Yearly Schedule

annual schedule

Special exhibitionAnnual Exhibition April 2025 - March 4

From Saturday, September 2025, 3 to Monday, September 29, 2025

"Shotaro Ikenami Exhibition: The Gaze of a Man of Humanity"

　Ikenami Shotaro (1923-1990) is a writer who created popular series such as "Onihei Hankacho," "Kenkaku Shobai," "Shikakenin Fujieda Baian," and "Sanada Taiheiki." His works, which have expanded the fan base through their adaptation into TV dramas, movies, and anime, are still read by many readers even now, 35 years after his death. Ikenami was born and raised in Asakusa, Tokyo, and started out as a playwright. His historical novels are filled with an atmosphere reminiscent of the town of Edo, and the scenes of the daily lives of his characters are colored with seasonal cuisine. His works also have an enduring appeal in that he looks deeply into the existence of "human beings," who are full of contradictions and possess both good and evil, and depicts the drama woven by the characters using his own coined words and writing style. With the special cooperation of the Ikenami Shotaro Memorial Library and the Ikenami Shotaro Community Center, this exhibition will delve into the appeal of Ikenami's works, which opened up a new world of period novels, and the behind-the-scenes of his creations through precious handwritten manuscripts, creative materials, original illustrations, etc. In addition, we will introduce the author's profile through essays about food, movies, travel, etc., which are as popular as his novels, the world of painting, which he took up as a hobby in his later years, and his interactions with the people of Etchu Inami, the hometown of his paternal ancestors.

　
From Saturday, September 2025, 6 to Monday, September 21, 2025

Anime Director x Expo Producer Shoji Kawamori Exhibition

　Shoji Kawamori (1960-) is a visionary creator who is active in a wide range of fields, including animation direction, direction, scriptwriting, and mecha design. He is the theme project producer for the Osaka-Kansai Expo. In addition to his representative works, the "Macross" and "Aquarion" series, this exhibition will display various creative works such as design drawings, storyboards, and setting materials for works that Shoji Kawamori wrote and directed, unraveling his world of work. In addition, we will trace the roots of what has inspired him to continue his creative activities from his childhood, which began with the nature and environment of Toyama, to the present, and introduce the pavilion for the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, which has the theme of "nurturing life."

　
From Saturday, September 2025, 9 to Monday, September 13, 2025

Cinderella You Don't Know Exhibition

The exhibition of Cinderella you have never seen before. The more you know, the more interesting it becomes, as you appreciate art while solving mysteries! The Cinderella story told at the Palace of Versailles in France in the 17th century features the 12 o'clock bell, the pumpkin carriage, the magician, and the glass slippers, but there are over 550 similar stories in the world, and there are many Cinderella stories. The story of Cinderella, who is kind, positive, and continues to work hard to find happiness no matter how difficult things are, has continued to give dreams and hope throughout the ages and is still loved all over the world. In this exhibition, we will unravel the secrets of "Cinderella you don't know" through a quiz. From the Cinderella collection of over 1500 items, certified by the Guinness World Records and owned by entrepreneur Masanao Kawada (a descendant of Nagachika Kawada, a vassal of Kenshin Uesugi and the lord of Uozu Castle), who has ties to Toyama, we will introduce hints to finding happiness through picture books and paintings from around the world, reproduced dresses, glass slippers, and unpublished works. ※Masanao Kawada http://www.artrancechurch.com/

　
December 2025, 12 (Sat) -April 6, 2025 (Sun)

2st Let's spread happiness! Picture letter exhibition

Following on from the first event last year, we called for submissions of slightly larger-than-normal illustrated letters from around the country on the theme of well-being, and received approximately 1,000 entries. From these, we will be exhibiting the winning works. Please take a look at these happy illustrated letters and experience for yourself the joy of "creating" literature, which goes beyond just seeing and hearing, and how well-being is close to you. Venue Special Exhibition Room (Submitted illustrated letters) Permanent Exhibition Room (Invited illustrated letters from famous people associated with Toyama Prefecture and the Literature Museum) Related Links 2nd Let's Spread Happiness! Special website for the illustrated letter competition

　
From Saturday, September 2026, 1 to Monday, September 17, 2026

Exhibition of Genji Keita, a Naoki Prize-winning author born in Toyama

This special exhibition traces the footsteps of Toyama-born Naoki Prize-winning author Genji Keita (1912-1985), who pioneered the new genre of "salaryman novels" with bestsellers such as "Third-Class Executive" and became Toyama Prefecture's first Naoki Prize-winning author. In recent years, Mariko Yamauchi's commentary on "Blue Sky Girl" has garnered popularity, leading to a series of subsequent reprints of his paperbacks, bringing renewed recognition to his work. After graduating from Toyama Commercial School, Genji joined Sumitomo Limited Partnership Company, where he continued working for approximately 26 years, publishing a series of humorous novels that warmly explore the joys and sorrows of the life of a salaryman. Reflecting his own ideal of rewarding good and punishing evil, his works, timely and relevant to the times, have resonated with readers and spawned numerous films and television dramas based on his novels. His engaging writing style, featuring lively dialogue and engaging stories, remains compelling even today. In his later years, he became interested in "ghost novels," which portrayed the grudges of office workers and the darkness in the human heart. This exhibition focuses on Genji's most famous and popular works, and explores the appeal of his world and the history of his career as a writer through handwritten manuscripts, original illustrations, photographs, and readings. Additionally, we will introduce his literary activities from his younger days, when he wrote poetry under his real name, Tanaka Tomio, through valuable notebooks and magazines from that time. We hope you will enjoy the literary world of Genji Keita, which depicts both the good and evil of human beings.

Next time
From Saturday, September 2026, 3 to Monday, September 28, 2026

Zorori's Great Adventure Exhibition

　The "Kaitou Zorori" series, which depicts the great adventures of Zorori, the fox hero who aims to become the king of pranks, and his friends, is celebrating its 38th year of publication this year. Since the first work, "Kaitou Zorori's Dragon Fighter," was released in 1987, 2025 works have been published to date (March 3). It is a popular children's book series with a total of over 75 million copies sold, and its popularity has been further boosted by its anime adaptation. In addition to about 3500 precious original drawings and materials that look back on the great adventures of Zorori and his friends, this exhibition will introduce the "treasures" collected by Zorori and his friends as three-dimensional works. There will also be a reproduction of the atelier of the original author, Hara Yutaka, and photo spots based on famous scenes from the work. Enjoy the fascinating world of Zorori. Image: ⒸHara Yutaka/Poplar Publishing

Permanent exhibitionAnnual Exhibition April 2025 - March 4

Regular event

April, once a year

Gathering for cherry blossom viewing
Year-round, 8 times in total (planned)

Literature course
September-October, once a year

Moon-viewing gathering
Autumn-winter, 3 times

Reading and Music Evening

Click here for details of regular events

Yearly Schedule

Special exhibitionAnnual Exhibition April 2025 - March 4

"Shotaro Ikenami Exhibition: The Gaze of a Man of Humanity"

Anime Director x Expo Producer Shoji Kawamori Exhibition

Cinderella You Don't Know Exhibition

2st Let's spread happiness! Picture letter exhibition

Exhibition of Genji Keita, a Naoki Prize-winning author born in Toyama

Zorori's Great Adventure Exhibition

Permanent exhibitionAnnual Exhibition April 2025 - March 4

New Collections Corner and Anniversary Artists Corner

"Toyama and Film: Young Talents from the Prefecture"

50 years after his death: Special feature on Owara Kaze no Bon artist Akiji Hayashi

Ehana Inoue, Takao Yamada, Junzo Watanabe, and Kenzo Yoneda

150th Anniversary of the Birth of Ryuji Tabe Special Feature, 140th Anniversary of the Birth of Matsutaro Shoriki

Special feature on Koizumi Yakumo (Lafcadio Hearn) to commemorate the broadcast of NHK's "Bakeke"

Hisataka Okina and Tenzan Suga, Mitsuhiko Kuze, Gennosuke Yokoyama, Takashi Takashima, and Genyoshi Kadokawa

Okina Hisayoshi and the 150th Anniversary of His Birth Yone Noguchi / Yone Noguchi

Regular event

Gathering for cherry blossom viewing

Literature course

Moon-viewing gathering

Reading and Music Evening