Kojima Productions 10th Anniversary Exhibition at Azabudai Hills Gallery from October 31, Debuting Prototype Footage and More

“KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS 10th ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION BEYOND THE STRAND: A Voyage of Creation and Challenge,” marking the 10th anniversary of Kojima Productions, founded by Hideo Kojima in December 2015, will be held from Saturday, October 31 to Sunday, December 20, 2026, at Azabudai Hills Gallery in Tokyo. Organized in three phases, it debuts footage from the earliest prototype version of “DEATH STRANDING” and props used in filming the new work “OD - KNOCK.”

Why now? Ten years expanding from games to film and anime

Kojima Productions is a creative studio founded by game creator Hideo Kojima under the banner “FROM SAPIENS TO LUDENS.” It released “DEATH STRANDING” for PlayStation 4 in November 2019, and in June 2025 released the PlayStation 5 version of the sequel, “DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH.” A PC version followed in March of the following year, and the series has surpassed 27 million users worldwide.

Its activities have also expanded beyond games. A live-action film adaptation with A24, the animated film project “DEATH STRANDING MOSQUITO” and the anime series “DEATH STRANDING ISOLATIONS,” scheduled to stream exclusively on Disney+ in 2027, are under way. New IPs include “OD,” in production with Xbox Game Studios, and the action spy game “PHYSINT.” Kojima received a BAFTA Fellowship in 2020 and the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Art Encouragement Prize (Media Arts) from the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 2022.

In an October 16 press release, the company called the exhibition “Kojima Productions’ largest-ever” display, revealing the behind-the-scenes of 10 years of production.

What can visitors see? Three phases and large-scale displays

FIRST PHASE: From the origins of creation to the birth of “DEATH STRANDING”

An essay Kojima wrote in high school on Kobo Abe’s “The Rope” is shown for the first time. Footage from the earliest prototype version of “DEATH STRANDING,” made at the concept stage, also debuts. Alongside scenes from the studio’s founding are original design drawings by art director Yoji Shinkawa, materials with the director’s handwritten corrections and props used in making trailers.

SECOND PHASE: The making of “DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH”

On display is the telepresence system “Mado” (Window), which Kojima used to direct performance capture in Los Angeles from Japan when overseas travel was difficult during the pandemic. During the exhibition, the venue and the studio’s office will be connected in real time throughout. Early ending ideas, footage of location scouting in various countries, footage of sound recording and a haptic experience linked to sound are also offered.

THIRD PHASE: The new work in development, “OD - KNOCK”

The “red door” that appeared in the promotional video is fully recreated. When the door is knocked, a card falls from the gap between the door and the wall, an effect visitors can experience just as in the video. Props used in filming also debut.

As large-scale displays, three statues made for the exhibition also debut. The release lists as their subjects Magellan Man from “DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH,” the animated film project “DEATH STRANDING MOSQUITO (Working Title)” and “OD - KNOCK.” At the center of the venue is an installation projecting 360° footage of “DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH” onto a large screen 6 m in diameter, and at the entrance stands a life-size “10th Anniversary Ludens” for commemorative photos. The number of exhibits has not been announced.

Tickets and prices: Preview tickets required until November 3

For the four days from October 31 to November 3, date-and-time-specified preview tickets are required. Prices (including tax) are ¥18,000 with a limited reissued merchandise set and ¥5,000 with a tote bag. From November 4 to December 20, entry is with a date-specified advance ticket for ¥2,600 or a same-day ticket for ¥2,800. Same-day tickets are sold from Wednesday, November 4, through Trip.com and at the door.

Tickets have been on sale since September 11 through Lawson Ticket, Klook and Trip.com. Exclusive to Lawson Ticket are advance tickets (¥57,600 each, limited to 300 each) that come with either a reproduction of Yoji Shinkawa’s original drawing “Ludens” bearing his autograph or the “Ludens” white collaboration watch with SEIKO. The venue’s special shop can be used only with an exhibition ticket.

Yoji Shinkawa’s solo exhibition, collaboration menus and access

From October 31 to November 3, art director Yoji Shinkawa’s solo exhibition “YOJI SHINKAWA Personal Works” is also held at DEN Library in Ohgaki Shoten Azabudai Hills. It shows personal works created from 2016 to 2026, with free admission. Collaboration menus are offered at Azabudai Hills’ gallery cafe, Parlour Yazawa and elsewhere.

Opening hours are 12:00–20:00 on weekdays and 10:00–20:00 on weekends and holidays, and 10:00–20:00 daily during the preview period (October 31 – November 3) (last entry 19:30 in all cases). On Wednesday, December 16, it closes at 17:00. The venue is on the MB floor of Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza A, directly connected to Exit 5 of Kamiyacho Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and a 7-minute walk from Exit 4 of Roppongi-itchome Station on the Namboku Line. Azabudai Hills is also home to teamLab Borderless.

Editor’s perspective

Many of the materials in this exhibition belong not to the screens of finished games but to the process of making them: a high school essay, prototype footage from the concept stage and the “Mado” that supported remote production during the pandemic, laying out 10 years alongside changes in the production environment. The attempt to keep the venue connected to the studio’s office throughout the exhibition links the show not merely to a look back but to the present, in which production continues. Among anniversary exhibitions for games, the FINAL FANTASY 40th Anniversary Exhibition at the Tokyo National Museum (from January 2027) is also planned.

Overview

Name: KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS 10th ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION BEYOND THE STRAND: A Voyage of Creation and Challenge (Kojima Productions 10th Anniversary Exhibition)
Dates: Saturday, October 31 – Sunday, December 20, 2026. Preview tickets required from October 31 to November 3
Hours: Weekdays 12:00–20:00; weekends and holidays 10:00–20:00. During the preview period (October 31 – November 3), 10:00–20:00 daily (last entry 19:30 in all cases). Closes at 17:00 on Wednesday, December 16 (last entry 16:30)
Closed: Open every day during the exhibition (planned)
Venue: Azabudai Hills Gallery
Address: MBF, Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza A, 5-8-1 Toranomon, Minato City, Tokyo
Admission: Advance ¥2,600, same day ¥2,800, preview tickets (with merchandise) ¥5,000 and ¥18,000, and others (tax included)
Organizer: BEYOND THE STRAND Production Committee
Sponsors: Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS Co., Ltd., Republic of Gamers, LEGS Co., Ltd., Lawson Entertainment, Inc.
Cooperation: Sony Marketing Inc., MUSVI Inc.
Copyright: © BEYOND THE STRAND Committee © KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS Co., Ltd.
Official website: https://beyondthestrand.kojimaproductions.jp/ja/
*Information as of October 20, 2026. Please check the official website for the latest information.

*Top image: The life-size 10th Anniversary Ludens statue created for the exhibition (from Kojima Productions Co., Ltd.’s press release)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on announcements by Kojima Productions Co., Ltd. (September 30 and October 16, 2026) and information on the official website.

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team