Coming to Bologna, at the Museo Civico Archeologico, a major exhibition that aims to visually retrace the milestones of Japanese graphic design, in a journey from the Edo period (1603-1868) to contemporary expressions. Graphic Japan. From Hokusai to Manga, on view from Nov. 20, 2025 to April 6, 2026, is curated by Rossella Menegazzo with Eleonora Lanza, organized by MondoMostre in collaboration with the Bologna Civic Museums Sector Archaeological Museum, and produced under the patronage of the Emilia-Romagna Region and the support of the Consulate General of Japan in Milan. The exhibition is part of the cultural relations between Italy and Japan, consolidated on the occasion of the Osaka Expo 2025 that will end on October 13, and for which Rossella Menegazzo is Culture Manager of the Italian Pavilion.
The exhibition itinerary is divided into four thematic sections-Nature, Figures, Sign and Contemporary Japaneseism-through more than 200 works including woodcut prints, books, albums, posters, fabric masks(katagami) and high craft objects. A visual narrative that spans the arts and languages, from calligraphy to typography, from design to comics, through fashion, film and theater to the latest graphic trends. The title itself, Graphic Japan. From Hokusai to Manga, emphasizes the breadth of the narrative, which aims to highlight the evolution of strokes, techniques, materials and subjects, always balancing innovation and tradition.
The works on display come from prestigious public and private, Italian and Japanese institutions, including the Museum of Oriental Art “Edoardo Chiossone” in Genoa, the Museum of Oriental Art in Venice, civic and national libraries from Japanese collections including the Dai Nippon Foundation for Cultural Promotion and the Adachi Foundation.
Thanks to the collaboration with the “Untitled” association, a rich program will be offered including educational activities, guided tours, routes for schools and multimedia content designed for children, teens and adults.
The exhibition will also be at the center of a vast cultural program promoted by the Municipality of Bologna, in collaboration with the city’s main institutions. Events and insights dedicated to Japanese culture are planned, including art, music, cinema and theater. Among the partners already confirmed: the University of Bologna, the Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna and the Centro Studi d’Arte Estremo-Orientale.
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| An exhibition in Bologna will trace Japanese graphic art, from Hokusai to Manga |
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