"Yabemitsunori and Yabe Taro - 'My Father’s Hometown: Kurashiki' - Focusing on Picture Book Original Drawings and Comics, as well as the 'Child-Rearing Diary' Relevant to Modern Times

Do you know Yabe Mitsunori, a kamishibai and picture book author who grew up in Kurashiki?

He is the author of works such as "Kaba-san" and "Hito wa Naku Mono," and has the background of being born in Osaka and raised in Kurashiki. His son, Yabe Taro, is active as a comedian, actor, and manga artist, and won the 22nd Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Short Work Award for his manga "Oya-san to Boku".

A special collaboration exhibition titled "Yabe Mitsunori and Yabe Taro - The Hometown of 'My Father' - Kurashiki" is currently being held at the Kurashiki City Art Museum until December 21, 2025 (Sunday).

We will introduce the thoughts of the curator in charge of the exhibition at the Kurashiki City Art Museum.

About the Special Exhibition "Yabe Mitsunori and Yabe Taro - The Hometown of 'My Father' - Kurashiki"

"Yabe Mitsunori and Yabe Taro - The Hometown of 'My Father' - Kurashiki" is an exhibition being held at the Kurashiki City Art Museum from October 17, 2025 (Friday) to December 21, 2025 (Sunday).

Unlike the traveling exhibition "Marugoto Baba Noboru Ten" held in 2024, this is a self-planned exhibition in collaboration with local media, the first in 18 years, and it took about two and a half years to prepare.

Please check the following image for an overview of the exhibition.

Exhibition Room Overview

The exhibition is divided into two main sections.

Original illustrations of kamishibai and picture books by Yabe Mitsunori
Manga works by Yabe Taro

The manga "Oya-san to Boku" is also on display and available for viewing.

What personally caught my attention was Yabe Mitsunori's parenting diary. There are 41 volumes of parenting diaries, including 38 volumes titled "Mitsuko Note" depicting his eldest daughter Mitsuko, and 3 volumes titled "Taro Note" depicting his son Taro.

While it is not uncommon for fathers to be involved in child-rearing today, it was still rare in the 1970s and 80s when Yabe Taro was a child. It was not because it was unusual that records were kept, but looking at the natural diary illustrations warmed my heart.

Regarding the "Mitsuko Note," there is a book containing selected content from the 38 volumes, which is being sold at the special exhibition. It has 992 pages and is as thick as a dictionary.

In addition, several events related to the special exhibition are planned.

Special Exhibition 'Yabe Mitsunori and Yabe Taro - The Hometown of 'My Father' - Kurashiki' (until December 21, 2025) - An exhibition to experience the kindness and laughter of a parent-child relationship in Kurashiki

If you were to compare family to a "shape," what would come to mind? The answer is likely to exist as many as there are people. An exhibition themed around "family" is being held at the Kurashiki City Art Museum...

Interview with the Curator of Kurashiki City Art Museum

Kurashiki City Art Museum Curator Yamabuki Tomoko

I spoke with Yamabuki Tomoko, the curator of the Kurashiki City Art Museum, who planned the special exhibition "Yabe Mitsunori and Yabe Taro - The Hometown of 'My Father' - Kurashiki."

Can you tell us about the background of planning the special exhibition?

Yamabuki

The trigger was that I was originally a fan of Yabe Taro's manga, and when I watched the anime "Oya-san to Boku," I searched for Taro again and found out that his father (Yabe Mitsunori) was raised in Kurashiki, which piqued my interest.

Also, since Mitsunori is a kamishibai creator, I became interested in kamishibai as well.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the trend towards digitalization and avoiding contact with others intensified, the medium of kamishibai, which shares stories in a time and space without using electricity and is different from reading picture books, appeared fresh to me.

I also learned about the existence of the family diary that Mitsunori kept while raising his children.

Taro and I are of the same generation (born in the 1970s), but for me, my father was always a scary figure, someone I had to be careful around. Therefore, when I thought, "There is a father like this in the world," I felt a sense of relief.

Both of their works are wonderful, but I also want to shed light on the way the Yabe family is structured. Additionally, since they are connected to Kurashiki but not well known among the citizens, I initiated the project with the thought that "I want the citizens of Kurashiki to know about them."

How long did it take to realize the special exhibition?

Yamabuki

I reached out to both of them in June 2023.
Since the exhibition schedule for the following year was mostly decided, we started with the discussion that we wanted to hold the exhibition aiming for two years later.

When we talked, I found out that Mitsunori had kept all the materials, but Taro had everything in digital format.

Therefore, we had to discuss how to balance the two's works, and while the family diaries (Mitsuko Note and Taro Note) would be a highlight, we couldn't show all the pages, so we had to plan how to introduce them, and after repeated meetings with both of them, we realized it in about two and a half years.

What are the highlights of the exhibition?

Yamabuki

First of all, it is rare to see original illustrations of kamishibai, so I want you to pay attention to that. Therefore, the original illustrations of kamishibai are displayed first.

Next is the family diary (Mitsuko Note and Taro Note).
This is more of a private document of the Yabe family rather than a work, but it is substantial, so it is included in this exhibition.

Taro read this diary, which led to the creation of the manga "Boku no Otosan". For the first time, the parenting of fathers was highlighted in "Boku no Otosan," and since I learned about it by reading that, I wanted to express it in the exhibition as well.

Therefore, when highlighting Taro's activities, I have always picked out and highlighted his relationship with his father.

While each has separate activities, they are deeply connected to each other.
Especially Taro seems to always respect his father and feels that he should be more appreciated, so I structured the exhibition to convey that feeling.

I hope you can see that aspect.

What do you hope the citizens of Kurashiki will feel through this exhibition?

Yamabuki

This exhibition is not specifically for children; it contains content that resonates with children, child-rearing generations, and even those starting to become aware of issues like dementia.

While it focuses on two specific individuals, it is packed with elements that can be viewed from multiple perspectives.

I hope that those who visit will take a moment to think about the people they want to cherish in the future or the issues they will have to face, and perhaps gain some hints. Also, if they are feeling heavy-hearted, I would be happy if they could spend a little relaxing time here.

Please give a message to readers considering visiting.

Yamabuki

This exhibition is an original project of our museum and will not be traveling, so it will be a display that can only be seen here.

We do not have a comprehensive book covering everything as a catalog, so I would like you to directly experience the worldview of both individuals and the free way of being a family at the exhibition venue.

We have set a two-month exhibition period, so please take this valuable opportunity to visit the Kurashiki City Art Museum.

Conclusion

To be honest, I didn't know much about either Yabe Mitsunori or Yabe Taro, but I became interested in the "strong family structure" rather than just their individual works.

In modern times, for example, lifestyles where "mothers work outside and fathers do work and housework at home" are increasing. Although I am not an artist, I have chosen a lifestyle close to that, which made me feel a sense of familiarity.

Exhibitions at art museums tend to focus on "exhibited works," but I believe this exhibition has attractions beyond that.

Since this is an original project of the Kurashiki City Art Museum, there are no plans to travel to other regions in the future.

If you are interested, why not visit?

Articles about Kurashiki City Art Museum

Data for the Special Exhibition 'Yabe Mitsunori and Yabe Taro - The Hometown of 'My Father' in Kurashiki'

[Until December 21 (Sun)] 'Yabe Mitsunori and Yabe Taro - The Hometown of 'My Father' in Kurashiki' - Focus on original illustrations and comics, as well as the 'Child-rearing Diary' that resonates with modern times

Name	Special Exhibition 'Yabe Mitsunori and Yabe Taro - The Hometown of 'My Father' in Kurashiki'
Dates	October 17 (Fri), 2025 - December 21 (Sun), 2025 9:00 AM - 5:15 PM * Closed on the following days: Mondays (open on November 3 and November 24), November 4 (Tue), November 25 (Tue)
Location	Kurashiki City Art Museum
Admission Fee (Tax Included)	General: 1,200 yen High School and University Students: 500 yen Elementary and Junior High School Students: 300 yen * Proof of age or affiliation, such as a student ID, is required * Elementary and junior high school students in Kurashiki City can enter for free with an Ikigai Passport or student handbook * Elementary school students presenting a Takahashi River Basin Passport can enter for free (excluding weekdays) * One accompanying person for individuals with disabilities can enter for free (proof of physical disability certificate, developmental disability certificate, or mental health welfare certificate is required)
Website	Special Exhibition 'Yabe Mitsunori and Yabe Taro - The Hometown of 'My Father' in Kurashiki'