From July 12, 2019 (Friday), "THE Doraemon Exhibition OSAKA 2019" will be held at the Osaka Museum of Culture, Tempozan. It has been 17 years since 2002 that a special exhibition of "Doraemon" by 28 leading Japanese artists returns to the same venue (formerly the Suntory Museum). Many fans in the Kansai region are likely looking forward to it.

A "Doraemon" no one has ever seen before, a one-of-a-kind new "Doraemon." These are all works that transcend genres with their rich originality and are filled with affection for "Doraemon." It is also a program perfectly suited as an entry point to contemporary art for young children.

This time, we interviewed Yoshiaki Ito, President of Fujiko F. Fujio Pro and Director General of the Fujiko F. Fujio Museum in Kawasaki City, about "THE Doraemon Exhibition" and the future of Doraemon.

—To begin, could you tell us about the background leading to the "THE Doraemon Exhibition"?

ItoThe first "THE Doraemon Exhibition" started in July 2002 at the Suntory Museum in Tempozan, Osaka.

The trigger was an offer from a producer who suggested, "Why don't we invite various artists to create their own Doraemon and hold an exhibition?" At the time, I was also contemplating how to make Doraemon an even more interesting presence for the next era, so I instinctively replied, "Let's do it."

When we approached prominent figures like Takashi Murakami and Yoshitomo Nara, they all expressed their love for Doraemon and readily agreed, creating wonderful works.

—I see, so that's how it came about.

ItoIt took nearly two years of preparation, but since it was an unprecedented endeavor, there were some critical opinions about such a project. Nevertheless, I remember being very happy to see long queues on the opening day, despite the intense heat. There were even complaints that there was no space for children to play, but I believe it was understood that this was a contemporary art exhibition.

Mrs. Fujiko F. Fujio, who has a deep appreciation for art and has viewed artworks worldwide, provided much advice when we were creating the Fujiko F. Fujio Museum in Kawasaki City, which opened in 2011.

She was very enthusiastic about "THE Doraemon Exhibition" from the planning stages. At the closing of the exhibition, she said, "Mr. Ito, it must have been very challenging, but there's no art exhibition more enjoyable than this. Let's do it again in ten years."

—That's the highest praise imaginable.

ItoYes. However, it actually took a little longer, 15 years, and the second "THE Doraemon Exhibition" began in 2017, two years ago.

This time, under the planning and supervision of art historian Professor Yuji Yamashita (Meiji Gakuin University), 28 artists leading the contemporary art scene in Japan, including Takashi Murakami, were again commissioned to create works with the theme "Create Your Doraemon."

One of the most memorable comments from the newly participating artists was, "Finally, I've been invited." They expressed their genuine joy at being included in "THE Doraemon Exhibition" because of their love for Doraemon, which made me strongly feel once again how deeply Doraemon is loved.

When we took a commemorative photo in front of Takashi Murakami's work after the successful conclusion of "THE Doraemon Exhibition TOKYO 2017," which ran until January 2018, I believe everyone felt they had done good work. We didn't have time to worry about profits or attendance. I felt that this is how entertainment work should be.

—We can only imagine the dedication of the staff.

ItoMr. Murakami's painting is also displayed at the entrance of Fujiko F. Fujio Pro (hereinafter referred to as "Fujiko Pro"). He generously allowed us to freely sell prints and posters of the work created for "THE Doraemon Exhibition," suggesting that the profits be used for the Fujiko Museum. I was truly moved and impressed by his deep love for art and his aim to elevate the entire art world.

After touring Tokyo, Nagoya, and Takaoka, Mr. Fujimoto's hometown, the exhibition will open in Osaka on July 12 (Friday). We aim to hold the third "THE Doraemon Exhibition" in 2032, 15 years after 2017, and continue to hold it every 15 years thereafter.

—Yes, we are very much looking forward to it.

ItoMedicom Toy, which has developed numerous Doraemon products, will also offer special items befitting an art exhibition for a先行販売 (advance sale) at "THE Doraemon Exhibition OSAKA 2019." This is the statue of "Doraemon the Sculptor," depicted in the title illustration of Volume 17 of the Tentomushi Comics, familiar to Doraemon fans.

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Doraemon the Sculptor

Painted finished product. Approximately 350mm in height. Scheduled for release on July 12, 2019 (Friday) for ¥48,000 (excluding tax).

<How to Purchase> Advance sales will be held at "THE Doraemon Exhibition OSAKA 2019" from July 12 (Friday) to September 23 (Monday, holiday) at the Osaka Museum of Culture, Tempozan. After the event, it will be available at Medicom Toy's directly managed stores, online stores, and other select retailers.

*The photo is a development sample, and the actual product may differ slightly.
©Fujiko-Pro

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ItoActually, when we were building the Fujiko Museum, there was an idea to create and display the same thing at the entrance. However, it wasn't realized due to technical challenges in reproducing it faithfully. Seeing Medicom Toy's figure this time, I realized that everyone found that illustration very impressive. The idea of Doraemon sculpting himself is truly fascinating and a testament to Mr. Fujimoto's genius as a creator.

—By the way, how did you come to collaborate with Medicom Toy?

ItoOur company has been working with Medicom Toy since around 2002. I still vividly remember meeting Tatsuhiko Akashi, the president, after being introduced to them as a toy maker famous for creating niche products. Mr. Akashi himself has very unique ideas, and I felt that the people who create the figures were also extremely passionate.

A figure of Doraemon from the early serialization ( "Doraemon (First Appearance Version)"), from a business perspective, isn't that something difficult to do? Also, "Beautiful Gian"(Fujiko Museum Exclusive)"Tsuchinoko""Doraemon with Ears"figures like these are probably made possible by their deep affection for the work. We have also been working with the Fujiko Museum since its opening, and the "Take-copter Headband" currently sold in the museum shop has been a great hit."Take-copter Headband"is also a big hit.

I believe the appeal of Medicom Toy lies in their ability to create products that not only appeal to enthusiasts but also capture the interest of the general public. In this industry, there's a part that thrives on the dedication of enthusiasts. For a work with a 50-year history like "Doraemon," it's crucial to be led by enthusiasts while also allowing the general audience to be inspired by what the enthusiasts have created, fostering mutual growth.

We at Fujiko Pro do not have the power to boost the Japanese or global economy. However, I believe "Doraemon" can provide solace in many ways. When times are tough or when facing troubles, reading manga can offer an escape. While driving the economy is important, aren't things that provide peace of mind and a source of energy crucial for human growth? Because it expresses fundamental enjoyment, manga captivates people of all ages and generations, beyond logical reasoning.

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Since its serialization began in 1970 by Fujiko F. Fujio, Doraemon has delivered countless dreams to Japan. The TV anime is also a great success. For the movies, Doraemon fans from various fields, such as film producer and novelist Genki Kawamura (scriptwriter for "Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Treasure Island" released in 2018), musician Gen Hoshino (theme song artist for "Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Treasure Island" released in 2018), and Naoki Prize-winning author Mizuki Tsujimura (scriptwriter for "Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's New Dinosaur" released in 2019), have participated each year. In commemoration of Fujiko F. Fujio's 80th birthday, "STAND BY ME Doraemon," the first 3DCG film in the series, was released in 2014.

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—As Doraemon approaches its 50th anniversary, how do you envision its evolution?

ItoWith the 50th anniversary of the serialization approaching, I am contemplating future prospects daily.

One aspect is the manga itself drawn by Mr. Fujimoto—all 45 volumes plus the long stories. The world of this work cannot be expanded further, so we cannot simply adhere strictly to the original. To put it dramatically, if we don't come up with bold ideas, perhaps even changing Doraemon's "color," we might fall behind the times.

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet copywriter Shigesato Itoi and invited him to the Fujiko Museum. He commented, "It's a beautiful and wonderful museum. It perfectly captures the world that fans truly cherish. However, it doesn't really surprise anyone."

He suggested that to develop for the future, perhaps we should incorporate a few elements of adventure within the museum that might make visitors think, "Wait, is this really okay?" In essence, he said that while enthusiasts insist on preserving certain aspects, their numbers will dwindle over time. In contrast, the general audience will grow. Since general audiences find joy in interesting mechanisms and expressions, shouldn't we incorporate elements that make them say, "Wow, I didn't see that coming!"?

—Indeed, that makes sense!

ItoWe created the Fujiko Museum primarily to reflect Mr. Fujimoto's worldview as it is, so his words surprised me. Come to think of it, the name "Hobonichi Techo" (a planner produced by the website "Hobonichi Itoi Shinbun") itself is a "Wow, I didn't see that coming!" moment, isn't it? I realized that Mr. Itoi doesn't try to do flashy things; instead, he understands the essence of people and uses ordinary expressions deliberately to avoid monotony, which was a great learning experience for me.

I shared this with all our employees. We might need to change our way of thinking. As we approach Doraemon's 50th anniversary next year, while we must protect what is essential, we must not give up on creating new worlds.

We must meticulously preserve the world of the manga, but beyond that, we need to be bold and innovative. I believe only Mr. Fujimoto's family and I within our company can make these decisions. I want to do this one last time and pass the baton to the next generation—someone with talent, passion, and the ability to read the times.

Mr. Fujimoto often used to say, "Mr. Ito, when creating something, if you have just one talented person, anything can be done well."

Therefore, I have no concerns. In the manga, didn't Doraemon gradually grow and develop into his current form? Similarly, in the anime, Doraemon, Nobita, Shizuka, and the others may need to gradually evolve into characters that fit the current era.

That said, we won't make drastic changes to mark the 50th anniversary, but for the next 50 years—towards the 100th anniversary—we aim to preserve the essential elements while skillfully creating new worlds that branch out from them.

I am also excited to see what fun projects will emerge from our collaborations with Medicom Toy.

<INFOMATION>

THE Doraemon Exhibition OSAKA 2019

Period: July 12, 2019 (Friday) - September 23, 2019 (Monday, holiday)
Venue: Osaka Museum of Culture, Tempozan

[Participating Artists]
Makoto Aida, Kayo Ume, Motohiko Odani, Tomoko Konoike, Masaharu Sato, Kotobuki Shiriagari, Yoshitomo Nara, Yasuyuki Nishio, Mika Ninagawa, Miran Fukuda, Hisashi Machida, Mr., Takashi Murakami, Yasumasa Morimura + Junko Koike, Akira Yamaguchi, Nozomi Watanabe, Ryota Kuwakubo, Norinori Goto, Tomomi Kondo, Tomoyoshi Sakamoto, Yamazaki Shishiyama, Ai Shinohara, Yuta Nakazato, Suito Nakatsuka, Sebastian Masuda, Hideki Yamaguchi + Wataru Ito, Ryuki Yamamoto, Rena Rena (in Japanese syllabary order, honorifics omitted)

[Exhibition Overview]
Dates: July 12, 2019 (Friday) - September 23, 2019 (Monday, holiday) *Open daily during the exhibition period
Venue: Osaka Museum of Culture, Tempozan (1-5-10 Kaigandori, Minato-ku, Osaka 552-0022)
Opening Hours: 10:00 - 17:00 (scheduled) *Last admission 30 minutes before closing
Admission Fees (tax included): General ¥1,500 (Advance ¥1,300), High School/Junior High School ¥1,200 (Advance ¥1,000), Children (4 years old to elementary school) ¥800 (Advance ¥600) *Group discounts available (advance price for groups of 10 or more)

Fujiko F. Fujio Museum, Kawasaki City
"Doraemon 50th Anniversary Exhibition" to be held!

"Doraemon" began serialization in children's magazines in January 1970. This special exhibition will fully introduce the charm of "Doraemon" as it celebrates its 50th anniversary, presented in three parts.

Period: July 20, 2019 (Saturday) - January 31, 2021 (Sunday) *Scheduled
Venue: Fujiko F. Fujio Museum, Kawasaki City (2-8-1 Nagao, Tama-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa 214-0023)
Opening Hours: 10:00 - 18:00
Closed: Tuesdays, New Year holidays *Temporary closures will be announced on the website in advance.
Admission Fees (tax included): Adults/University Students ¥1,000, High School/Junior High School Students ¥700, Children (4 years and older) ¥500 *Reservations required with designated entry times. Tickets can be purchased at Lawson convenience stores nationwide. Admission tickets are not sold at the museum.