"Hijiribashi Exhibition 2026" to be Held, an Event to Enjoy Cultural Resources from Multiple Perspectives in Ochanomizu

The "Hijiribashi Exhibition 2026," organized by the Tokyo Cultural Resources Conference (Chair: Shunji Yoshimi), will be held on July 20, 2026 (Monday, holiday) at Ochanomizu Sola City Conference Center.

The Hijiribashi Exhibition offers a wide range of events, including exhibitions, seminars, and symposiums, related to various initiatives concerning cultural resources. It is an exhibition where visitors can enjoy cultural resources for a whole day through play, learning, experience, and observation.

https://tcha.jp/hijiribashi-exhibition2026/

Hijiribashi Exhibition 2026 at Sola City Conference Center

Project Overview

Hijiribashi Exhibition 2026 at Sola City Conference Center Date & Time: July 20, 2026 (Monday, holiday) 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Location: Ochanomizu Sola City Conference Center (4-6 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) Admission: Free *Some programs may require advance reservation. Free entry and exit on the day (some programs require advance reservation).

Organizer: Tokyo Cultural Resources Conference Co-organizer: Sola City Conference Center Sponsor: Jimbocho Culture Promotion Council

Project Contents

On the day, from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, there will be project exhibitions, seminars, symposiums, and more. Please feel free to enter and participate in any events that interest you, without prior registration (some events require prior registration). (Except for exhibitions and meals, all events open 30 minutes before the start time.)

Day's Program

Scenes from Hijiribashi Exhibition 2025

Room A

A1: Series "Rethinking Reading" Part 1: "Reading and Self-Transformation" (Discussion) 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

While there is no shortage of grim news surrounding books, such as declining sales of books and magazines, the increasing closure of bookstores, and the precariousness of distribution, there are also many bright spots, such as the proliferation of zine production, especially among young people, the emergence of new types of bookstores, and the popularity of reading groups. Furthermore, the spread and development of AI are providing a crucial opportunity to re-examine whether humans have always read books solely for knowledge acquisition, or if there is a more fundamental meaning different from AI learning.

Therefore, this series, with the ultimate theme "Can AI Read Books!?", will consist of five parts, shedding light on various aspects of reading and exploring new theories of reading. This first session will focus on "Reading and Self-Transformation."

Takahiro Nakajima (Professor, The University of Tokyo): Facilitator

Participants: Approximately 5 experts (including Yoshiyuki Taka-shita, Visiting Professor, Tokyo University of the Arts; Kanta Yajima, Associate Professor, Nihon University; Father Yuichi Powell Nakanishi, Japanese Orthodox Church, etc.), and approximately 10 general participants recruited by public application (advance registration required, please apply via Peatix below), for a total of about 15 people.

Cooperation: Yushima Kanda Ueno Shrine and Temple Research Group

Advance Registration: https://rethinking-reading-260720.peatix.com/

A2: New Discoveries in Jimbocho - Towards an Even More Interesting Town (Panel Discussion) 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

At last year's Hijiribashi Exhibition 2025, under the title "Jimbocho Girls' Gathering - Towards an Even More Interesting Town," we invited three ambitious and energetic women who are working to create a new cultural exchange base in Jimbocho through books and food, and they spoke about the future of Jimbocho. This year, we will again invite individuals who are creating new trends in Jimbocho, which is likely one of the reasons why Jimbocho was ranked first in Time Out magazine's cool cities ranking, while inheriting the tradition of the book town, to freely discuss their future initiatives.

Panelists

- Rui Izumiyama (Associate Professor, Nihon University)

- Kotaro Okada (Representative Director, General Incorporated Association Decylo)

- Airi Takahashi (Manager, Shi YON Gallery)

- Misato Hara (Manager, At Wander JG)

- Hiroyuki Fushiya (Representative, Time Out Tokyo): Moderator

Advance Registration: https://jimbocho-260720.peatix.com/

Panelist Profiles

Rui Izumiyama Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, College of Science and Technology, Nihon University; Co-representative Director, Sotnova. As an urban tactician, he engages in practices related to public spaces, area management, and walkable cities, moving between theory and the field of urban management. He made Jimbocho the theme of his graduation thesis during his university days at Nihon University, which is located in the neighboring town of Ochanomizu, and also participated in the 2006 urban regeneration project "Inter-University Kanda." Currently, as an expert from a local university, he is involved in the "Jimbocho Redesign Council."

Kotaro Okada Born in Tokyo in 1994. As the representative director of the General Incorporated Association Decylo, he is engaged in activities that connect knowledge in the humanities and social sciences to corporate innovation and the proposal of new social systems. In February 2026, he will open "Unknown Unknown," an incubation hub for knowledge and culture, consisting of an event space, gallery, bar, and library, in Jimbocho. He likes music and frequented Jimbocho Janis since high school.

Airi Takahashi Manages the gallery at "Shi-YON," a complex cultural facility in Jimbocho. She is involved in exhibition management, artist relations, event planning, and public relations. While encountering various works and expressions, her interest never wanes, and she enrolled in the Kyoto University of Art and Design's distance learning program last year to learn more. She likes art and alcohol.

Misato Hara Manager of At Wander JG. Joined the used bookstore At Wander as a part-time employee in 2014. Since 2023, she has been working at the new store "At Wander JG," which opened in the same year on the site of the former pachinko parlor Jinsei Gekijo. As a used bookstore, she is busy with the management of a store with a large area handling used books in various fields and various goods (sometimes including buying trips). Since her student days when she moved to Tokyo from the countryside, she has visited Jimbocho, which is close to her university, and has been stimulated in various cultural aspects by the bookstores and the now-defunct rental CD stores.

Hiroyuki Fushiya Representative Director, ORIGINAL Inc. Representative, Time Out Tokyo. Representative Director, Japan Association for Promotion of International Tourism. Director, General Incorporated Association Meta Tourism Promotion Organization. Director, General Incorporated Association International Cultural City Development Organization. Born in Shimane Prefecture. Graduated from Kansai Gaidai University. Joined Tower Records Inc. during university. Became Representative Director and President in 2005. Established Napster Japan Inc. in the same year and concurrently served as its Representative Director. After serving as Senior Advisor for Tower Records, he established ORIGINAL Inc. in 2007 and became its Representative Director. Launched Time Out Tokyo in 2009. He has served as a member of the Advisory Board for the Japan Tourism Agency, a member of the Cultural Policy Subcommittee of the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Cultural Council, and as a specialist committee member for various government ministries including the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. A3: The Charm of Ephemera! Enriching Used Book Culture (Trio Talk) 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

This year, we will again hold our traditional used book talk at the Hijiribashi Exhibition. This year's theme is "ephemera" – materials such as flyers, tickets, letters, and bookmarks, which, in contrast to the grand and permanent bindings of old books, have recently attracted the attention of collectors precisely because of their temporary and short-lived nature. Contributors to the journal "Modern Publishing Research" No. 5, which recently featured ephemera, and owners of used bookstores that have handled them for a long time, will participate to enjoy ephemeral moments.

Panelists

- Masaki Kobayashi (Director, Modern Publishing Research Institute)

- Masasa Sato (Owner, Old Book Store Hizukido)

- Susan Taylor (Jimbocho Researcher)

Advance Registration: https://ephemera-jimbocho-260720.peatix.com/

Room B

B1: 2nd Jimbocho Zine Fair 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

30 booths in total

Participation Fee: Free

For details, please visit the special website below.

https://jimbocho.site/zinefair2026/

Exhibitor information will be updated regularly on Instagram.

Room C

C1: Consecutive Reading Session (Organized by the Organization for Promoting Literature and Typography) 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Following the previous event, 10 pairs of 11 graduates from Motoyo Yamane's reading instructor training course will read works by authors associated with Jimbocho.

From Meiji-era literary masters such as Ichiyo Higuchi's "Thirteen Nights" and "New Year's Eve," and Natsume Soseki's "I Am a Cat" and "Botchan," known for their unique writing styles.

To popular contemporary works such as Yoshiki Kadota's "The Book with No Price" and Mika Harada's "Used Bookstore Cafeteria."

Please enjoy a time of "enjoying masterpieces by ear."

Advance registration required: https://www.mojikatsuji.or.jp/news/2026/06/08/10988/

C2: Cool Town: Embodiment of Jimbocho's Charm - Architectural Student Design Presentations 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

This year, we will again hold the traditional presentation by students from nearby universities at the Hijiribashi Exhibition. Students will propose future visions of the Jimbocho area through oral presentations and models, offering their fresh perspectives.

Exhibition: Corridor space between Room A and Room B (10:00 AM - 1:00 PM)

Moderator: Katsuya Uozaki (Professor, Nihon University)

C3: "Evening Cool Reading Session: "The Snow Woman of Midsummer - The World of Lafcadio Hearn's Ghost Stories" 4:15 PM - 6:00 PM

Lafcadio Hearn's ghost stories, which were also very popular in the NHK morning drama "Babake," will be read. This reading session, as part of the Hijiribashi Exhibition events, aims to allow participants to experience the charm of reading firsthand by having graduates of our organization's reading instructor training course read Hearn's ghost stories such as "The Snow Woman," "Hōichi the Earless," and "The Story of the Futon in Tottori," while also enjoying it as a midsummer evening cool-down event in Jimbocho.

Organizer: The Foundation for the Promotion of Literature and Typography Target Audience: Those interested in Lafcadio Hearn, reading, picture books, etc.

<Performers>

Moderation and Reading - Emi Fukushima (Freelance Announcer, former Head of Announcer Department, RKK Kumamoto Broadcasting; 8th term graduate of Motoyo Yamane's Reading Instructor Training Course. She often reads Lafcadio Hearn's stories related to Kumamoto.) - Keiko Hashimoto (Representative, Kotonoha Square; former Head of Announcer Department, Shizuoka First Television. Instructor of speaking and reading/creator of reading tourism. 1st term graduate of the instructor training course. Shizuoka/Yaizu was a place Lafcadio Hearn often visited for summer retreats.)

<Program Content>

- Readings by graduates of the Reading Instructor Training Course (scheduled for 4-6 stories) Planned readings include "The Snow Woman" and "The Story of the Futon in Tottori."

Advance registration required: https://www.mojikatsuji.or.jp/news/2026/06/30/11147/

Terrace Room

T1: The Future of Academic Content and Specialized Publishers: Part 2 (Publishing Distribution Seminar, 3rd Session) 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

This roundtable aims to deepen the discussion from the second Publishing Distribution Seminar held on December 1, 2025 (last year), titled "The Future of Academic Content and Specialized Publishers," by re-examining the challenges arising from the rapid advancement of digitalization and distribution of specialized book content, and discussing directions for solutions. This will be the third session in the Publishing Distribution Seminar series.

Panelists

- Kazuki Omagari (Associate Professor, The University of Tokyo)

- Naoto Ubugai (Professor, Hitotsubashi University)

- Yachio Uemura (Senior Fellow, Institute of Social Science, Senshu University): Moderator

- Teiji Egusa (President, Yuhikaku Publishing)

- Shohei Komatsu (Project Researcher, The University of Tokyo)

- Kyoko Shibano (Professor, Sophia University)

- Masahiko Kotosu (Lawyer)

- Yoichiro Nagao (General Manager, IT Strategy Planning Office, Technology Lab, Kodansha Ltd.)

- Chifumi Nishioka (Associate Professor, Kyoto University)

- Kazuhiro Hayashi (Senior Fellow, National Institute of Science and Technology Policy, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)

- Toshihide Maeda (President, Sanshusha Publishing)

- Mami Matsuda (Chairperson, Japan Association of Electronic Publishing)

- Kohei Maruyama (Professor, Research Strategy Center, Waseda University)

- Takeshi Yoshizawa (Associate Professor, Center for the Study of University, Waseda University)

Advance Registration: https://jimbocho-publishing-260720.peatix.com/

T2: The Day the Town Becomes Manga 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

"What if the town we walk in became a world of manga and anime?" The evolution of information and communication technology is enabling our beloved content, such as anime, manga, and games, to leap out of displays and into the real world. This session is a forum where speakers and attendees will discuss together the future vision of how this collaboration between technology and content can transform the landscapes and economies of various regions across Japan. This session will focus on "Akihabara," which has a unique history of intersection between technology and pop culture, and explore ways to content-ize urban spaces while unraveling the town's potential.

Panelists

- Masahiko Shoji (Professor, Musashi University)

- Yuichiro Yoshioka (Akiba.TV Inc.)

- Yu Endo (Visiting Professor, ZEN University / Kadokawa ASCII Research Laboratories, Inc.)

Advance Registration: https://akihabara-hijiribashi-260720.peatix.com/

T3: The Future Book Town: Creating the Jimbocho of Tomorrow 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

This roundtable aims to foster a free discussion among those who will lead the next generation of Jimbocho, focusing on the factors that support its charm and the challenges that need to be addressed for its further development. Jimbocho has been gaining increasing attention in recent years, as symbolized by its selection as the No. 1 coolest town in the world by the international guidebook "Time Out" last year.

Panelists

- Toyoshige Inada (Writer, Editor)

- Yoshiko Imamoto (President, Book House Cafe)

- Yachio Uemura (Senior Fellow, Institute of Social Science, Senshu University)

- Teiji Egusa (President, Yuhikaku Publishing)

- Seungbok Kim (President, QUON)

- Hitoshi Sawabe (Representative, Pothos Publishing)

- Hajime Takayama (President, Takayama Honten)

- Ryuro Yui (President, ALL REVIEWS)

- Shunji Yoshimi (Chairperson, Tokyo Cultural Resources Conference; Professor, Kokugakuin University): Moderator

Advance Registration: https://jimbocho-future-260720.peatix.com/

Entrance Hall

E1: Towards the Revival of Hōmeikan (Exhibition)

E2: The Future of Hotel de Yama (Exhibition)