If you're visiting Japan in early 2026 and want a deeper look at one of the country's most recognizable cultural figures, Nagoya has a standout exhibition worth adding to your itinerary. The Takashi Yanase Exhibition: Life is a Game of Joy opens on February 6th at the Matsuzakaya Museum of Art, and marks the first large-scale traveling exhibition dedicated to the creator of Anpanman.
Even visitors who did not grow up in Japan are likely to recognize Anpanman from trains, convenience stores, playgrounds, and television. This exhibition looks beyond the famous character to introduce Takashi Yanase as a multi-talented creative who worked as a manga artist, poet, picture book author, lyricist, and designer. At the heart of his work was a simple belief: life is about making others happy.
Approximately 200 original works are on display, tracing Yanase's creative journey from early manga and poetry through to picture books and the birth of Anpanman. The exhibition also explores how his wartime experiences shaped his idea of heroism, eventually leading to a character who helps others by literally giving part of himself away.
Highlights include original picture book illustrations, early Anpanman artwork, and a Nagoya-exclusive interview video that has never been aired. A special exhibition shop selling venue-only merchandise makes the visit even more memorable.
