Arty Sunday: Japan - Kingdom of Characters

Come face to face with Ultraman and Rei from Evangelion , Pikachu and Hello Kitty - a must for all who want to meet their favorite heroes from Japan's popular culture ! Ten years after the museum's renowned manga exhibition presents a new exhibition about the figures loved by generations. Every decade has their favorite and we tell of a world formed from the 1950s to the 2000s.

In our time, a subculture associated with Japanese animation, anime, and stories in serial form , manga, attracted interest worldwide. To draw attention to this phenomenon has Japan Foundation created this traveling exhibition titled " JAPAN : Kingdom of Characters ", which examines the characters - the animated figures - as an important part of this subculture .

These characters have become part of everyday life in Japan. They are used by children and adults in private and public environments. You can find the figures printed on such passbooks and train shuttles cards. Mascots in local police cures shows how the figures are visible in the daily life in a way that would be unthinkable in most countries.

What is a figure? Why are they so popular ? What kind of society reflects the stories and the impact they have on Japanese society ? And finally : where are the Japanese culture going?

In this exhibition , where we depict the close relationship between these figures and the Japanese people , we hope that visitors will increase their understanding of the cultural and historical background , and the characters' future in contemporary Japan .

Since Japan Foundation was founded in 1972 it has worked to promote dialogue and increased international understanding through cultural and intellectual exchanges . This is done through artistic and cultural exchange , knowledge support for Japanese language students around the world and research on Japan .

More information here: http://www.varldskulturmuseerna.se/ostasiatiskamuseet/utstallningar/aktuella-utstallningar/manga-japan-kingdom-of-characters/