This blink-and-you'll-miss-it exhibition by master of all things kawaii Sebastian Masuda takes place at Tokyo’s historical Kanda Myojin Shrine. Since 2020, Masuda has been keeping in touch with artists, fashionistas and fans from the kawaii community around the world during the pandemic, and this exhibition explores the current state of the global kawaii movement. Masuda’s artworks focus on what kawaii actually is, why the fascination with the aesthetic has spread beyond borders, generations and gender, and why kawaii communities continue to exist.
Check out his installation ‘Colorful Rebellion – Seventh Nightmare’ on display in the basement hall of the shrine’s festival office. In the same space, you’ll also learn more about kawaii culture through exhibits created by members of Kyoto University of the Arts’s Ultra Factory. Parts of the ‘Kawaii Archival Research’ project are on display, helping you find out where kawaii culture came from and its outlook for the future.
Don’t miss the ‘Colorful Rebellion – World Time Clock. Once a symbol of Harajuku, it’s now gracing the inside of the shrine’s kagura hall. The festival office and kagura hall are both on the right-hand side when you enter the shrine through the main gate.
On the premises, you’ll also find a large time capsule installation in the shape of Hello Kitty. The artwork once belonged to the art project Time After Time Capsule and travelled to 12 cities around the world. The artwork is designed to symbolise peace and a wish to share the future.
Entry to the shrine is free, however, you’ll need to make an online reservation and pay a ¥500 viewing fee on-site to see the artwork ‘Colorful Rebellion – Seventh Nightmare’.