Sumikkogurashi has been named the official support character for the special exhibition "Nanto Butsuga — The Beauty of Nara's Tenpyo Era Revived," a joint project with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, to be held at the Nara National Museum from July 18 (Saturday) to September 13 (Sunday), 2026.
To celebrate this appointment, collaboration merchandise has also been announced. Goods featuring Sumikkogurashi alongside two masterpieces from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston — 釈迦霊鷲山説法図 (Hokkedo Konpon Mandara) and Shitenno-zo (Four Heavenly Kings) — will be sold at the venue.
The Pinnacle of Japanese Buddhist Art — The First-Ever Major Exhibition of "Nanto Butsuga"
This exhibition is an international co-production realized after approximately 20 years of planning between the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Nara National Museum. Buddhist paintings from Nanto (ancient Nara) held by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, will make a homecoming all at once, joining selected Buddhist paintings and sculptures from the Nara National Museum and other domestic collections to trace the history of "Nanto Butsuga" in the first initiative of its kind.
A further highlight is the revival, in high-definition color, of the Horyuji Kondo murals — damaged by fire in 1949 — using color data recorded on original glass photographic plates processed with the latest digital technology, to be publicly displayed for the first time inside an exhibition hall.
Joint Project with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: Special Exhibition "Nanto Butsuga — The Beauty of Nara's Tenpyo Era Revived"
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | July 18 (Saturday) – September 13 (Sunday), 2026 |
| Venue | Nara National Museum, East and West Wings |
| Official Website | https://nantobutsuga2026.exhibit.jp/ |
Collaboration Goods
Goods featuring Sumikkogurashi alongside the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston's masterpieces 釈迦霊鷲山説法図 and Shitenno-zo will be sold at the venue.
| Character | Design Theme |
|---|---|
| Shirokuma | Bishamonten (Vaisravana) style |
| Penguin? | Komokuten (Virupaksha) style |
| Tonkatsu | Jikokuten (Dhritarashtra) style |
| Neko | Zochoten (Virudhaka) style |
| Tokage | 釈迦霊鷲山説法図 style |
Images are for illustrative purposes only; actual products may differ.
Special Tickets Now on Sale
A special ticket set is also currently on sale, allowing visitors to get the complete set of all Sumikkogurashi acrylic stands.
At the special in-venue shop, the stands are sold individually in blind bags; with this special ticket, however, all types are guaranteed and the set is available at a better price.
"Sumikkogurashi Acrylic Stand Complete Set Ticket" (Limited to 300 sets)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | 6,300 yen (tax included) |
| Sale Ends | July 17, 2026 (Friday) |
The set may sell out before the sale end date.
Ticket information: https://nantobutsuga2026.exhibit.jp/tickets/
A special Sumikkogurashi photo spot will also be set up inside the venue.
About Sumikkogurashi
Born in 2012 under the concept "this is where I feel most at ease," Sumikkogurashi features characters with a slightly negative, surreal side beyond mere cuteness, earning fans across a wide range of audiences. The characters embody the feeling shared by many people in Japan — whether on a train or in a café, always gravitating toward the corner seat.
