustrations and pottery are on display, while picture books and greeting cards are on sale. Also original tote bags, postcards, badges and previously exhibited manga. A pottery workshop will be held on October 6th (Mon), 7th (Tue) and 9th (Thu). Apply on the website below: http://www.juillet.jp/workshop/index.html The first 100 visitors to the exhibition will receive a free set of 4 Maro postcards!

Ever since the birth of papermaking in China about 2000 years ago, paper has served to record human activities through text and pictures and also utilized to create objects, supporting the development of human culture. Expansion of Buddhism, which is practiced based on the Buddhist scriptures, was made possible by the development of printing. Emaki (scroll painting), soushi (an early form of graphic novel), and karuta (card game), all of these familiar paper items were loved by Japanese people back in the old days. In this exhibition, various types of artworks created using the most familiar and simple material, paper, will be on display. Works include the museum collections as well as newly donated works by a special paper production company, Pam.

October 6th (Mon)-October 12th (Sun) Photo School Sawa Men's Group Exhibition Location: Exhibition Room 1 Contact: Masao Nagasawa 090-3549-5338 Nishimukuataira Exhibition Location: Exhibition Room 2 Contact: Kanagawa Prefectural Gallery 045-633-3696 16th Kanagawa Prefecture Kirieno-kai Exhibition Location: Exhibition Room 4 Contact: Kanagawa Prefecture Kirieno-kai 045-832-1254 2008 Representational Art Members' Exhibition Location: Exhibition Room 5 Contact: Representational Art Association 045-303-3042 October 7th (Tue)-October 12th (Sun) Masaaki Sakai Exhibition Location: Exhibition Room 3 Contact: Masaaki Sakai 045-911-2639

40th Anniversary Open Call Kanagawa Gen Exhibition Open call exhibition showcasing about 100 works from all genres. -Location: Exhibition Rooms on 1F & 2F -Time: 11:00-18:00. Opens at 13:00 on the first day and closes at 17:00 on the last day.

Tomoe makes work by gluing together ornamental stickers for "mini 4-wheel drive" toy cars that used to be popular with kids in the 90s, especially boys. The stickers show cars that are fast, strong and cool, the three most important traits for these boys' ideal model. Awe-inspiring motifs traditionally used in nihon-ga painting, such as tigers, dragons and flames, and English words associated with speed and strength like "sonic" and "magnum" are also used in his work, reminding viewers of early 90's cultural movements that Tomoe himself grew him immersed in. While Tomoe mainly produces small-scale works due to the limited size of the materials he has chosen to work with, this time he has worked with a large-scale canvas, on which he cut and paste cutting seats to give it a sculptural three-dimensionality.

Masayoshi Kodaira designs posters and catalogs for various museums and galleries, such as the Yokohama Museum and the Mito Art Museum, as well as advertisements for Laforet. He also handled overall art direction for Takeo Paper Show 2007 and 2008, corporate identity for the Hara Museum Arc program, all the while paying keen attention to choice of printing techniques and materials in order to fully realize his innovative ideas. All these projects have earned him a reputation as one of the hottest art directors and graphic designers active today. This exhibition traces Kodaira's working process and shows the origins of his ideas and inspirations. The first venue, Gallery at Lammfromm, features his exhibition posters for the Yoshitomo Nara exhibition at the Yokohama Art Museum, the Archigram experimental architecture 1961-1974 exhibition at the Mito Art Museum, designs for venue signs, along with his rough drafts and corrections that demonstrate the road to completion for all these designs. In addition, the second venue at the old Flame office will also have its working space open to the public, a rare glimpse into the environment in which these designs were created. On display here as well are materials and tools that fueled Kodaira's direction and design processes. Second venue Masayoshi Kodaira "Art Direction & Design" September 9th (Tue) - September 30th (Tue) Venue: Flame (old office) St Tropez Minami Aoyama #403, 6-3-14 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo Tel 03-5469-5210 Talk event "Design & Design" Masamichi Katayama (Wonderwall) + Masayoshi Kodaira (Flame) September 21st (Sun) doors open 14:30, starts 15:00 Venue: Kou, 1-1-19 Uehara, Shibuya-ku Fee: ¥800 (includes one drink)

Taku Anekawa is an artist who works with thread, making drawings or silkscreening graphics onto a canvas, and then sewing thread onto them. Anekawa's sewing method is different from that used in regular embroidery, allowing the individual colors of the intertwined thread to show through clearly, sometimes even prompting them to stray outside the boundaries of the canvas they are meant to cling to. While embroidering thread is a way of giving expression to impulses that erupt from within, Anekawa's art is perhaps also a means of interrogating the existence of thread as a material. Anekawa began using thread as a creative material in earnest in 2004, and has since continued in this vein, seemingly obsessed with something about it. He has since participated in several solo and group exhibitions both in Japan and abroad, exhibiting his work in stores and making props for live performances as part of collaborations with fashion brands, as well as showing work in print media like magazines. As the president of a design company, Anekawa handles art direction, planning and illustration, while also winning high praise for his work as a digital content creator. This exhibition is made up of two parts, the first running from September 26th to October 13th, and the second from October 31st to November 30th. A thread installation will be showcased in the first half, while a group of canvas-based works will be exhibited during the second half.

Solo exhibition by Kin Shiotani, who has been holding annual exhibitions at B Gallery since 2004. This time, Shiotani tackles the issue of luck, a subject that he has been obsessed with lately, with sugoroku boards spread across the whole exhibition space. Visitors will be asked to roll a die placed at the entrance of the gallery. From that point on, everything will be left to chance! Having extended the range of his artistic activities, Kin Shiotani now leads an exciting life. For him, B Gallery has always been a place to take on a new challenge. For this fifth show at the venue, Shiotani has chosen luck as its theme, applied not only to this particular show but also to his own life.

Autumn is the best season for mushrooms. Works in various media with mushroom motifs - cute, cool, realistic, and at times a bit deformed - have been gathered for this exhibition.

Japanese actress Chizuru Azuma is known for her volunteer activities. She visited the Peace Village International in Germany as part of a TV program. This exhibition aims to raise awareness of ongoing wars and the significance of life through photographs of children staying at the village and Azuma's illustrated story book.

Oct 5th (Sun)-Oct 11th (Sat) [ W:1-F ] Team Kuwasawa Students "Woodcut Monkeys '09" Woodcut prints Oct 6th (Mon) [ W:1-A ] Panoramadou "Handmade Accessories" Accessories and Fashion Oct 7th (Tue)-Oct 9th (Thu) [ E:102 ] Dexter Fashion Oct 7th (Tue)-Oct 13th (Mon) [ W:1-D ] Nijiiro Camera & Acha & Eri "Misch Masch Girl's Sweetsb" Group: Photography and Accessories Oct 7th (Tue)-Oct 13th (Mon) [ W:2-A ] Peace House "Peace House301" Group: Painting, 3D, Graphic Design, Photography, Film Screening and Multimedia Oct 9th (Thu)-Oct 15th (Wed) [ W:1-C ] An-Fill "Solo Exhibition vol.3" Accessories and Fashion Oct 10th (Fri)-Oct 12th (Sun) [ E:101-7 ] 4DM's 6/13 Group: Painting, 3D, Illustration and Figures Oct 10th (Fri )-Oct 12th (Sun) [ E:Kitchen ] Miki Yuasa "Momohime the World" Illustration, Photography, Accessories, Film Screening and Multimedia Oct 10th (Fri)-Oct 14th (Tue)[ E:303 ] Hidenori Motai "Scenery and Color Map" Painting [Image: Peace House "Peace House301"]

This exhibition presents 10 T-shirts designed by Jun Sora. His work received the largest number of votes at the Yokohama Brand Art T-Shirt Competition (YBATC 2008) at the Red Brick Warehouse, and was awarded the Grand Prize at the competition. This exhibition showcases the Grand Prize work, as well as his recent T-shirt designs.

Sohei Nishino begins his work with camera in hand, walking around every inch of a city. His debut work was "Osaka", a city he is thoroughly acquainted with. He used well over 150 rolls of film, surveying and photographing Osaka from about 50 locations. He developed them directly on photo printing paper, and then cut them out one by one and joined them together from memory. It took a year to complete this work, with a huge amount of time and energy invested. You can feel this just by looking at his works. In 2005 Nishino entered his works "Osaka", "Kyoto", "Hiroshima", "Shanghai" and "Tokyo" in the Canon New Cosmos of Photography competition in 2005 and received the top award. In 2007, the modern art exhibition "Dialogue with the City" was held in Yokohama and Kobe, highlighting the works of young artists. Nishino's 6 works including "NY" created quite a memorable buzz. This year, he completed his new work, “Paris,” and Nishino's 7 works from this series that he has been creating for the past 5 years will be coming to our gallery. Nishino's pieces usually are re-composed from copies of compositions and exhibited as a single flat work. However, in this exhibition we plan to present his works in the original versions just as they are. Most significantly, his color work exceeding 2.5 meters in size will be shown. This work truly opens up new frontiers. The "Diorama Map" series made up of 7 monochrome pieces recreates the overall image of the city by hand, reshaping the city's characteristics. His images are true to form in a sense, and yet incorrect; in other words, he is trying to depict an image that comes from within the memory. His giant color work "i-LAND" will be exhibited for the first time ever in Japan. It has a different concept from his previous works, as it depicts an imaginary city. Combining precise photographs of Japan that were previously taken with a bold new composition, he attempts to create a modern Japanese version of Sir Thomas More's "Utopia". This is not a criticism of an absurd reality. Instead, it tries to draw out something that would allow us to "co-exist" in a complex society with differing values. He is now on the verge of completing this work, but there is no doubt that he will keep at it until the day that it is unveiled at this exhibition. When this piece is finally unveiled, the glue will surely still be drying. "i-LAND" appears digital when seen from afar, but as you approach this work you realize how much complicated work has gone into it. It has a craggy surface, protruding bits of glue and an accumulation of a tremendous number of photographs. The surface of this work has an unspeakable impact that overwhelms its viewers. In this post-digital age when digital technologies are a given, it is hardly surprising that so many works employing digital means of expression have emerged on the contemporary art scene. Sohei Nishino has traded his mouse for a pair of scissors, and if he had cut-and-paste instead of actually using paste, his works would not draw people in as strongly as they do. If the 7 works in the "DioramaMap" series are symbols of the modern city of the 20th century, his new work "i-LAND" is a map of Sohei Nishino's imaginings of a future Japan depicted with an even looser liberty of thought. Just one glance may convince you that it resembles an out-of-date Pop Art work, but longer viewings will make you hear the appeal of the artist's entire being.The impact of this masterpiece will break your heart. -Seiji Komatsu, Director of Emon Inc.

Minatomachi Orai Wonder Lala Project 09 invites artists from around the world born in port cities to exhibit their work in collaboration with domestic Japanese artists using the entire harbor district of Yokohama as a stage. This event marks the 150th anniversary of the opening of the port of Yokohama in October 2009. This pre-event will be held in October 2008, focusing on the themes of port towns, immigration, and contemporary paths towards the future. The project will be participatory and hands-on, promoting dialogue with the audience. Works that condense the essence of the project will be on display, and workshops, performances and talks will also be held. Since the dawning of modernity, Yokohama has been a city where diverse forms of thought and viewpoints on the world and their attendant ways of life have intersected. Working from his historical context and the present state of Yokohama, participating artists will transcend national boundaries in an effort to aim towards...what exactly? This pre-event hopes to provide some answers. Venue: Yokohama ZAIM Cafe Annex http://zaimcafe.com/annex/ Various related events, workshops, talks etc are scheduled. See website for details (Japanese only).

First broadcasted in autumn 2005, "Girls from Hell" is an original anime work that touched a chord with many, not just anime fans. "Girls" has since spread far and wide, with a second edition released, adaptations for Japanese TV drama, Nakayoshi serializations and more. The work returns this fall at this exhibition at Logos Gallery, commemorating the release of the third series of "Girls from Hell." On display and for sale are new dolls and figures by Etsuko Miura and collections of drawings and illustrations for the series.

Oct 12th (Sun) [ E:101-1 ] UhBee "Melty Love" 2 Artists: 3D, Illustration, Graphic Art and Photography Oct 12th (Sun)-Oct 13th (Mon) [ E:101-2 ] Kamatagumi "Arc" 2 Artists: Painting, Illustration and Graphic Design Oct 12th (Sun)-Oct 13th (Mon) [ E:101-6 ] TumoriDX "Deluxe Character Exhibition" 3D, Illustration and Accessories Oct 12th (Sun)-Oct 14th (Tue) [ E:101-3 ] Funky, Cool Character Designers "Cuty Cool Kiddies" Group: Illustration Oct 12th (Sun)-Oct 18th (Sat) [ W:1-F ] Yokoshima "Monochrome" Group: Graphic Design, Photography and Calligraphy Oct 15th (Wed)-Oct 21st (Tue) [ W:1-D ] What Do You Like ? Group: Painting, Photography, Fashion, Film Screening and Multimedia Oct 16th (Thu)-Oct 17th (Fri) [ W:2-E ] Kazuya Watanabe Exhibition Painting Oct 17th (Fri)-Oct 19th (Sun) [ W:1-C ] Luluco "Matsuge wo Yomareru" Painting, Illustration, Accessories and Picture books Oct 17th (Fri)-Oct 20th (Mon) [ W:1-A ] Kozi69 "Rock, Stock & Red Check Revolutions" Illustration Oct 17th (Fri)-Oct 22nd (Wed) [ W:1-G ] Akitsugu Sugisaki Exhibition Painting [Image: Kozi69 "Rock, Stock & Red Check Revolutions"]

On view in this special exhibition are panels of chronological tables which provide visitors with 30 years of the history of TÜV Rheinland Japan. Photographs and video screenings of its past advertisement and PR activities will be on display also.

Musashino Art University holds Masamu Yanase's works, which were originally donated to the collection by Tobuaki and Toshiko Yanase 20 years ago. This is the third exhibition of Yanase's work to be held at this university museum. Ever since Yanase made his debut at the age of 15 at In-ten, he pursued his artistic career in a wide range of media including painting, manga, illustration, poster design and stage design. He was a leading figure of the Taisho Avant-garde. From 1990, when his works were first donated to the university museum, up until 2007, exhibitions of his work were held at 61 locations across Japan. This exhibition focuses on the shift in style from Yanase's early satirical illustrations and rebellious proletarian manga, to his comic manga, which appeared in the Yomiuri Newspaper's comic section for children. In all these formats, Yanase successfully revealed his ability to touch the hearts of his audience with his stories. Symposium "Masamu Yanase: From Proletarian Manga to Comics" When: October 9th (Thu) 16:30 Where: Musashino Art University Building 1, Room 104 Guests: Magoroku Ide, Yasuhiro Manboku (Kasama Nichido Garo Museum), Yoshio Katakura (Manga Archival Library, Mori), Kazuo Nara (Researcher), Katsuhito Oyabe (Professor of Musashino Art University)

This is the third in a series of solo exhibitions by Shinro Ohtake. Please contact the gallery for more information.

The Taiwan Advertising Exhibition, which introduces the public to outstanding advertising posters and designs, has again obtained the support of the China International Broadcasting Managers Association. This exhibition held at the ADMT features award-winning works from the 4A Free Creativity Prize jointly organized by the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents of Taipei and Jiyou Shibao, as well as from the Shibao Advertising Gold Award organized by the Zhongguo Shibao. Visitors will be able to view outstanding examples of creative advertising work at this 5th installment of the exhibition.

The publication "Nanso Satomi Hakkenden" saw contributions by Bakin Kyotei (1767-1848) over a long period stretching from 1814-1842, during which time he created the longest ever collection of Japanese romance fiction (denki shosetsu), numbering some 98 episodes over 106 books. Before long, the publication was taken as a subject for the kabuki theater, and numerous ukiyo-e woodblock prints were also made on the topic. In a sense, the Hakkenden provided a deft cultural summary and compendium of the late Edo period. The popularity of this work continues unchanged to this day, and it is often used as material for art, literature, manga, film and theater. 2008 marks the 160th anniversary of the passing of Bakin. This exhibition focuses on works from the Hakkenden ukiyo-e collection of Jin Hattori, introducing viewers to the world of Hakkenden through archive materials, modern nihonga painting, contemporary kabuki theater, shojo manga and so on.

Exhibiting work by Shinichi Takashima, the prize winner of Yotsuya Art Studium best artist award "3rd Maestro Guanto 2008".

In the early Meiji period (1868-1912), Hakubutsukyoku (Museum Bureau, present Tokyo National Museum) inherited the collection of books formerly owned by Igakukan, the Tokugawa government's medical institute (est. 1791-1867). As the museum's affiliation was changed from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, and then to the Imperial Household Ministry, the majority of the books in Tokugawa government's collection was transferred to the Cabinet Library (Ministry of Internal Affairs) and the Archives and Mausolea Department (Imperial Household Ministry). However, medical books which were valuable exhibits for the museum were retained. Furthermore, many materials closely related to medical science, including Bronze Acupuncture Model of a Human Body and Anatomical Model of a Human Body, were also kept in the museum collection and have been preserved until today. This thematic exhibition introduces three books and a letter written by Manase Dosan, the doctor who served the Muromachi military government, to shed light on the medical science before Igakukan. Igakukan, the only medical institute established by the Tokugawa government, used ancient Chinese medical books such as The Inner Canon of Huangdi and An Essay on Severe Febrile Diseases for textbooks, reprinted them and published medical books of its own. The exhibition also features Ishinpo (the earliest medical book published in Japan and a designated National Treasure), Jutei Kaitai Shinsho (The Revised Edition of the Anatomie ofte Afbeeldinge), bronze human models and other related materials, giving us the chance to trace the history of Japanese medical science.

Born in Minowa Village in Gunma Prefecture (now Misato Town in Takasaki City), Kaoru Yamaguchi (1907-1968) grew up amid abundant nature during his childhood and then started pursuing a career as a painter. After studying at Tokyo Art School (now Tokyo University of the Arts) and also in France, he became involved with the formation of the Free Art Association and Modern Art Association as a member of Chuo Gadan, devoting himself to the creation of Japanese-style yoga (western) paintings. Pastoral landscapes, trees and water against a red backdrop, the moon, horses... Yamaguchi poured his imagination onto the canvas through the depiction of the nature around him, in rich colors and forms. His unique style of expression was formed during the pre- and postwar periods, when art went through a sea change, through his constant efforts to tackle the possibilities of figurative art, in search of a style of his own. By displaying about 90 paintings according to shifts in his painting style, this exhibition aims to trace Yamaguchi's artistic endeavors at different points throughout his career. [Image: "Figure of Flower" (1937) Collection of Kyoto Museum of Contemporary Art Kahitsukan]

This exhibition presents "TriQuarterly" produced by group of artists, and artist books by H. Fulton, C. Andre, R. Long, and others.

This month Heartland Gallery presents posters from the "Heartland Karuizawa Drawing Biennale." Heartland Drawing Biennale is an open call exhibition taking Kirin's Heartland Beer as its motif. Enjoy the unique artworks with beer and music.

Born in Kofu, Yamanashi in 1913, Hideo Hagiwara studied oil painting at Tokyo Bijutsu Gakko (current Tokyo University of the Arts) starting in 1933 and thereafter pursued a career as a painter. In 1953, he became ill and had to spend a period of time in bed. At the end of the year, he made new year's postcards using woodblock printmaking methods. Since then, printmaking grew to become part of his practice, and he created new year's postcards in this way every year for over half a century. Later, he received a number of awards at various international print exhibitions, and established his career internationally. As a representative printmaker of the postwar era, he continued his practice but passed away last year on November 4th, at the age of 94. Musashino City holds around 550 works by Hagiwara. Many of them were donated by the artist himself, and helped form a major collection of the city. This retrospective exhibition commemorates his passing, and is held at the main gallery space of the museum as well as the Hideo Hagiwara Memorial Museum. This exhibition was made possible through the support of the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum as well as his family and friends. In addition to his woodblock prints, oil, watercolor, and sumi ink paintings as well as collages are on view at this exhibition. [Image: "Fuji" (tentative title) year unknown, collage, private collection]

Hatch Art is organizing a group exhibition of 6 artists on the theme of red, a color rich in symbolism and associations. Like Hatch Art's previous exhibitions "Happy Hours" and "Yokohama Boogie," the interpretation of the exhibition theme has been left up to each artist to handle as they wish. Together with the organizers and visitors to the exhibition, the color red will hopefully take on new shades of meaning. October 12th (Sun) 14:00-16:00 Artist Talk For more information contact: Hatch Art ZAIM 406, Nihon Odori 34, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture hatchart@gmail.com

Simon Patterson was born in Surrey, England in 1969 of English, Scottish, Wales and Irish descent, which indicates his perfect British heritage. Although his activities are subdued compared to Hirst and Gordon, he is an outstanding representative of the Young British Artists (YBA) which invigorated the 90's contemporary art scene in the UK. Patterson's artworks are not so easy to understand, yet their keen wit comes from the fact that he graduated from Goldsmiths College in London. The motifs he chooses include ships, maps, astronomy maps, rulers and the well-known diagrams of the London Underground, metamorphosed into smart, fascinating artworks full of nostalgia and wit. Since his first exhibition "High Fidelity" (1994) held at Roentgen Kunstraum and Kohji Ogura Gallery, he has held many exhibitions in Japan. This year, he held a highly-acclaimed solo exhibition at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. At this exhibition, Patterson will show recent works for the first time in Japan in the past 4 years, since March 2004. The artist never discloses any details about his upcoming works; audiences are always left waiting in suspense. A reception for the artist will be held on October 3rd (Fri) from 18:00 onwards. Everyone is welcome. On October 4th (Sat), the Kunst Oktoberfest Free Bus Tour will be held in and around the Chuo Ward gallery district. Please check out for more information.

Born in Tokyo in 1886, Tsuguharu Fujita studied at the Tokyo Art School (now Tokyo University of the Arts) and in 1913 moved to Paris at the age of 27. In Paris, where originality was crucial to being an artist, Fujita achieved an original style of oil painting by incorporating into it elements of traditional nihon-ga painting. He succeeded in giving expression to the softness of human skin on his canvas. Through his depictions of nudes and cats painted with black lines on top of a milky-white background, Fujita won much attention from French audiences. After World War II, Fujita went back to Paris again and became a naturalized citizen of France, following which he converted to Catholicism and changed his name to Leonard Fujita. This exhibition looks at the course of his career in France, centering on 4 large-scale paintings of a group of nude figures, discovered in suburban Paris in 1992. Works include those from the late 1910s, at a time when Fujita was still searching for his own style; to the following decade, when he perfected his signature "milky-white" surfaces. On view alongside these 4 nude paintings are numerous sketches that he executed as studies for these works. On display for the first time are religious paintings, fresco work for the interior of the Chapelle Fujita in France, sketches for stained glass commissions, and more. Please visit museum website for more details.

The Edo-Tokyo Museum is holding an exhibition entitled "Asakusa Past and Present" starting September 14th (Sun). This year marks the 15th anniversary of the opening of the museum, as well as the 50th anniversary of the refurbishment of the main hall of Senso-ji temple. The Asakusa Tourism Association, which has devoted itself to the postwar reconstruction of the area, also celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. This exhibition showcases o-ema paintings from the Senso-ji collection, as well as three 'mikoshi' portable shrines from Asakusa Shrine, showing how Asakusa came to become a center of faith and devotional belief, where countless visitors flocked on pilgrimages. Asakusa also served as a popular entertainment quarter during the modern era. Through various documents that are testament to the hustle and bustle of the time, this exhibition takes examines Asakusa as a locus of Tokyo culture. Please visit museum website for more details.

With various types of thread spun out of a gland on its hip, the spider has a different web for each purpose. These wondrous, intricately-designed spiderwebs not only serve an important function in terms of the movement and life of a spider but also conceal a fascinating mystery, keys to the spider's artful work. Both miniature artist and skillful predator, the spider is capable of spinning circular, hoof-shaped, fan-shaped, hammock-shaped, dome-shaped webs and many more. This exhibition introduces the geometrical designs spun out of these lace-like webs, prompting visitors to take a second look at these everyday creatures.

Pioneer of modern Japanese manga Ryuichi Yokoyama, and originator of story manga Osamu Tezuka have long respected and influenced each other. They both had animation production studios at their house, Yokoyama's "Otogi Production" and Tezuka's "Mushi Production." Much can be learned from their approach to animation, and their works are stunning even today. In this exhibition, Suginami Animation Museum director Shinichi Suzuki, who has experience working with both Yokohama and Tezuka, introduces the concept of "animation" through works by these two masters. -Illustration Workshop "Drawing Tezuka Characters!" With guest Junji Kobayashi, who worked for Tezuka for a long time on anime production, this workshop will teach participants the secrets of Tezuka characters. October 25th (Sat), 13:00 Location: Museum 4F Capacity: 20 people Free Recommended for anyone older than elementary school students -Talk Event "What Ryuichi Yokoyama and Osamu Tezuka Meant to Us" September 27th (Sat), 13:00 Location: Anime Theater Capacity: 50 people Free Guest: Fujiko Fujio (A)

Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-78) was born near Venice, Italy, and flourished as a printmaker in Rome. Also working actively as architect and archaeologist, Piranesi brought colossal ancient monuments and the popular sites of Rome to life on paper with the use of copper engraving. On display at this exhibition are a total of 200 Piranesi prints and books about the artist, whose heart wandered and drifted all the way out to ancient Egypt, Rome, Asia, and even unknown cities. Location: Exhibition rooms 1, 2

Coinciding with the duration of the Yokohama Triennale 2008, BankART1929 is hosting "BankART Life II". The purpose of this event is to promote a region-wide program that aims at the comprehensive management of a variety of existing businesses and to disseminate them throughout the entire region in cooperation with public and historical buildings, industrial remains, restaurant districts, vacant land and stores, etc. The concept of this event is "to open up and connect". The event will take place not only at the venues hosting the Triennale, but also the whole area surrounded by Shinko Port, Bashamichi, Isezakicho, Sakuragicho, Nogechiku, Hinodecho and Koganecho. Additionally, the event will be closely linked with various institutions like ZAIM in the Sozo Kaiwai (Creative City) area. Fee: BankART Life II ticket (includes Life II guide book) Adults ¥900, University Students ¥750, High School Students ¥350, Middle School Students and under free *Ticket holders will be able to see and participate in all exhibitions and performance events (with a ¥500 discount). Ticket valid for both BankART Life II & Yokohama Triennale (includes Life II guide book) Adults ¥2100, University Students ¥1600, High School Students ¥850, Middle School Students and under free Please visit gallery website for more details.

Born in Switzerland, Le Corbusier (1887-1965) moved to Paris to pursue a double career as both painter and architect. As a tribute to his outstanding achievements and contributions to 20th century architecture, the French government applied to register his work on the UNESCO World Heritage list this year. As a result, a total of 22 buildings and city plans, including representative works like the Villa Savoye and the Chapelle Notre-Dame du Haut, as well as the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo, were nominated for inclusion. This exhibition traces Corbusier's dedication to the field of architecture through models, photographs and videos on display, with a focus on the 22 nominated works. Focusing particularly on light effects inside architectural structures, this exhibition will examine the sensitivity and originality of his approach to light as an architectural element. Corbusier had a brilliant career not only as an architect, but also as a painter. Advocating purism, and staunchly critical of cubism, he went on to portray powerful women and other symbolic motifs in his canvases. Through a selection of his paintings, sculptures and tapestry works, visitors will discover that Corbusier's art and architecture were essentially two aspects and manifestations of the same unique ethos. [Image: Chapelle Notre-Dame du Haut]

The Boston Museum houses 50000 ukiyo-e prints, numerous printed books and original paintings from the Edo period. While quality and quantity of the collection have been considered as the best in the world, these works have almost never been exhibited to the public before. Showcased in this exhibition are 132 prints, 5 original paintings, 12 draft drawings and 10 printed books, most of which will be on view for the first time in Japan. (For the purpose of protection, 137 works will be displayed in the Edo-Tokyo Museum.) This exhibition gives a comprehensive view on the history of ukiyo-e prints through the introduction of main ukiyo-e schools and works of individual painters. This was made possible because of the Boston Museum's huge collection that covers art works from various periods in history. It's guaranteed that viewers experience dynamism of Edo culture through the collection, while vibrant color still intact due to a great state of preservation will be enjoyed also. Over 100 years since first exported to the U.S., this is a home coming of now internationally-treasured ukiyo-e masterpieces. [Image: Toshusai Sharaku "Portrait of Moneylender Kinkichi Ishibe" (May, 1794) Bigelow Collection]

Shozo Tanaka, a populist statesman active during the Meiji period, first became known as a newspaper man. Tanaka became editor of the Tochigi Shinbun (the former incarnation of the Shimotsuke Shinbun) in 1880, where he promoted discourse on democracy and civil rights, and made efforts towards the establishment of a national Diet. After becoming a Diet member, Tanaka pursued action on the Ashio mine pollution incident with the Diet on more than 20 separate occasions, fighting for restitution alongside those who suffered from the incident. This exhibition, commemorating the 130th anniversary of the Shimotsuke Shinbun, looks at how this incident, called the "origin of contamination", as well as Tanaka's life and career, was taken up by press, focusing on archival newspaper materials related to Tanaka from the Tochigi Shinbun, Shimotsuke Shinbun, Mainichi Shinbun and others. In addition, a talk by Wahei Tatematsu on the influence of Tanaka's thinking on contemporary life will be held on October 4th.

Two new art studios will open in the former red-light district of Kogane-cho in Yokohama. These studios will form the main venue of the event and will also serve as the location for the opening of Koganecho Bazaar. The aim of Koganecho Bazaar is to regenerate the Koganecho district through the co-existence of art and community, and it can be seen as the first step in this process. For this event, daring not to be limited to a conventional interpretation of art, a comprehensive program is being organized that welcomes a wide range of ideas and events to reexamine the local environment, while also introducing new commercial ventures related to fashion, food and housing. As a unified whole, the festival will create a place for rich experience and it is hoped that this venture to revitalize the area will be warmly welcomed by a large number of visitors and local residents. It is also hoped that there will be a possibility to continue to develop the initiative in the near future. The whole area of newly-constructed studios under the railway tracks, plus the entire town of Yokohama itself, including unused and empty stores and the Ookagawa River area, will serve as exhibition sites for the Bazaar.

Sri Lanka is an island nation boasting a rich cultural heritage reaching back more than 2000 years. This exhibition features items revealing the essence of Sri Lankan culture, such as images of Buddhist figures and Hindu gods, as well as artifacts, and introduces its world heritage sites and areas of natural beauty. This is the first time that the finest examples of Sri Lankan cultural heritage are being exhibited on a large scale in Japan.

The Yokohama Triennale is an international exhibition of contemporary art held once every three years. The inaugural edition was held in 2001, and this year marks its 3rd installment. Based on a comprehensive exhibition theme decided upon by the artistic director, a diverse range of artworks—including video, installation, photography, painting and sculpture—by about 60 to 70 artists selected from countries all over the world will be put on display. While the Triennale will mainly showcase newly-commissioned cutting-edge works of contemporary art from around the globe, it will also feature many site-specific works highlighting the distinctive charms of the host city. Supplementary events will also be held during the exhibition period, including symposiums to flesh out the Triennale concept, as well as workshops and gallery talks to promote dialogue among artists, participants and visitors. The Triennale will also seek to establish and strengthen ties with art organizations and other international exhibition secretariats both in Japan and abroad. The NYK Waterfront Warehouse, built in 1952, is a three minute walk from the Bashamichi subway station. After having served as a distribution warehouse for shipping company Nippon Yusen (NYK Line), and then as the site for the NYK Archives Museum, the building currently houses BankART Studio NYK. Following a partial renovation, the second and third floors of the building will be used as the main exhibition spaces for the Yokohama Triennale 2008. About 20 artists will install their works here, including Matthew Barney, Kosugi Takehisa, and Joan Jonas. The event's other main venues are the . Inquiries: (Hello Dial) 03-5405-8686 (English 9:00-18:00

The Yokohama Triennale is an international exhibition of contemporary art held once every three years. The inaugural edition was held in 2001, and this year marks its 3rd installment. Based on a comprehensive exhibition theme decided upon by the artistic director, a diverse range of artworks—including video, installation, photography, painting and sculpture—by about 60 to 70 artists selected from countries all over the world will be put on display. While the Triennale will mainly showcase newly-commissioned cutting-edge works of contemporary art from around the globe, it will also feature many site-specific works highlighting the distinctive charms of the host city. Supplementary events will also be held during the exhibition period, including symposiums to flesh out the Triennale concept, as well as workshops and gallery talks to promote dialogue among artists, participants and visitors. The Triennale will also seek to establish and strengthen ties with art organizations and other international exhibition secretariats both in Japan and abroad. An exhibition hall with some 4,300 square meters of exhibition space will be constructed in the Shinko Pier area, one of the oldest sections of the Port of Yokohama. The new structure (scheduled to be completed in August 2008) will be the main venue for the Yokohama Triennale 2008. The design of the exhibition hall includes numerous skylights to bring in natural light, creating a pleasant, relaxed ambience. Nearly 30 artists, including Pedro Reyes, Fischli & Weiss, and Cerith Wyn Evans, will exhibit their works here. The two historic Red Brick Warehouses on Shinko Pier were built in the early years of the twentieth century as model government warehouses, and even today they still exude the bygone aura of Meiji-era Japan (1868-1912). Yokohama Triennale 2008 exhibits, including works by Rirkrit Tiravanija and Chelfish, will be situated mainly on the second and third floors of Warehouse No. 1, while the Akarenga Hall on the third floor will play host to various events such as performances, concerts and lectures. The event's other main venues are the . Inquiries: (Hello Dial) 03-5405-8686 (English 9:00-18:00)

The Yokohama Triennale is an international exhibition of contemporary art held once every three years. The inaugural edition was held in 2001, and this year marks its 3rd installment. Based on a comprehensive exhibition theme decided upon by the artistic director, a diverse range of artworks—including video, installation, photography, painting and sculpture—by about 60 to 70 artists selected from countries all over the world will be put on display. While the Triennale will mainly showcase newly-commissioned cutting-edge works of contemporary art from around the globe, it will also feature many site-specific works highlighting the distinctive charms of the host city. Supplementary events will also be held during the exhibition period, including symposiums to flesh out the Triennale concept, as well as workshops and gallery talks to promote dialogue among artists, participants and visitors. The Triennale will also seek to establish and strengthen ties with art organizations and other international exhibition secretariats both in Japan and abroad. An exhibition hall with some 4,300 square meters of exhibition space will be constructed in the Shinko Pier area, one of the oldest sections of the Port of Yokohama. The new structure (scheduled to be completed in August 2008) will be the main venue for the Yokohama Triennale 2008. The design of the exhibition hall includes numerous skylights to bring in natural light, creating a pleasant, relaxed ambience. Nearly 30 artists, including Pedro Reyes, Fischli & Weiss, and Cerith Wyn Evans, will exhibit their works here. The event's other main venues are the . Inquiries: (Hello Dial) 03-5405-8686 (English 9:00-18:00)

In conjunction with the Yokohama Triennale 2008, ZAIM's 33 resident art groups are holding open houses at their workshops and ateliers. Numerous events taking the form of a traveling excursion, from the Shinko area where the Triennale will be held, to BankART and ZAIM, will be held. Note: Depending on the day, some ateliers may not be open. Please look at the day's schedule posted on the bulletin board at the entrance to ZAIM. Every weekend from September 13th (Sat) to November 30th (Sun) Time: Fridays 18:00-21:00, Saturdays and Sundays 14:00-17:00

This is an exhibition of 108 works focusing mostly on previously unexhibited pieces, such as a 1988 work by Julian Schnabel (America, 1951-), who has in recent years won much attention for his work as a film director, drawings by John Cage (America, 1912-1992), and works by leading Japanese contemporary copperplate printmaking artist Tetsuro Komai (Japan, 1920-1976). Keith Haring's wall murals, which have covered signboards for more than 10 years now, will also be on display. In addition to these works, encounters with the artists will share with visitors the creative process and various hitherto unknown anecdotes behind the art - the "collection stories". Related events are also scheduled to be held. See website for details.

Both affordable and entertaining, magazines broadened the horizons of their readers and initiated cultural trends by providing the latest news and information about the world at large. In some cases, magazines even served as the driving force behind the times in which they were published. Magazines started gaining popularity in Japan in the Meiji Period, and during the subsequent years from the Taisho Period to the beginning of the Showa Period they came to be widely read by the populace. In 1927, King, published by Kodansha, became the first magazine in Japan to have a circulation of over one million. By that time, the habit of reading magazines had become an integral part of a contemporary lifestyle. The present exhibit introduces the various types of magazines that were popular in the subsequent periods following Japan's opening to the West, and demonstrates the process by which those magazines rapidly became a medium that supported the lifestyle of the general public. The exhibit also shows how magazine sales increased and new forms of expression developed--both reflections of the advances and developments taking place in the printing industry--by comparing those processes to the progress being made in the fields of publishing, printing, and distribution. Lectures -November 8th (Sat) 14:00-15:30 "Meiji Shinbun Zasshi Bunko" by Shinichi Kitaoka (professor of Tokyo University) -November 22nd (Sat) 14:00-15:30 "Meiji and Taisho: Females in the Magazines" by Mayumi Mori (artist)

The Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art celebrates its 30th anniversary this year on November 3rd. From July 21st through December 24th last year, the museum conducted a survey among visitors asking them to select their favorite work from the museum collection. Over 1000 answers were submitted, and the results of the survey, as well as visitor comments, are on display at this exhibition. Additionally, this exhibition looks back on 30 years of the museum's history through an exhibition of masterpieces from their collection. Also on view are video clips, newspaper articles and photographs from the time of the museum's opening. Please visit exhibition website for more details. [Image: Jean-François Millet "The Sower" (1850) Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art Collection]

March 21st, 2008 will mark the centenary of the birth of Kashiko Kawakita (1908-1993) who, together with her husband Nagamasa Kawakita, devoted her life to cinema by vigorously introducing foreign films to Japan while promoting Japanese films abroad. Dressed in a kimono, Kashiko Kawakita, known as "Madame Kawakita," traveled around the world attending various international film festivals acting as a bridge between the Japanese film industry and the world. One could call her a "Film Ambassador." She actively introduced foreign films to Japan and vise versa, and also worked on promoting the significance of specialized organizations which incubated the film industry and contributed to the establishment of the National Film Center and Kawakita Memorial Film Institute. With the support of the Kawakita Memorial Film Institute, this exhibition showcases photographs, posters, and various artifacts to retrospectively introduce Madame Kawakita's contribution to the Japanese film industry. This exhibition accompanies the screening series "Madame Kawakita: L’Ambassadrice cinématographique du film européen" presented at the NFC's theater.

Works from the museum's collection will be on display, with 5 different themes. 1. "From East of Europe": Focusing on 2 representative Russian painters from the 20th century, Wassily Kandinsky and Marc Chagall. 2. "Creative Printmaking -Youth with Media in Their Hands": 'Creative Printmaking' was one of the coterie magazines widely popular across Japan from the Taisho to Showa periods. In this exhibition, "Hosun" and "Katana", origins of the magazine, will be introduced. 3. "Art Nouveau Never Dies": Art Nouveau, the artistic style from the 19th century, has come into fashion throughout different periods in history. Exhibiting design works including Mucha's posters. 4. "Beyond the Horizon": Focusing on horizon depicted in paintings. On view are Magritte's "Big Family" and works by Japanese Surrealists. 5. "Drawing Human, Drawing Relationship": Exploring the portrayals of crowds seen in works by Japanese oil painters who are associated with Utsunomiya. Location: Exhibition Room 1 *Partial change in exhibited works takes place on October 7th (Tue).

The special exhibition for 2008 involves a compact selection of work from the world's largest art museum, the Louvre, which will be displayed at the Ghibli Museum under the theme "Little Louvre Museum". The Louvre is situated on the banks of the Seine river in Paris, and boasts over 800 years of history as one of the world's oldest museums, attracting over 7 million visitors annually. With its collection of more than 35,000 pieces, a tour of the Louvre offers a comprehensive survey to Western art. Producing animation work involves transforming the world contained within the work and its characters into a drawing or painting, which often takes as its initial inspiration the works of past painters. In addition to the actual creative process, therefore, a wide knowledge of "painting" is often indispensable background knowledge for creators. It also sharpens and enhances the sensibilities of the viewer when faced with a work of art. Unfortunately, the opportunities for encountering such paintings and sculptures are fairly rare in Japan. Museums are commonly the preserve of adults who take in works of art silently and reverently, and hardly a place for kids to be able to visit casually. With this in mind, this exhibition was organized in order to provide a space where anyone can get a sense for the history of the Louvre buildings, and especially where kids can encounter "high" art in a relaxed setting. The paintings introduced at this exhibition have had their dimensions shrunk to about 40%, to fit the size and stature of children. An overview of work displayed on one wall enables viewers to appreciate the changes in French painterly expression from the 16th century Renaissance style right through to the naturalism of the early 19th century. The Louvre was initially constructed as a fortress at the end of the 12th century and later turned first into a palace, and later a museum. Excavated remains of the fortress are even now available for viewing in the Louvre's basement exhibition rooms, but it is well to remember that the history of this edifice is hardly a glorious one - the Louvre having been destroyed and abandoned several times over the years. This exhibition introduces such a "light and darkness" of the Louvre's history with a sculptural piece. The Ghibli, on the other hand, was a space that was designed to include children, to have them look, discover, and feel their way around art. This "Little Louvre Museum" exhibition hopes to be able to bring something amazing or incredible for kids to take home with them.

Seiki Kuroda (1866-1924) left huge footprints in modern japanese art as a painter, pedagogue and art administrator. He helped revolutionize mid-Meiji period painting, and his influence reached far and wide throughout the literary-art world. 126 oil paintings, 170 dessins, sketchbooks and letters are on exhibit in the Memorial Hall.

The NMWA was established in 1959 around the core Matsukata Collection as Japan's museum specializing in Western art. The Main Building displays pre-18th century paintings, including those by Ritzos, Van Cleve, Veronese, Rubens, Van Ruysdael, and Ribera. The New Wing displays 19th to early 20th century French paintings, including works by Delacroix, Courbet, Manet, Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Moreau. The galleries also feature works by the next generation of artists, such as Marquet, Picasso, Soutin, Ernst, Miro, Dubuffet and Pollock. The NMWA drawing collection centers on works by such 18th to 19th century French artists as Boucher, Fragonard, Delacroix, Moreau, Rodin, and Cezanne. The prints collection features works by Durer, Holbein, Rembrandt, Callot, Piranesi, Goya, and Klinger, ranging from the 15th century through the early 20th century. The NMWA also houses some 58 sculptures by Auguste Rodin, including three works displayed in the museum's forecourt, the Thinker, the Gates of Hell, and the Burghers of Calais. Other pre and post Rodin sculptors featured in the collection include Carpeaux, Bourdelle and Maillol.

Niki de Saint Phalle, a French-American, was born in 1930. She kept challenging new materials, while pursuing a life-long theme of self-reflection and wish for freedom. The Niki Museum owns about 200 pieces of work by the artist. About 100 of them, centered around large sculptures, are on permanent exhibition.

"I Have Something to Show You" Exhibition Location: Exhibition Room 2 Contact: Koji Shimatani, Yasuhiro Hazama 090-6469-8508 10th Elegant Glass Work Motomachi Students Exhibition Location: Exhibition Room 3 Contact: Elegant Glass Work Motomachi 045-662-7686

Introducing the work of two female artists who observe people living in contemporary society, "form in the space between layers".

Voice of lines. "Kana" letters are unique to Japan, having been cultivated along with waka. Kana letters accompany feelings toward people, nature and things that are intangible. Traces of hand movements carry profound emotions beyond literal meanings of written words. To capture them as they are, the artist wrote ancient waka on papers, flipping them, and layering them one after another. Voice from olden times are delivered through delicate lines of kana letters.

This exhibition features valuable archive materials from when Helvetica was first developed, as well as company logos, posters, packaging, album covers and so on that employ the font. In addition, Helvetica products by Kazunari Hattori, Ito-san from Groovisions, Kodaira-san from Flame, Naomi Hirabayashi, Kikuchi-san from Bluemark, Madoka Iwabuchi and Dai Nippon Type will also be on display, tracing the history of this seminal font, its contributions to the field of graphic design, as well as its possible future incarnations. In addition, the "Helvetica" documentary due to be released for sale on October 24th (Fri) will be screened specially at the venue during the exhibition, and a talk event with typographers and designers will be held. A limited-period "Helvetica Shop" selling products related to the font will also be set up at the venue, the design of which was created by a landscape product designer.