With daytime temperatures exceeding 30 degrees, summer vacation has been marked by continuous heatstroke warnings.
While long hours of outdoor activities are tough, we still want to create memories during summer vacation.
About a 10-minute walk from JR Kurashiki Station towards the city hall, and close to the Bikan Historical Area, one of the cultural facilities in the area is the Kurashiki Central Library and the Kurashiki Museum of Natural History. At the Kurashiki City Art Museum, works by Noboru Baba, known for the children's picture book series "11 Cats," are on display, which children can also enjoy.
The exhibition "Complete Noboru Baba Exhibition: Drawn, Created, Enjoyed, Nyago!" attracts nearly 600 visitors daily of all ages, so I visited it with the executive committee to introduce some highlights.
What is the "Complete Noboru Baba Exhibition: Drawn, Created, Enjoyed, Nyago!"?
The "Complete Noboru Baba Exhibition: Drawn, Created, Enjoyed, Nyago!" will be held at the Kurashiki City Art Museum from July 26 (Friday) to September 1 (Sunday), 2024. This year (2024) marks the 145th anniversary of the Sanyo Shimbun's founding, so the "Complete Noboru Baba Exhibition Executive Committee," established by the Sanyo Shimbun Company and the Kurashiki City Art Museum, along with Kurashiki City, is hosting the event.
This project began as a traveling exhibition starting from the Nerima City Art Museum in Nerima, Tokyo, where Noboru Baba had his atelier, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his passing.
With a wide range of content that appeals to both children and adults, including the beloved "11 Cats" series, the exhibition features traces of his creative activities before his debut and sketchbooks discovered after his death.
For more details, please check the images below.
Venue conditions on August 22 (Thursday)
Having previously worked in a special support school for young children, I was very much looking forward to this exhibition being held at the Kurashiki City Art Museum.
Since the exhibition started, I have visited the venue once in July and three times in August, and each time, there have been many children present, creating a heartwarming scene.
On the morning of August 22, after the Obon holiday, I visited the venue while learning about the highlights from Mayu Onoe, a member of the executive committee for the Complete Noboru Baba Exhibition.
The Complete Noboru Baba Exhibition is photography prohibited in some areas. This time, we have received special permission to take photos.
An exhibition enjoyed by people of all ages
The picture book "11 Cats" series is a picture book work. Additionally, since the exhibition is during the summer vacation period, it was expected that many children would visit.
In reality, once the exhibition opened, not only children but also young couples, those from the generation who have finished raising children, and even many men visiting alone were present.
According to Onoe, many visitors were seen holding plush toys of the characters from the "11 Cats" series or wearing clothes and bags featuring the characters, which made it clear that Baba's works are supported by a wide range of people across generations and genders.
At the commemorative lecture held on July 27 (Saturday) that I attended, as well as during the storytelling event held on August 18 (Sunday), I saw several participants wearing "11 Cats" merchandise.
Baba, who was known for his generosity in the production of merchandise and the use of characters during his lifetime, has characters from the "11 Cats" series depicted on the Kurashiki City Library user cards and mobile library vehicles, making them familiar characters for the citizens of Kurashiki City.
The venue is filled with creative ideas for children to engage with Baba's works, including a hot air balloon from the picture book "11 Cats and the Foolish Bird," a cat house, the "Picture Book Scroll 11 Cats Marathon," and a picture book corner.
There is also a corner where visitors can imagine the printing method of early Koguma-sha picture books, known as lithography, which piques the intellectual curiosity of adults as well.
Lithography: A type of printmaking technique that allows for complex color variations by layering plates and colors (multicolor printing). The Complete Noboru Baba Exhibition introduces this technique using the picture book "11 Cats and the Foolish Bird" as an example.
The charm of Noboru Baba beyond the "11 Cats" series
As seen in the promotional flyer for the exhibition, which prominently features illustrations from the "11 Cats" series, there may be an image of "Baba means cats." Many visitors to the special exhibition likely came to enjoy the original illustrations from the "11 Cats" series.
However, as I took a closer look at the exhibits, many people stopped to admire the display of study notebooks that Noboru Baba actually used during his student days.
Each notebook does not simply reflect the teacher's notes; instead, they contain knowledge gained from the teacher's talks and Noboru Baba's insights, all written in clear handwriting that anyone can read. Many visitors who saw this notebook expressed their surprise and admiration, saying, "Is the worldview depicted by Noboru Baba created because of his foundational academic skills and education?"
Additionally, Noboru Baba often stated throughout his life, "I am not a picture book author, but a manga artist drawing picture books," and he left behind many manga works. Original manga artworks are also displayed in this special exhibition, and visitors can be seen engrossed in reading the manga and laughing in various places.
There was also a deep exchange among manga artists, and works featuring characters drawn by fellow manga artists like Takashi Yanase were displayed for Noboru Baba's memorial exhibition.
The exhibition venue displays not only original artworks. There are also three-dimensional works created by Noboru Baba, who enjoyed drawing and creating outside of work.
Stepping away from the story, the familiar characters moving in their own ways are all one-of-a-kind works. Some pieces were on hold due to the temporary information issued regarding the Nankai Trough Earthquake (warning for a major earthquake) during the exhibition period, but now that it has been lifted, all works are available for viewing.
An Exhibition Where You Can Take Home Memories of Summer Vacation
This exhibition is also notable for the abundance of photo spots and original goods from the special exhibition.
Memories of a wonderful summer vacation can be enjoyed repeatedly when captured in photos.
Especially for children, having visual information such as photos and illustrations, in addition to audio, makes it easier to remember. The cat house and coloring corner, which are very popular with children, as well as the entrance hall sign, are available for photo opportunities, allowing you to capture the joyful moments of children.
The shop corner at the exit of the venue was also bustling with many people. The denim bag, a collaboration product with the denim brand Betty Smith from the Kojima area of Kurashiki City, is an original item that can only be obtained at the Kurashiki venue.
As of August 22 (Thursday), the large tote bags were sold out, but they are currently being produced again. For those who find it difficult to visit the venue from afar, inquiries by phone are also accepted, so please check the homepage.
What I always find interesting whenever I visit the venue is the name sticker. This machine allows you to print your name or favorite words along with characters from the picture book series "11 Cats," and there is always a line of people waiting in front of it.
On August 22, it was just the right moment when the line had cleared, so I tried making a sticker with my name. There are 20 different designs for the background, and you can also choose the font for the text. I got so absorbed in it that it took me nearly 5 minutes to create a name sticker with just 3 characters.
Conclusion
Although August 22 is a weekday right after the Obon holiday, I thought the venue would be calm, but there were visitors of a wide age range, from babies in strollers to elderly women's groups, enjoying the venue.
From around 10 AM to noon and after 2 PM, it seems to be a lively time, making it recommended for those with children. It is said that right after opening and during lunchtime, you can enjoy a relatively quiet viewing experience.
You can enjoy the original illustrations of the picture book 'Momotaro,' unique to Kurashiki City Art Museum, along with valuable works by Noboru Baba until September 1 (Sunday). How about making 'The Complete Baba Noboru Exhibition: Drawn, Created, Enjoyed, Nyago!' a memorable end to your summer vacation?
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Data for 'The Complete Baba Noboru Exhibition: Drawn, Created, Enjoyed, Nyago!'
| Name | The Complete Baba Noboru Exhibition: Drawn, Created, Enjoyed, Nyago! |
|---|---|
| Dates | July 26, 2024 (Saturday) to September 1, 2024 (Sunday) 9 AM to 5 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM) |
| Location | 2-6-1 Chuo, Kurashiki City |
| Admission Fee (including tax) | General ticket 1,100 yen, high school and university students 900 yen, elementary and junior high school students 500 yen * For discounted tickets, please present proof of age or affiliation, such as a student ID. * Free admission for those with a disability certificate and one accompanying person. * Free admission for elementary and junior high school students in Kurashiki City with the presentation of an Ikigai Passport or student handbook. * Free admission for elementary school students presenting a Takahashi River Basin Passport (excluding weekdays). |
| Website | The Complete Baba Noboru Exhibition: Drawn, Created, Enjoyed, Nyago! |
