Shueisha Manga Art Heritage Exhibits Art Prints by Kyoko Okazaki and Ito Jakuchu at Azabudai Hills (Tokyo)

In 2025, the "and flowers" exhibition held at Kyoto Amplitude will tour to Tokyo. This exhibition will feature collotype prints by Kyoko Okazaki and woodblock prints by Ito Jakuchu.

Exhibition view of Shueisha Manga Art Heritage Tokyo Gallery (Azabudai Hills, Tokyo)

Kyoko Okazaki (1963~) is one of the artists who greatly expanded the realm of manga.

For example, in the afterword of "pink," written in 1989, Okazaki wrote:

“This is a story of love and capitalism, and the daily life of a girl (like Zelda Fitzgerald?) who grew up in the boring city of Tokyo and 'ordinarily' broke down.”

Tokyo, Zelda Fitzgerald, love, capitalism... Just as we went to see Jean-Luc Godard's movies or to live houses to listen to new rock bands, we went to buy Kyoko Okazaki's manga and read it as a new experience.

Kyoko Okazaki "pink / Yumi-chan 2" (2025, ed.50, collotype print on washi paper)
Kyoko Okazaki "pink / Yumi-chan 1" (2025, ed.50, collotype print on washi paper)

In 1996, a traffic accident made it difficult for Okazaki to continue writing. These print works were produced by Shueisha Manga Art Heritage with Okazaki's consent.

Kyoko Okazaki "I am your toy" (2025, ed.50, collotype print on washi paper)

Kyoko Okazaki "Ephemeral Days" (2025, ed.50, collotype print on washi paper)

Four illustrations selected from "pink" (Magazine House, 1989), "I am your toy" (Shodensha, 1995), and "Ephemeral Days" (Takarajimasha, 2003) have been turned into works of art. They were printed at Benrido Collotype Studio (Kyoto) using handmade Echizen Washi paper produced by Iwano Heisaburo Seisakusho (Fukui). Collotype printing is a unique printing technique that uses a glass plate to express shades of color through gradations rather than halftone dots. It reproduces and fixes everything from rough pencil touches to delicate pen lines.

Kyoko Okazaki "pink / Yumi-chan 2" (detail)

These works will be exhibited alongside Ito Jakuchu's "Kakizu" (Flower Paintings).

Ito Jakuchu "Kakizu / Peony" (woodblock print) (detail)

Ito Jakuchu (1716-1800) was an eccentric painter active during the Edo period. He is known for "Juka Choju Zu Byobu" (Birds and Animals in Trees and Flowers) painted with the "Masume-gaki" (square-grid painting) technique and "Gunchi Zu" (Rooster and Hens) with its ultra-fine details. "Kakizu" is a general term for plants cultivated for ornamental purposes. The "Kakizu Tenjo-zu" (Flower Ceiling Paintings) was painted as a ceiling painting in the Kannon-do hall of Sekihoji Temple in Fukakusa, Kyoto, where Jakuchu lived in his later years, and is now located at Shingyoji Temple. Various flowers are depicted within a circular shape of about 33 cm.

Ito Jakuchu "Kakizu / Lotus Flower" (woodblock print)
Ito Jakuchu "Kakizu / Thistle" (woodblock print)

Ito Jakuchu "Kakizu / Peony" (woodblock print)
Ito Jakuchu "Kakizu / Sunflower" (woodblock print)

These paintings, drawn by Jakuchu when he was over 80 years old, were compiled into the colored woodblock print "Jakuchu Gafu" by Unsodo during the Meiji era. Using these original blocks, the works were produced with traditional Ukiyo-e techniques. At the request of Shueisha Manga Art Heritage, the background color was printed in vivid gold for this exhibition. Additionally, noting that the circular size is close to an LP record, the prints are housed in a mat board tailored with original Kyo-karakami (Kyoto patterned paper) inspired by the Masume-gaki technique.

Ito Jakuchu "Kakizu" / Bamboo craft frame in collaboration with Kyoto Amplitude

Kyoko Okazaki, born and raised in a barbershop in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, during Japan's post-war high growth period.
Ito Jakuchu, born and raised in a greengrocer's shop in Nishikikoji, Kyoto, during the mid-Edo period.

Monochrome girls breathing in square frames, and colorful flowers wriggling in round frames. Works from different eras and styles, separated by 200 years, are displayed side by side. Please enjoy what slowly permeates from between them.

Kyoko Okazaki x Ito Jakuchu

April 28, 2026 (Tuesday) - June 28, 2026 (Sunday)

Shueisha Manga Art Heritage Tokyo Gallery

Address: Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza A B1, 5-8-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0001

Access: Approximately 1 minute walk from Exit 5 of Kamiyacho Station on the Hibiya Line.

Opening hours: 11:00~20:00

Closing days: Please check the official website.

Kyoko Okazaki
Born: December 13, 1963 – Tokyo

Debuted in the June issue of "Manga Burikko" in 1983. Her works include "Virgin" (1985, Byakuya Shobo), "Boyfriend is Better" (1986, Hakusensha), "pink" (1989, Magazine House), "Tokyo Girls Bravo" (1993, JICC Publishing Bureau), "River's Edge" (1994, Takarajimasha), "I am your toy" (1995, Shodensha).