![2024.2.9[Fri]-2.18[Sun] in NAGOYA](../assets/images/txt_mainvis_date.svg)
Toshiyuki Itahana, character designer for FINAL FANTASY IX, worked with the Sobajima Can Company, an Aichi-based can manufacturer with a proud 117-year history, to put together a treasure-themed exhibit. Itahana's characters, beloved since the game's release in 2000, appear on tin-crafted articles that have protected their contents for more than a century, much like their fantastical counterparts. The exhibit also features art related to other properties the artist has worked on, including the Chocobo series, the FINAL FANTASY Crystal Chronicles games, NieR: Automata as a guest artist.
Ryoma Ito, an artist involved with FINAL FANTASY XII, took up the medium of pottery, specifically tokonameyaki, named for one of Japan's six ancient kilns and using clay sourced from the bed of what was once Lake Tokai. The artist has brought an Ivalician Moogle to life in a nature-infused setting. The resulting piece has to be seen in person to be appreciated. This exhibit also features artwork from FINAL FANTASY TACTICS ADVANCE and Dungeon Encounters, where the artist handled character designs, and even pieces from Romancing SaGa Re;univerSe.
Gen Kobayashi, character designer for the 2023 JGA Award of Excellence winner, Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo, tried his hand at Arimatsu-Narumi shibori, a designated traditional handicraft, to create a yukata where his artwork is accompanied by the sekka shibori pattern characterizing this ancient form of cloth dyeing. The exhibit not only showcases minute details specific to hand-crafted work, but also features pieces from other series where Kobayashi has lent his talents like The World Ends With You and the SaGa series, and one-off titles such as Schoolgirl Strikers 2.
Yukihiro Kajimoto, the designer behind the characters of the brand-new title Star Ocean: The Second Story R, took on the vivid colors of Nagoya-style sensu. His striking artwork appears on a decorative folding fan with a distinguished blue background full of stars. The exhibit also includes other pieces of art from the Star Ocean series.
Satoshi Kuramochi, a designer who’s worked on the now 35-year-old SaGa series, has created cloth pieces in Nagoya's own kuromontsuki-zome style of high-purity black ink dyeing that has been passed down through the generations. The famous setsugekka blade technique is vividly depicted in black ink on the cloth. Artwork from the upcoming SaGa Emerald Beyond will also be on display, along with pieces from other entries in the series such as SaGa Scarlet Grace and Romancing SaGa Re;univerSe.
On weekends only, a special corner will be set aside for visitors to try out the traditional arts and crafts featured in the exhibition. The experience will rotate through tokonameyaki pottery, cans, Arimatsu-Narumi shibori cloth dyeing, Nagoya-style sensu folding fans, and kuromontsuki-zome tie-dyeing. Don't miss this chance to forge a deeper connection with the arts! Get your hands involved in traditional handicrafts!
Dates:
Feb. 10 (Sat), 11 (Sun), 12 (Mon/holiday) and Feb. 17 (Sat), 18 (Sun) 2024
*Hands-on experience content subject to change without notice. See our official social media for details.
*Extra fees apply,
*Limited spaces available. The hands-on area may close earlier than the rest of the exhibition. Your understanding and cooperation are appreciated.
