Japan Trip 2023 Exhibit Recap: Yayoi-Yumeji Museum in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo!

Wrapping up my Japan 2023 trip museum round up is the Yayoi-Yumeji Museum located in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo. Nestled back in a charming little neighborhood not too far from Ueno Park, this hidden gem features rotating exhibits showcasing various kawaii illustrators from the Taisho, Showa, and Heisei periods. Complementing these exhibits are carefully curated selections from the museum’s extensive permanent collections of works by Yumeji Takehisa and Kasho Takabatake. Really two museums combined into one, the Yayoi Museum and the Yumeji Museum, this is an essential Tokyo destination for any kawaii history fan!

Japan Trip 2023 Exhibit Recap – Rune Naito at Kobe Fashion Museum!

One of the highlights of my recent Japan trip was visiting the amazing retrospective on Rune Naito at the Kobe Fashion Museum, running from April 8, 2023, through June 25, 2023. This exhibit celebrating 70 years since his debut, offers a comprehensive look at Rune’s extensive career, starting from his magazine illustrations in the 1950s and spanning all the way to his oil paintings from the 2000s. It is truly a must-see for anyone interested in the history of kawaii.