Tetsuko Kuroyanagi’s Madogiwa no Totto-chan (Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window) became the first best-selling book after World War II. Known for Chihiro’s illustrations, the book has been loved not only by the Japanese but by people around the world ever since its first publication. 2021 marks the 5th anniversary of the opening of Totto-chan’s Square in Azumino Chihiro Park, and the 40th anniversary of the publication of Madogiwa no Totto-chan. This exhibition focuses on the universal appeal of this book that interweaves Chihiro’s illustrations with Totto-chan’s story.

Yukihiko Tajima (b. 1940) utilizes a technique known as stencil dyeing with a humorous and keen perspective to express his works. Presently in his 81st year, he vigorously continues to throw himself completely into the creation of his fascinating works of art. In this exhibit, we showcase original illustrations from his first picture book, Gion Matsuri (Gion Festival), the sidesplitting Jigoku no Sobee (Sobei in Hell), and Yanbaru no Shonen (The Boy of Yanbaru) a tale of children living in the modern society. A large installation will also be on display.

Running around a field or meeting mysterious creatures in the imaginary world… Childhood is full of play and unknown adventures. In this exhibit we showcase “Childhood” depicted in picture books by various artists around the world from Chihiro Art Museum Collection. If you find yourself resonating with a story from a country you may have never heard of, it may very well be because childhood is a universal experience. Let the exhibition take you back in time to your childhood!

Drawing children was a continued theme throughout Chihiro’s career. Frequently captured in her works are scenes of children at play. Play is said to have an important role in the development of children’s bodies and minds and enriches our daily lives. In this exhibit, we will present children and play drawn in picture books Tonari ni Kita Ko (Will You Be My Friend?), Akai Fusen (Red Balloon), picture magazines such as Asobi (Play)and child care books as well as illustrations for karuta (playing cards).

Suekichi Akaba (1910-1990) illustrated and authored numerous picture books that are still loved today such as Suho no Shiroi Uma (Suho’s White Horse) and Tsuru Nyobo (The Crane Wife). He was a gifted picture book artist with a natural talent for story interpretation, he was also a master of dramatical direction and had a profound knowledge of the climates and traditional cultures of Japan and China. With his refined approach to artistic expression, he was born to be a picture book artist. This exhibition focuses on the life and works of Akaba, who, amidst the hardships of history discovered picture books 15years after World WarⅡand opened new horizons in the […]

Every country in the world has its own unique natural landscape which nurtures and develops cultures distinct to its region. Many of the picture books created in these different places reflect their regional scenery. In this exhibit we present the Chihiro Art Museum collection with the theme of snow, the moon, wind and flowers, from the Japanese word Setsu Getsu Fu Ka that expresses the natural beauty of the four seasons. We hope you will enjoy the expression of snow, the moon, gentle wind, and flowers – universally loved themes as indicated by these picture books from around the world.

Seizo Tashima described his picture book Fukimanbuku (The Butterbur Sprout) as “a story of the soil as the source of life” and in this exhibition we showcase all of the original illustrations featured in this work. The story takes place in Hinode-Mura (now Hinode-Cho) in western Tokyo, where Tashima lived from 1969 to 1998. The area’s locals called butterbur sprouts “fukimanbuku,” which is what gave Tashima the idea for this picture book. In this exhibition we will present sketches the artist created for the book and introduce background information from the period, focusing on the power this work continues to wield nearly a half-century after its publication. Furthermore, the exhibit […]

Chihiro once said, “If I think it’s red, I paint it red. If I think it’s purple, I use purple. I’ll sometimes make the sky yellow and color water pink.” She would paint and draw freely, using colors that she sensed in her heart were appropriate as opposed to those she saw. In this exhibition we introduce the appeal of Chihiro’s artistic expression with a focus on her use of color, such as purple, which was one of her favorites, and black, which was a source of infinite colors.

The Chihiro Art Museum Collection includes numerous works depicting mysterious creatures. Artists, tapping into their imagination and through trial and error, create such beings that do not exist in the real world. Many surprises can be found in the appearance of these creatures in such aspects as their design, color, beauty and oddness. In this exhibit we present works of mysterious creatures that make appearances in picture books.

Chihiro Iwasaki was an artist who, throughout her life, never tired of creating illustrations of children. When she started working on children’s books, Japan was in the midst of high economic growth and the environment children found themselves in was changing rapidly. As people sought material abundance and a growing number of Japanese households shifted from three generations to two generations living together, she focused her attention on lively children in everyday life to convey their preciousness through her work. Chihiro’s wish for “peace and happiness for all the children of the world” sounds as earnest today as when she first expressed this aspiration. In this exhibit we revisit the […]

What is your impression of mice? They can be found the world over and have lived in the vicinity of humans since ancient times. Though scorned by many for stealing food and chewing on valuable property, they are adored by others as cute and friendly pets. Based on this relationship with humans, mice assume various forms in stories, from villains to messengers of the gods. In this exhibit we focus on mice, which represent the zodiac sign for the year 2020, along with hedgehogs, exploring how artists depict them in picture books.

Australian artist Shaun Tan (born 1974), known for his wordless monochrome graphic novel The Arrival, has fascinated people around the world with his unique worldview and expressiveness. This large-scale exhibition, the first to feature Tan’s work in Japan, highlights the appeal of his creative mind, showcasing about 120 examples of his work, including originals of such picture books as The Lost Thing and The Rules of Summer, as well as three-dimensional works and videos. Also on display will be a recreation of his studio, providing visitors a glimpse into the secrets of Tan’s creations, which lead to the mysterious and nostalgic nowhere lands he invents.

Although she lived an active life as a picture book artist, Chihiro also supported her household as a housewife. Despite her busy schedule, she enjoyed being stylish while also cooking and ensuring that her home was always comfortable for her family. Through Chihiro’s artwork and the way she lived, we will examine what it is to live a fulfilling life in today’s modern society.

Artist Yasuo Segawa (1932–2010) depicted the origins of life in all things in nature. He incorporated art from different times and regions and made use of his exceptional technical skills in the creation of his work. Starting in 1977, he dedicated himself to portraying plant life. Upon setting his sights on shapes created by nature as his subject matter, Segawa went on to create a unique world through his distinctive mode of expression comprising densely constructed forms of lines and dots. In this exhibit, in addition to original artwork and tableaux, we will display sketches of plants and materials used in the picture book production process as we explore what […]

2019 marks Japan’s 100th year of diplomatic relations with Poland, and more than 100 years of diplomatic relations with Finland. In celebration of these milestones, we will present works by Wilkon, Gaudasinska, Grabianski and Stasys of Poland, and Vuori, Taina and Kaila of Finland.

During her career, Chihiro illustrated numerous familiar classic fairy tales that have long been loved in Japan. In particular, she was strongly attracted to the stories of Hans Christian Andersen, stories that portray the beauty, the sadness and the reality of the human world, Chihiro repeatedly produced illustrations based these tales and, in the process, created a body of work that represents a significant portion of her lifework. In this exhibit we display illustrations from Andersen stories that are still read and enjoyed today. We will track the ingenuity that Chihiro employed to create these works based on beloved fairy tales that other artists have also embraced as inspiration for […]

Between Japan’s Taisho (1912–1926) and Showa (1926–1989) periods, numerous high-quality picture magazines for children were published, including Kodomo no Tomo (Children’s Companion), Akai Tori (Red Bird) and Kodomo no Kuni (Children’s Land). Supporting this golden age of art publications for children was a group of artists who went beyond simply making illustrations for children’s literature to create a unique artistic genre, called Doga (art for children). To this end, they established the Japan Doga Artists Association and competed with one another in producing artistic illustrations for children. In this exhibition we will introduce the artwork of these Japan Doga Artists Association members—Kiichi Okamoto, Shiro Kawakami, Yoshio Shimizu, Takeo Takei, Shigeru […]

Age-old folk tales, legends, and the fairy tales of Andersen and Grimm are still loved around the world after more than 100 years. Stories such as these have enthralled picture book artists in every corner of the globe. And even when these artists portray the same story, because each employs his or her own different technique and expressive style, they are able to produce works that are distinctively rich in character. In this exhibition we present the world of stories as depicted by artists from the Museum Collection and hope that you will enjoy revisiting these tales through the pictures that were created to tell them.

Chihiro, known as an artist of flowers and children, could always be found in the vicinity of flowers. She adored them and the bond she established with flowers supported her creativity. In this exhibit, divided into such chapters as “Chihiro’s Garden,” “Chihiro’s Atelier” and “Chihiro’s Kurohime Mountain Villa,” we present a variety of Chihiro’s work featuring flowers, exploring the affection she had for her floral companions.

Illustrations and picture books featuring trains by picture book artists attest to the appeal of railway transportation across time and countries. From realistic representations to the world of the fantastic, different artists employ different approaches to create expressive effects. In this exhibit we introduce works depicting a range of trains, from steam locomotives to subways. And don’t worry; we haven’t forgotten the train that is nearest to our museum: the train parked in Totto-chan Square.

Chihiro often expressed her love of adorable things. The small, charming creatures that appear in her artwork—the children and flowers, the dogs and cats, the small birds—all seem to radiate with vibrant life. In this exhibit we present the small and adorable beings that Chihiro so enjoyed depicting while exploring her sensibilities and creative approaches, the very heart and soul that she put into her work.

Tai Yasu (1903–1979) began producing artwork for the illustrated children’s magazine Kodomo no Kuni (Children’s Land) in the latter half of the 1920s and became a central figure among his colleagues, who came to be known as the second generation of children’s artists. After the war, he promptly dedicated himself to the revival of art for children and continued to produce illustrations of endearing animals rooted in realism for children’s books. In this exhibit we showcase numerous examples of Yasu’s picture book illustrations and artwork for children with a focus on his specialty of cats. Additionally, we will present assorted materials reflecting trends in the world of art for children […]

Cats have been a familiar presence to humans since ancient times. They also make frequent appearances in picture books and paintings. In this exhibit we showcase selected works from the Chihiro Art Museum Collection featuring cats, displaying depictions of felines through diverse techniques and design approaches. Featured artwork includes illustrations from Jozef Wilkon’s Mr. Brown’s Cat and Makoto Wada’s Shijimi the Cat.

Poet Shuntaro Tanikawa has been composing poems for over half a century, during which time he has mastered the ability to deftly convey the essence of the subjects he presents in his works. The vast collection of poetry he has composed to date seems infinite in its scope, incorporating all things in the universe. The children, the flowers, and the birds depicted in Chihiro Iwasaki’s artwork speak of the dearness and preciousness of small lives. In this exhibition we combine Tanikawa’s poetry and Chihiro’s illustrations, juxtaposing works that are completely different in nature to create an opportunity to hear the lives that dwell all around us and the sound of […]

While the children of today are really no different from the children at the time that Chihiro Iwasaki was creating illustrations of them, society and the environment in which children now grow up have undergone major changes. What if there was a room where children could feel safe and relaxed? What kind of room would it be? In this exhibition, Torafu Architects, an architectural firm active in such diverse fields such as architecture, interior design and furniture, incorporated ideas from Chihiro Iwasaki’s artwork to propose a room for children that offers visitors a chance to experience the world of Chihiro Iwasaki. Children’s Room / Torafu Architects » Detail Exhibition Series: […]

Ishiuchi Miyako continues to photograph selected relics of victims of the 1945 atomic bombing that are preserved in the Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima, particularly items that were in direct contact with the victims’ bodies. The dresses, shoes and blouses featured in the photographs, shot in natural light, almost appear as though they are floating, enabling viewers to almost sense the breath of life of those who wore them. Chihiro Iwasaki created three picture books based on the theme of war, the first of which was Watashi ga Chiisakatta Toki Ni (When I was a Child) (1967), which combined illustrations with poetry and essays written by children survivors of the […]

plaplax employs assorted media, such as video and space, to create interactive art focusing on children’s play. For this exhibition, the group gives form to an exhibit with a focus on the keyword “play” that explores new frontiers in picture book-making while enjoying Chihiro Iwasaki’s watercolor techniques and other innovative methods. Play / plaplax » Detail Exhibition Series: Life In 2018, Chihiro Art Museum (Tokyo, Azumino), in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Chihiro Iwasaki’s birth, will explore a new type of exhibition in collaboration with artists active in various fields, all of whom are engaged in activities that focus on the theme of “life.” These artists are all producing […]

Shinshu, known today as Nagano Prefecture, was Chihiro’s spiritual home. It was her parents’ hometown and where she was when the war ended. In this exhibition we will focus on Chihiro’s close relationship with Shinshu through works featuring the nature and natural features of Shinshu, including sketches of Matsukawa-village, Azumino and the Otari hot springs, as well as the picture book she created at a mountain villa in Kurohime plateau, presented along with various related reference materials.

Birds, animals that are very familiar to humans, have fascinated people from ancient times through their beautiful shapes and colors and have been featured in many works of art. Each and every depiction of a bird reveals something of the local characteristic of its region as well as the personality of the artist who created it. In this exhibition we will present a number of works featuring birds from the Chihiro Art Museum Collection. We hope that you will enjoy viewing these birds from around the world.

Ib Spang Olsen was a Danish illustrator and was recognized with the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award for illustration. In this exhibition we will show around 150 original pieces that were featured in a retrospective exhibit of Olsen’s work held last year in Copenhagen, including original artwork from such picture books as The Boy in the Moon and The Fairy Tales of Andersen, as well as posters and animated works.

Throughout her life, Chihiro Iwasaki never tired of creating illustrations of children. In this exhibition we will focus on Chihiro’s 55-year life and artistic career, presenting works that she produced for picture-story shows, textbooks, illustrated magazines, and picture books, along with reference materials and photographs. We hope you will enjoy this full view of Chihiro, who lived during the turbulent times spanning Japan’s Taisho (1912 – 1926) and Showa (1926 – 1989) periods, wished for the peace and happiness of children, and was active as an artist.

In the 1910s, several Japanese magazines for children, such as as Kodomo no Tomo (The Children’s Companion) and Akai Tori (Red Bird), were launched one after the other. Against the backdrop of the prosperity that arrived to Japan after World War I, a period known as the Taisho Democracy, highly artistic illustrated magazines and picture books emerged from the movement at the time promoting fairy tales, nursery songs and pictures for children. Following World War II, picture books enjoyed a resurgence thanks to the contributions of Chihiro Iwasaki and other unique artists. In this exhibition we will follow the progression of the uniquely rich expressiveness of Japanese picture books over the past 100 years.

Collage, an artistic technique in which various materials are pasted on a surface to create a composition, is one method of expression that is sometimes employed in picture books. Different artists make use of different materials. Eric Carle uses thin hand-colored paper, while Claudia Legnazzi uses various items, such as grains, leaves and packing materials. We hope that you will enjoy the varied artistic expressions made possible through collage’s interweaving of diverse textures.

Chihiro once said, “The charm of children’s arms and legs is infinite.” She would draw sketches of her son and other children daily and could depict a child in most any conceivable pose without the need for a model. In this exhibition we will explore how Chihiro was able to capture and express the dynamism of children.

In this exhibition we will showcase numerous works depicting children from the Chihiro Art Museum Collection based on the themes “The Hearts and Minds of Children,” “Children in Society,” and “Children’s Dreams.” We explore the various ways in which artists from regions with different histories and culture, nature and social conditions approach the portrayal of children.

Film director and screenwriter Isao Takahata, well versed in art and literature spanning all ages and cultures, has been active at the forefront of animation creation. He described Chihiro as “a rare artist who captures the dignity of children” and acknowledged deriving creative inspiration from her work. Through Takahata’s keen eye for beauty, this exhibition will allow guests to rediscover the appeal of Chihiro’s artwork, providing a means of experiencing the world of Chihiro’s illustrations in an all-new light.

“Residing in day-to-day life, Takeshi Motai’s aesthetic sense is paradoxically sublime. His artwork makes no distinctions between East and West; it is pure spirit.” So says Yoshitomo Nara, the artist behind this exhibition. We hope that you will enjoy viewing works that transcend time and touched Nara’s heart, including The Debris of Paris, Motai’s sketchbook from his journeys in Paris, and his illustrated tale The Picture Book of Dreams.

Among picture books we can find many titles that are based on the theme of travel. In this exhibition we will present a number of works from the Chihiro Art Museum Collection related to travel, including works conveying a longing for unknown lands and foreign countries, adventures to fantasy worlds, and encounters with scenery that stirs travelers’ emotions.

For details, please see the Museum “Eki” kyoto website. This exhibition will be held at Fukuoka from April 20 (Sat)～May 26 (Sun) 2019.

Children and flowers bathing in an abundance of bright light and revitalizing color…Chiro Iwasaki (1918~1974) was an artist and picture book artist who established the image of doga (pictures for children) and is still widely endeared by Japanese people. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of her birth, a retrospective exhibition will be held as a remembrance of Chihiro Iwasaki as an “artist.” A space to peer into the appeal of Chihiro’s original works will be developed. At the same time, an attempt will be made to analyze Chihiro Iwasaki’s elaborate techniques by examining the formation and exploratory periods of her sensitivity, the completion of her style and the process […]

Chihiro Iwasaki (1918-1974) was a female master painter and illustrator of Japan. In her youth, she began to learn sketching and oil painting. When she was eighteen, she began to learn calligraphy. The work I Can Do it All by Myself of 1956 was her first picture book. The Pretty Bird won the Graphic Prize Fiera di Bologna in 1971 while Children in the Flames of War won the bronze medal of the Leipzig International Book Fair in 1974. Chihiro passed away at the age of 55 in 1974. The year 2018 marks the centennial of Chihiro Iwasaki’s birth. To celebrate this occasion, we will present 100 pieces of her […]