Nationwide

Who Was Toshusai Sharaku? The “Mystery Artist” Who Vanished After Ten Months: Major Actor Prints, Theories on His Identity, and Where to See Them

Toshusai Sharaku debuted suddenly in 1794 with 28 mica-ground okubi-e actor portraits and disappeared about ten months later. A guide to his four periods and major works, the theories about who he was, and where to see his prints.

Who Was Kitagawa Utamaro? The Life and Major Works of the Ukiyo-e Master of Beauties Behind “Three Beauties of the Kansei Era,” and Where to See Them

Kitagawa Utamaro won fame with okubi-e close-up portraits of women, working with the publisher Tsutaya Juzaburo. A guide to his life and major works, his clash with the shogunate’s censorship, and where to see his work, including the British Museum’s Edo painting exhibition.

Who Was Utagawa Hiroshige? The Life and Major Works of the Ukiyo-e Master of “The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido,” and Where to See Them

Utagawa Hiroshige won fame with “The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido,” and his “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” was copied by Van Gogh. A guide to his life and major works, the color known as “Hiroshige blue,” and where to see his prints, from the Tokyo National Museum’s Hiroshige exhibition to museums named after him.

Who Was Katsushika Hokusai? The Life and Major Works of the Ukiyo-e Master Behind “The Great Wave,” and Where to See Them

Known worldwide for “Under the Wave off Kanagawa,” Katsushika Hokusai kept painting until his death at 90. A guide to his life, his major works from “Hokusai Manga” and “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” to the paintings of his final years, and where to see them, including The Sumida Hokusai Museum and the Hokusai-kan Museum in Obuse.

Who Was Utagawa Kuniyoshi? Major Works of the Ukiyo-e Master of Warriors, Cats and Giant Skeletons, and Where to See Them

Utagawa Kuniyoshi won fame with his “Suikoden” warrior prints and still astonishes viewers with his cat caricatures and the giant skeleton of “Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre.” A guide to his life, major works, the wit that dodged the Tenpo Reforms, and where to encounter his prints and video installations.

What Is Japonisme? How Ukiyo-e Influenced Monet and Van Gogh, and Related Exhibitions to See in Japan Now

Japonisme was the craze for Japanese art in late-19th-century Europe. How did ukiyo-e influence Monet and Van Gogh? A guide to the key artists and works, and related exhibitions in Japan in 2026–2027.

Famous Japanese Yokai and Masterpieces of Yokai Art: The Night Parade Scrolls, Toriyama Sekien, Hokusai, Kuniyoshi, Yoshitoshi—and Museums to Meet Them

Kappa, tengu, oni, tsukumogami and rokurokubi: Japan’s yokai have been drawn from Muromachi-period picture scrolls to Edo-period yokai encyclopedias, ukiyo-e and manga. A guide to representative yokai, masterpieces of yokai art, and museums and exhibitions where you can meet them in person or on screen.

12 Famous Ukiyo-e Prints: From Hokusai’s “Great Wave” to Sharaku and Kuniyoshi—Highlights and Where to See Them

Hokusai’s “Under the Wave off Kanagawa,” Hiroshige’s “Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido,” Utamaro’s beauties, Sharaku’s actor portraits and Kuniyoshi’s giant skeleton: 12 ukiyo-e masterpieces, with notes on the artists, what to look for, and where to see them in person or as moving images.

Jobs and Team Structure in Projection Mapping: From Producers to Equipment and Installation, Plus HITOHATA, INC.’s Open Positions

Projection mapping and immersive exhibitions involve many roles, from producers and directors to video and 3DCG, equipment, electrical works, operations and publicity. Using the structure in the winner’s materials for a Tokyo pitch event, we outline the main roles and introduce HITOHATA, INC.’s open positions as of November 2026.

What Are Policy-Purpose Negotiated Contracts? How Japanese Local Governments Can Contract Startups Without Bidding, with a Projection Mapping Example

Japan’s Enforcement Order of the Local Autonomy Act lets local governments procure new products and services without bidding from businesses they certify. Tokyo builds this into its startup programs as “policy-purpose negotiated contracts.” We explain the system, its 191 contracts nationwide in MIC’s survey, and a projection mapping example.

Projection Mapping Glossary: 28 Terms from Lumens, Edge Blending and Media Servers to Outdoor Advertising Rules

A glossary of 28 terms that come up in articles, proposals and local government calls for projection mapping and immersive exhibitions, grouped into basics, equipment, production, and operations and regulations, from lumens and throw ratio to edge blending, media servers and flicker standards.

Projection Mapping to See at Christmas 2026 in Japan: Dates and Times for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Osaka City Central Public Hall, Yorunoyo, Hiroshima Castle and Matsumoto Castle

A guide to the projection mapping shows you can see in Japan over Christmas 2026 (December 24–25), with dates, times and admission: Santa Claus at Osaka City Central Public Hall, the daily TOKYO Night & Light at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Yorunoyo in Yokohama, the first-ever projection on Hiroshima Castle’s keep, and Matsumoto Castle.

What Is HITOHATA, INC.? Company Profile, Works and Awards of the Studio Behind the Ukiyoe Immersive Art Exhibition and Castle Projection Mapping

HITOHATA, INC. produces the Ukiyoe Immersive Art Exhibition, “City of Water: Edo Outer Moat” at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, and projection mapping at Tsurugajo and Hiroshima Castle. Based on the company’s official website, we sum up the profile, business, major works, awards and 2026–2027 schedule of this digital creative company founded in Nagoya in 2019.

How to Photograph Projection Mapping: Smartphone Video and Exposure Tips, Camera Settings, Tripods and Etiquette (Winter 2026–27)

Washed-out highlights and blur are the most common problems when photographing projection mapping. Here are tips for smartphones and cameras, the flash, tripod and burst-shooting etiquette announced by venues such as Tsuruga-jo Castle and Hiroshima Castle this winter, and the dates of events you can shoot.

Winter 2026–27: Projection Mapping at Tsuruga-jo Castle, Osaka City Central Public Hall and Hiroshima Castle, plus Ukiyo-e Immersive Art Exhibition GIFU — Dates, Hours and Admission at a Glance

From November 2026 to January 2027, castles and an Important Cultural Property in Aizuwakamatsu, Osaka and Hiroshima become canvases for projection mapping, while Gifu hosts an immersive ukiyo-e exhibition. Here are the dates, hours, admission and access for four events produced with HITOHATA, INC., with answers to frequently asked questions.

[2026] Free Museums on Culture Day: 10 Venues Including the National Museum of Western Art and Tokyo National Museum on November 3

We put together 10 national museums and other facilities in Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto and Osaka that offered free admission on Culture Day, Tuesday, November 3 (national holiday). In most cases only collection or permanent exhibitions were free, and special exhibitions remained charged, but the National Crafts Museum and the National Film Archive of Japan also made their special exhibitions free.

Architect Toyo Ito and Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto Among 2026 Order of Culture Recipients; Nihonga Painter Hiroshi Senju Named a Person of Cultural Merit

The recipients of the Order of Culture and the Persons of Cultural Merit for fiscal 2026 were announced on October 23. Architect Toyo Ito and Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of “Super Mario” and other games, will receive the Order of Culture, and Nihonga painter Hiroshi Senju was named a Person of Cultural Merit. The conferment ceremony will be held at the Imperial Palace on November 3.

13 Local Government Light Events and Projection Mapping Projects: Comparing Aims, Budgets and Visitor Numbers from Public Records

Using calls for proposals, financial statements and press releases for 13 cases, including those of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Osaka and Kagawa Prefecture, we sorted out the aims, budgets and visitor numbers of light events. Contract ceilings range from ¥9,500,000 to ¥265,000,000, and the way visitors are counted also differs from case to case.

How to Attract and Host a Touring Immersive Exhibition: Venue Requirements, Organizing Structures and Regional Case Studies

Touring immersive exhibitions that project images travel around Japan, organized by local broadcasters, newspapers and local governments, with production companies handling planning and production. From official announcements and public materials, we sorted out venue size and power, the division of organizing roles, and dates, prices and visitor numbers.