New Program "Imaginary Creatures Wonder Festival" at Wonder Festival 2026 [Summer] — Over 250 Sculptures of Yokai, UMA, and Mythological Beings

A new special program called Imaginary Creatures Wonder Festival (空想いきものワンフェス) is coming to Wonder Festival 2026 [Summer] on July 26 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba. More than 150 dealers will present over 250 original sculptural works of imaginary creatures across a dedicated exhibition area in Hall 7, making it the second original special program from the sculptural festival.

Event Overview

• Date: July 26, 2026 (Sunday), 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Venue: Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall, Hall 7 (within Wonder Festival 2026 [Summer])

Admission to Imaginary Creatures Wonder Festival requires a Wonder Festival 2026 [Summer] entry ticket. The experience corner takes place in Hall 8 and carries a separate participation fee.

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Program 1: Imaginary Creature Exhibition Area — 150+ Dealers

Hall 7 will feature a dedicated exhibition area where over 150 dealers display original imaginary creature sculptures—surpassing the first edition's "Creatures Wonder Festival." Works are organized into five themed categories:

UMA (Unidentified Mysterious Animals)

Fantasy

Mythological Creatures

Yokai (Japanese supernatural entities)

Original

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Program 2: Special Exhibit by Four Professional Sculptors

Four professional sculptors with distinct styles will present special works at the event, offering a rare opportunity to view their pieces side by side.

Shinobu Matsumura

Born in 1962 in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Matsumura is a leading name in biological sculpture and illustration, with deep expertise spanning mammals, reptiles, insects, fish, and dinosaurs. He gained wide recognition through the 1999 Choco Egg "Japan Animal Collection" and has provided dinosaur restoration models to the American Museum of Natural History in New York. His portfolio includes original dragons and biological interpretations of characters such as Neon Genesis Evangelion's Unit-01. In 2024, he received the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award.

Gorou Furuta

Furuta is known for high-density detail and sculptures that balance biological believability with fantastical drama. His creatures—rooted in keen observation of skeletal and muscular structure—convey powerful motion despite being static works, and have drawn a loyal following among sculpture enthusiasts.

Tetsuro Akiyama

Active since the early 1980s, Akiyama is recognized as one of the pioneers of Japanese bishoujo (pretty girl) figure culture. In 1983 he founded the modeler circle "OFF (Original Figure Factory)" and has participated as a dealer since the very first Wonder Festival. He later moved into the gaming industry—co-developing the Tamagotchi—before returning to the hobby world as a creator and planner.

Kiyama

Kiyama creates animal sculptures under the name "gangubako," producing kit sales, painted finished pieces, and commercial prototypes. Beyond anatomical accuracy in fur, muscle, and bone, Kiyama captures fleeting gestures and expressions, lending a warmth and sense of life to sculptures spanning domestic animals to wildlife.

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Program 3: Imaginary Letter Corner

Visitors can write and send letters about the imaginary creatures they discover at the event — sharing a favorite find, impressions, or "field research results." Letters collected at the venue will be delivered to the respective dealers after the event.

Details on how to participate will be posted on the special event site closer to the date.

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Program 4: Photo Spots

Ice Sculpture Display

Fantastical ice sculptures themed around imaginary creatures will be on display at the venue. Live carving demonstrations by a sculptor are planned for certain time slots — a cool, seasonal highlight for the summer event.

Special Participation: Chiba City Zoological Park

Following its appearance at last year's Creatures Wonder Festival, Chiba City Zoological Park returns with exhibits offering a professional zoologist's take on imaginary creatures.

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Program 5: Experience Corner

A painting experience program themed around imaginary creatures will run in Hall 8. Details on the program content, capacity, and how to reserve a spot will be announced on the special event site in due course.

A separate fee applies in addition to the Wonder Festival entry ticket.

Official stage presentations and merchandise sales at the official goods shop are also planned as part of the event.

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A New Way to Enjoy Wonder Festival — Accessible to First-Timers

Wonder Festival is a hobby event centered on the display and sale of garage kits, but for many, purchasing figures outright can feel like a high bar. Imaginary Creatures Wonder Festival is exhibition-focused, making it easier for newcomers to simply browse and enjoy. Visitors who find a work that catches their eye can also visit the respective dealer's booth to speak with the creator directly and, if interested, purchase the piece.

The program welcomes fans of yokai, UMA, and fantasy worlds, as well as families and those new to sculpture or art.

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Advance Tickets Now on Sale

Attending Imaginary Creatures Wonder Festival requires a Wonder Festival 2026 [Summer] entry ticket. Advance tickets are available through 11:59 PM on July 25, 2026 (the eve of the event), and include discounted options such as an afternoon pass and a U22 (under-22) pass. Children in elementary school and below are admitted free when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult, across all ticket types.

Ticket details

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Other Special Exhibition at Wonder Festival 2026 [Summer]

Hiroshi Yokoyama Exhibition 2026 — Ma.K. Makuhari Meeting

Illustrator and modeler Hiroshi Yokoyama returns with a special exhibition centered on his signature Ma.K. (Maschinen Krieger) series — the first such exhibition in a decade since 2016. Garage kits, plastic model kits, and figures from manufacturers and fans will fill the venue, celebrating Yokoyama's 70th year.

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Wonder Festival 2026 [Summer] — Event Overview

• Date: July 26, 2026 (Sunday), 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Venue: Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall, Halls 1–8 (2-1 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 261-8550)

For the latest updates on Imaginary Creatures Wonder Festival, visit the special event site or follow the official X account @WF_officialinfo.