Exhibitions
A place where
you can revisit those days.
From the first solo exhibition in 1993 to shows at museums, art museums, department stores, and municipal events, Showa no Kodomotachi (Children of the Showa Era) doll exhibitions have been held at more than 100 venues across Japan.
At each venue, the children live inside dioramas. Look up, crouch down, peer in. Take your time, and see them from the eye level you had back then.
Now on View
Now on view
Showa no Kodomotachi: Selected Works
Hachioji City Museum, Soto no Mori
- Dates
- Oct 3, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027Six works are on display until October 25, and five works from then until January 31.
- Works on display
- “Buddha's Smile (Hotoke-warai)”, “Peeking Between the Legs (Matanozoki)”, “New Shoes (Atarashii Kutsu)”, “The Tricycle (Sanrinsha)”, “Crybaby (Nakimushi)”“Kamishibai Storyteller (Kamishibai)” is on display until October 25.
- Venue
- Hachioji City Museum, Soto no Mori3-26-1 Koyasu-machi, Hachioji, Tokyo / 10-minute walk from the South Exit of JR Hachioji Station
- Hours
- 10:00–18:00
- Closed
- Mondays, December 29–January 3, and other days
Opening hours and closing days follow the venue (Soto no Mori). Please check the venue's information before you visit.
If your municipality or facility is considering hosting an exhibition, please contact us. We also offer Showa Expo, an exhibition plan that pairs the dolls with local cultural properties and historical materials.
Selected Exhibitions
Fujieda City Museum of Local History and Literature2024.04–06 Fujieda, Shizuoka
A doll exhibition at the museum located in Rengeji Pond Park.
Tokinosumika Arena, Gotemba Kogen Tokinosumika2016.10–12 Gotemba, Shizuoka
A diorama of a beach was spread out in the gymnasium.
Tonami Art Museum2015.04–05 Tonami, Toyama
Held as a special exhibition of the Tonami Tulip Fair.
Hasshoku Center2013.02 Hachinohe, Aomori
This is the second exhibition in Hachinohe, following the one in 2006.
Fujinomiya Civic Cultural Hall2012.11 Fujinomiya, Shizuoka
A doll exhibition organized by Fujinomiya City.
Gymnasium of the former Nishi-Isozawa Elementary School2011.04–05 Minamiuonuma, Niigata
A doll exhibition commemorating the closure of the school.
Former F-Mart, Gobangai Shopping Street2010.10 Ono, Fukui
The doll exhibition of the Rediscovering Richness of the Heart Project in Ono City was held in a vacant store.
Nagoya Dome (now Vantelin Dome Nagoya)2009.04 Nagoya, Aichi
Doll exhibition at the Active Senior Fair 2009 in Nagoya Dome.
Edo-Tokyo Museum1999.12–2000 Sumida, Tokyo
A co-sponsored event of the Tokyo 2000 Festival, and the museum's first exhibition devoted to a living artist.
Case Studies
Here are some of the doll exhibitions we have held together with municipalities and other partners: the Rediscovering Richness of the Heart Project in Ono, Fukui; an exhibition marking a school closure in Minamiuonuma, Niigata; an exhibition in Hachioji commemorating the establishment of Showa Day; and a co-sponsored event of the “Tokyo 2000 Festival” at the Edo-Tokyo Museum.
Visitors' Voices
To me, it’s a dream world, yet I feel it’s the kind of world that could somehow lead Japan out of its turmoil.
Man in his 30s, Kashima, MinamisomaIt was like slipping back in time, and it brought back my own childhood. I’m nearly 80, yet thinking of my late mother, I can’t hold back my tears.
Woman, 79, MinamisomaThese are scenes from a time I never knew, so why did they feel so nostalgic? With all my heart, I wished I could have lived in those days.
Girl, 14, KochiI came during a break from caring for my mother, to see it for her as well… It reminded me how much she loved me when she was healthy. Today I’m going to talk with her a lot. Thankful to be your daughter… remembering this gentle feeling…
Woman, 50, KamiI was able to show my child something that words can’t explain. It made me want to raise my child this way: really looking each other in the eye, simply smiling, and connecting heart to heart.
Woman, 34, KochiThey’re alive. They’re talking. They weren’t dolls—they were people. I could hear their voices.
Man in his 20s, Minamisoma
Exhibition History
2020s5 exhibitions
| 2026.10–01 | Hachioji City Museum, Soto no Mori (partial display), Hachioji, Tokyo |
|---|---|
| 2024.04–06 | Fujieda City Museum of Local History and Literature, Fujieda, Shizuoka |
| 2023.04 | Soto Japan Heritage Center Hachioji Museum (Hachihaku), Hachioji, Tokyo |
| 2020.08 | AEON Mall Tsugaru Kashiwa, Aomori |
| 2020.11–01 | Nerima Shakujiikoen Furusato Museum, Nerima, Tokyo |
2010s17 exhibitions
| 2017.09 | Tenmaya Okayama Main Store, Okayama |
|---|---|
| 2016.10–12 | Tokinosumika Arena, Gotemba Kogen Tokinosumika, Gotemba, Shizuoka |
| 2015.04–05 | Tonami Art Museum (Tonami Tulip Fair Special Exhibition), Tonami, Toyama |
| 2015.08 | Fukuya Department Store (Hatchobori Main Store), Hiroshima |
| 2014.07–08 | Kami Museum of Art, Kami, Kochi |
| 2013.02 | Hasshoku Center, Hachinohe, Aomori |
| 2013.04–06 | Mizuno Museum of Art, Nagano |
| 2012.01 | Usui Department Store, Fukushima |
| 2012.09 | Nima Sand Museum (Iwatani Naoji and Showa no Kodomotachi), Oda, Shimane |
| 2012.11 | Fujinomiya Civic Cultural Hall, Fujinomiya, Shizuoka |
| 2011.03 | Hanshin Department Store Umeda Main Store, Osaka |
| 2011.04–05 | Gymnasium of the former Nishi-Isozawa Elementary School, Minamiuonuma, Niigata |
| 2011.07–08 | Susono Civic Cultural Center, Susono, Shizuoka |
| 2011.08 | Inoue Department Store, Matsumoto, Nagano |
| 2011.10 | Hokutopia, Kita, Tokyo |
| 2010.04–05 | Odakyu Department Store (Machida), Machida, Tokyo |
| 2010.10 | Former F-Mart, Gobangai Shopping Street, Ono, Fukui |
2000s47 exhibitions
| 2009.04 | Nagoya Dome (now Vantelin Dome Nagoya), Nagoya |
|---|---|
| 2009.04–05 | Hamada Children's Museum of Art, Hamada, Shimane |
| 2009.12–01 | Ichibata Department Store, Matsue, Shimane |
| 2008.04–05 | AEON Mall Tsugaru Kashiwa, Aomori |
| 2008.07–08 | The Museum of Art, Kochi, Kochi |
| 2008.10 | Meijokan, Minamisoma, Fukushima |
| 2007.03 | Hachioji Sogo (Hachioji City presents "Showa Day" Establishment Commemoration), Hachioji, Tokyo |
| 2007.05–06 | Toin Gakuen Memorial Academium, Yokohama |
| 2007.07–08 | AEON Mall, Kizugawa, Kyoto |
| 2007.07–08 | Yushu Kaikan (photo panels exhibition from Ono City), Ono, Fukui |
| 2007.08 | Moriguchi City Lifelong Learning Information Center, Moriguchi, Osaka |
| 2007.11 | Panjo Hall, Semboku New Town, Sakai, Osaka |
| 2006.07–08 | Tsukisamu Green Dome, Sapporo |
| 2006.09 | Hasshoku Center, Hachinohe, Aomori |
| 2006.12–01 | Okajima Department Store, Kofu, Yamanashi |
| 2005.07–08 | Hokkaido Touring Exhibition (Sapporo, Obihiro, Asahikawa, Hakodate) |
| 2005.10–11 | Hamada Children's Museum of Art, Hamada, Shimane |
| 2004.03 | Echigawa Town Library, Echigawa, Shiga |
| 2004.03–04 | AEON Mall Tsugaru Kashiwa, Aomori |
| 2004.08–09 | Twin Leaves Hotel Izumo, Izumo, Shimane |
| 2004.09 | Sun Terrace Shopping Center, Oki Islands, Shimane |
| 2004.10 | Ehime Townscape Expo 2004, Ozu, Ehime |
| 2004.12–01 | Yonago Takashimaya, Yonago, Tottori |
| 2003.04 | Tottori Prefectural Museum, Tottori |
| 2003.10 | ASTY 45, Sapporo |
| 2002.01 | Ichibata Department Store, Matsue, Shimane |
| 2002.01 | Takaragaike Prince Hotel, Kyoto |
| 2002.02 | Kobe Hankyu Department Store, Hankyu Museum, Kobe |
| 2001.01 | Nagano Tokyu Department Store, Nagano |
| 2001.01 | Kobe Hankyu Department Store, Hankyu Museum, Kobe |
| 2001.03 | ACOS Hall, Soka, Saitama |
| 2001.03 | Tokushima Sogo, Tokushima |
| 2001.04 | Takashimaya, Tachikawa, Tokyo |
| 2001.05 | Apita Toyama, Toyama |
| 2001.07 | Marui Imai, Sapporo |
| 2001.08 | Sakai Town Hall "Inesu", Sakai, Fukui |
| 2001.09 | Miyazaki Prefectural Museum of Nature and History, Miyazaki |
| 2001.11 | Tenmaya Hacchobori Store, Hiroshima |
| 2000.02 | The Chugoku Electric Power Co. Head Office, Hiroshima |
| 2000.03 | Denki Bunka Kaikan, Nagoya |
| 2000.05 | Grandmesse Kumamoto, Kamimashiki District, Kumamoto |
| 2000.08 | Iyotetsu Sogo, Matsuyama, Ehime |
| 2000.08 | Apita, Kanazawa, Ishikawa |
| 2000.09 | Marui Imai, Hakodate, Hokkaido |
| 2000.10 | Kinshicho Sogo, Sumida, Tokyo |
| 2000.11 | Ino-cho Paper Museum, Agawa District, Kochi |
| 2000.12 | Okajima Department Store, Kofu, Yamanashi |
1990s32 exhibitions
| 1999.03 | E BeanS, Sendai |
|---|---|
| 1999.04 | Tsushima Tenmaya, Okayama |
| 1999.04 | Rinyu Hall, Matsumoto, Nagano |
| 1999.05 | Isetan, Niigata |
| 1999.07 | Yamakataya Department Store, Kagoshima |
| 1999.07 | Isetan, Shizuoka |
| 1999.08 | Iwataya, Fukuoka |
| 1999.08 | Kawane Town Culture Hall, Haibara District, Shizuoka |
| 1999.09 | Darumaya Seibu, Fukui |
| 1999.12–02 | Edo-Tokyo Museum (co-sponsored event of the "Tokyo 2000 Festival"), Sumida, Tokyo |
| 1998.01 | Takashimaya, Kyoto |
| 1998.02 | Marui Imai, Sapporo |
| 1998.03 | Entetsu Department Store, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka |
| 1998.04 | Edo-Tokyo Museum, Sumida, Tokyo |
| 1998.07 | Tenmaya, Fukuyama, Hiroshima |
| 1998.08 | Maruhiro Department Store, Kawagoe, Saitama |
| 1998.09 | Aomori Vivre, Aomori |
| 1998.10 | Takashimaya, Gifu |
| 1998.10 | Fukushima Vivre, Fukushima |
| 1998.11 | Yokohama Sogo, Yokohama |
| 1998.11 | Kotoden Sogo, Takamatsu, Kagawa |
| 1998.12 | AEON Mall Akita, Akita |
| 1998.12 | Keio Plaza Hotel, Shinjuku, Tokyo |
| 1997.02 | Tenmaya, Okayama |
| 1997.04 | Kawatoku Department Store, Morioka, Iwate |
| 1997.07 | Tenmaya, Fukuyama, Hiroshima |
| 1997.10 | Green Plaza, Sendai |
| 1996.04 | Iwataya, Kurume, Fukuoka |
| 1996.10 | Konandai Takashimaya, Yokohama |
| 1995.05 | Namba Takashimaya "Exhibition of Women Who Shine Today", Osaka |
| 1995.08 | Hanshin Department Store (now Hanshin Umeda Main Store), Osaka |
| 1993.05 | Yomena no Hana Museum of Art (First Solo Exhibition), Nakano, Tokyo |
Contact
We would love
to hear from you.
Hosting an exhibition, a display lease for your facility, licensing the works, or stocking our photo books and postcards—one form covers every inquiry.