Monster Museum: An Introduction to Western Painting with Illustrations and Manga

We have released 『Monster Museum: An Introduction to Western Painting with Illustrations and Manga』 (Author: Mihoko Sugimata) on April 1, 2026.

This book explains Western paintings that depict monsters such as dragons and Medusa, as seen in games and manga, and also uses manga to narrate the stories of these monsters.

Explanation by annotating directly onto the paintings

Along with introductions to the monsters and surrounding characters that served as motifs, the depicted elements are explained as if written directly onto the painting. This makes it visually easy to understand and a book that children who find Western art difficult can easily relate to.

Deeper Learning through Manga and Columns!

The stories related to the monsters are explained through manga. You can learn the background stories of the paintings while enjoying them. Furthermore, with ample space for artist explanations and columns, you will gain solid knowledge to enjoy Western art even more.

About the Author

**Mihoko Sugimata (すぎまた・みほこ)**

Graduated from the Painting Department, Western Painting Major at Joshibi University of Art and Design. After working for advertising production companies as a graphic designer, she studied in Italy for seven years and graduated from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze. Her books include the "Art Read Through Illustrations" series (『Masters of the Renaissance』, 『Leonardo da Vinci』, 『Impressionist Painters』, 『Surrealist Painters』, 『Gods of Greek Mythology』, 『Stories and Paintings from the Old Testament』, 『Stories and Paintings from the New Testament』, 『Stories and Paintings of European Royal Families』 / all published by Kawade Shobo Shinsha).

Bibliographic Information

Title: 『Monster Museum: An Introduction to Western Painting with Illustrations and Manga』 Author: Mihoko Sugimata Price: 2970 yen (tax included) Release Date: 2026/04/01 ISBN: 978-4-06-542022-5 Publisher: Kodansha