Monthly Display Lease
Each month brings another nostalgic scene from the Showa era.
The handmade Japanese dolls of Showa no Kodomotachi (Children of the Showa Era) have been enjoyed by visitors to exhibitions all over Japan. Now we bring them to facilities and companies, with a new work every month.
Many of those who came to see the works at exhibitions over the years are now older, and more and more of them spend their days in care facilities. From now on, we will bring Showa no Kodomotachi to them.
We hope these dolls, which portray everyday life in the Showa era, will support reminiscence therapy and spark conversation among residents and with their families. The work changes every month, so there is always something new to discover.
Each doll is a one-of-a-kind piece handmade by doll artist Ishii Michiko; no reproductions exist. The Display Lease is a newly launched service.
Two Plans
Choose between a plan for displaying dolls and a plan for hanging photo panels, or combine the two. Full details are on each plan's page.
Premium Display
Works with many figures or large dioramas (18 works in all) need more space, so we offer them as a Premium Display. Premium Displays are not part of the monthly plans; each is quoted individually according to the length and scale of the display. Please feel free to get in touch.
“Kamishibai Storyteller (Kamishibai)” “The Wedding Day (Totsugu Hi)” “Under the Cherry Tree (Sakura no Ki no Shita de)” “Our Tree (Bokura no Ki)” “Helping with Rice Planting (Taue Tetsudai)” “Street Girls (Gaisho)” “A Band of Peddlers (Gyosho no Mure)”
The photos show the works on display at exhibition venues, except for “Street Girls (Gaisho),” which was photographed on its own. For exhibitions that pair the dolls with cultural properties and local history materials, see also our Showa Expo proposal.
Where to Display
We recommend displaying the dolls in an entrance hall, lobby or day room. Please provide a stand (base) for the display case.
Photo panels take no floor space, so hanging several together creates a small Showa-era gallery. They also work well in private rooms and special suites.
The photo shows an example of a display at a facility. We do not lend works to religious facilities or other places that are not in keeping with the spirit of the works.
How to Apply
- 01
Initial consultation
Contact us using the inquiry form and select “Exhibitions, Display Lease, Showa Expo.” We will explain the service online or in person. If we visit, we can bring actual dolls and photo panels with us.
- 02
Agreement
Once we have agreed on details such as the changeover date, we sign a lease agreement. Agreements can be signed online, so there is no paperwork to mail (other methods are also available).
- 03
First installation and briefing
For dolls, we visit to install the first work. We ask that a member of your staff be present so we can explain what to keep in mind with the display. Photo panels are sent by mail from the first month.
- 04
Monthly changeovers
For dolls, our staff visit to change the work (the date may vary by two or three days from month to month). Photo panels are mailed to you; please return the previous month's panels (shipping costs for both delivery and return are charged separately).
To cancel, please let us know by the end of the month two months before your final month (for example, to end the lease at the end of March, notify us by the end of January).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost?
The service is billed monthly: dolls are priced per work, and photo panels according to the number of panels. The fee includes insurance in case a work is accidentally damaged. For doll displays, a one-time initial fee (the cost of the acrylic case) is charged in addition to the monthly fee. Premium Displays are not billed monthly but quoted according to the length and scale of the display. Please contact us for details.
Is there a minimum contract period?
The minimum term is one year for dolls and six months for photo panels. The one-year minimum for dolls lets you see at least 12 different works. Payment is monthly; there is no annual plan.
Can we choose which works are displayed?
We select the works and the order in which they are shown.
Is the service available to facilities far from Tokyo?
Please get in touch. For dolls, outside the greater Tokyo area we may need to discuss additional travel costs for installation visits. Photo panels are delivered by mail.
Is there anything we need to provide?
Please provide a stand (base) for the doll display case; we supply the acrylic case itself (the cost of the case is charged once, as an initial fee). Photo panels can be hung on the wall or displayed on easels (available to rent for an additional fee).
Can you display works with large dioramas?
Works with many figures or large dioramas are offered as a Premium Display. These are not billed monthly but quoted according to the length and scale of the display, so please feel free to ask. For displays that pair the dolls with cultural properties and local history materials, please ask about a Showa Expo or a full exhibition.
Can the works be displayed anywhere?
We do not lend works to religious facilities or other places that are not in keeping with the spirit of the works.
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.