The Toshima Ward Tokiwaso Manga Museum is hosting the "National Treasures and Onomatopoeia Exhibition - Tokiwaso MM Collection Project vol.4" starting April 21, 2026.
The exhibition focuses on onomatopoeia — the expressive sound and mimetic words that are a key feature of manga storytelling. In a first-of-its-kind experiment, manga-style onomatopoeia is layered onto reproductions of famous national treasure artworks such as "Choju-jinbutsu-giga" (Animal Scrolls) and "Shigisan-engi Emaki" (Legends of Mount Shigi), which were originally created without any sound depictions.
Highlights
A New Experience of National Treasures × Onomatopoeia
Manga-style sound effects are applied to picture scrolls and other national treasure reproductions that contain no sounds. Visitors are invited to consider what sounds fit each scene, and how those sounds differ from computer-generated text. The exhibition offers a hands-on exploration of how onomatopoeia can complement artwork and expand its expressive range.
Comparison of Sound Expression by Tokiwaso-Affiliated Artists
Onomatopoeia from original artworks by Nagata Takemaru, Yokota Tokuo, and Moriyasu Naoya — all held in the museum's collection — are extracted and displayed. This section highlights how the same sound can be expressed differently depending on the artist.
Exhibition Details
Exhibition Name: National Treasures and Onomatopoeia Exhibition – Tokiwaso MM Collection Project vol.4
Dates: April 21, 2026 (Tuesday) – End of September (scheduled)
Venue: Toshima Ward Tokiwaso Manga Museum, 2nd floor Room 14 and 1st floor hallway
Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Last entry: 5:30 PM)
Closed: Mondays (if a public holiday, closed the following weekday)
Admission: Adults ¥500 / Elementary and middle school students ¥100
(Free for preschoolers, visitors presenting a disability certificate, and one accompanying caregiver)
This admission fee covers full access to all areas of the Tokiwaso Manga Museum.
Gallery talks are scheduled during the exhibition period. Please check the museum's official website for details.
Related and Concurrent Programs
Digital Archive of "Manga Shonen"
The magazine "Manga Shonen," published in 101 issues from 1948 to 1955, will be accessible on a tablet display. In April, the April and May 1950 issues are scheduled for public viewing.
Concurrent Exhibition: "Birth of the King of Gag Manga: Akatsuka Fujio Exhibition" is running simultaneously in the 1st floor exhibition room.
