Exhibition to be held at Shibuya PARCO celebrating the release of the first art collection by Kiriko Arai, creator of the popular characters "Ookami-kun" and "Nise Obake"!

PARCO Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter PARCO) will hold an exhibition "THEATRE" to commemorate the release of artist Kiriko Arai's first art collection "SOMEWHERE" (PARCO Publishing) from July 31, 2026 (Fri) to August 17, 2026 (Mon) at GALLERY X BY PARCO, B1F, Shibuya PARCO.

The exhibition "THEATRE" will feature new illustrations and valuable original drawings created for the art collection, as well as a wide variety of original merchandise including sofubi figures and plush toys.

The title of the exhibition, "THEATRE," likens the space where characters like "Ookami-kun" come to life to a theater, and the exhibition layout is designed to allow visitors to wander through the stories of "Ookami-kun" and his friends. The exhibition will present Kiriko Arai's worldview from multiple angles through flat artworks and merchandise.

Her first art collection, "SOMEWHERE" (PARCO Publishing), which will be released first at this exhibition, is a collection that condenses her unique worldview where cuteness and a sense of loneliness coexist. It includes numerous illustrations drawn since 2017, primarily featuring "Ookami-kun." The book contains content symbolizing her past and future, including a newly drawn story that delves into the roots of "Ookami-kun," visuals from past solo exhibitions depicted with detailed backgrounds, and three-dimensional works and merchandise.

[Kiriko Arai "THEATRE" Exhibition Overview]

● Dates: July 31, 2026 (Fri) - August 17, 2026 (Mon) (18 days)

● Venue: GALLERY X BY PARCO (Shibuya PARCO B1F, 15-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)

● Hours: 11:00 - 21:00 *Last admission 30 minutes before closing *Last day closes at 18:00

● Official Website: https://art.parco.jp/galleryx/detail/?id=1970

● Admission Fee: 500 yen (tax included) *Includes admission bonus *Free for preschoolers *Excludes various discounts

● Organizer/Planning & Production: PARCO

● Advance Ticket Information: Admission from July 31 (Fri) to August 2 (Sun) requires a pre-lottery ticket.

Application Period: July 11 (Sat) 12:00 - July 14 (Tue) 23:59 / Winner Announcement: July 16 (Thu)

Ticket Details: https://livepocket.jp/t/ovdva

● To commemorate the release of Kiriko Arai's art collection "SOMEWHERE," a signing event will be held.

• Date & Time: 1 August 8 (Sat) 14:00 - 16:00 2 August 11 (Tue, holiday) 14:00 - 16:00

• How to Participate: Scheduled to go on sale on a first-come, first-served basis via LivePocket starting July 18, 2026 (Sat)

Ticket Details: https://livepocket.jp/t/rht9_

Kiriko Arai Art Collection "SOMEWHERE"

[Book Information]

Title: Kiriko Arai Art Collection "SOMEWHERE" / Author: Kiriko Arai

Specifications: B5 variant size, softcover / Pages: 144 pages / Publisher: PARCO Co., Ltd.

Price: 3,850 yen (tax included) / ISBN: 978-4-86506-490-2

★Available for pre-sale at the venue of the release commemorative exhibition

Cover

Products Scheduled for Sale

This exhibition will feature many merchandise items, including products newly released in Japan to commemorate the exhibition, and VAG (random) in the exhibition's image color. *Images are for illustrative purposes. *Product designs and lineup are subject to change.

Ohanashi no Karera Plush Toy (Ookami-kun)

5,720 yen (tax included)

Ohanashi no Karera Mascot (Obake)

1,870 yen (tax included)

Ohanashi no Karera Skateboard

18,700 yen (tax included)

VAG Ookami-kun (Random 5 types)

500 yen each (tax included)

*Products may sell out without prior notice. Please understand this in advance.

Artist Profile

Kiriko Arai Freelance illustrator based in Tokyo. She creates original characters such as wolves, monsters, and ghosts, who are slightly mysterious and seem to be close by.

In addition to illustration production, centered around her representative work "Ookami-kun," she also develops merchandise such as sofubi figures, plush toys, and miscellaneous goods. While valuing "not too cute, not too scary," she continues to create characters that seem to have stepped out of a story.

She has illustrated for Pokémon Card "Ghost AR" and "Hakadog AR," provided package and card illustrations for Gentosha's "Word Wolf" and MAGI Co., Ltd.'s "Nya Nya Game," and created merchandise illustrations for ROCK IN JAPAN/COUNTDOWN JAPAN. "Ookami-kun and Friends Mejirushi Accessory" was released by Bandai Co., Ltd., and she will be in charge of the main visual for Taipei Adventure Festa in 2026. "Ookami-kun" will also appear in Medicom Toy's BE@RBRICK series.

She is expanding her activities by participating in domestic and international events and POPUPs, including a POPUP at Tsutaya Books in Taipei and a solo exhibition at QPOP in LA.