From the Land of the Rising Sun to Bologna: why you can’t miss the Graphic Japan exhibition

Have you ever dreamed of travelling through time and space to find yourself in a world made of paper, ink and visual wonder? If the answer is yes, then I have just the exhibition for you: Graphic Japan. From Hokusai to Manga.

From 20 November 2025 to 6 April 2026, the Civic Archaeological Museum of Bologna will host an unmissable event for those who, like you (and me!), love art that speaks to the heart as much as it does to the eyes.

Graphic Japan: one exhibition, a thousand journeys

Imagine a journey spanning four centuries, from the Edo period to contemporary Japan.

A visual journey that begins with the famous ukiyo-e, those magnificent “images of the floating world” that Hokusai immortalised, and continues through posters, design and exquisite craftsmanship to the manga of today.

The exhibition is curated by Rossella Menegazzo (who knows Japan like the back of her hand!) with Eleonora Lanza, and stems from a desire to understand why Japanese graphic design has become so beloved and recognisable throughout the world. And believe me: after seeing it, you’ll understand too.

Nature, Figures, Signs and Contemporary Japonism are the four main sections into which the exhibition is divided. More than 200 works including prints, books, posters, katagami (stencils used to decorate fabrics), handicrafts and even materials related to cinema and fashion.

You will find important names and works from Italian and Japanese museums, such as the Museum of Oriental Art in Venice, the Chiossone in Genoa, the Dai Nippon Foundation and the Adachi Foundation. In short: a concentration of beauty in the heart of Bologna.

Why visit the exhibition in Bologna

This exhibition is designed for everyone: enthusiasts, curious visitors, children, teenagers and adults who want to be amazed. You will find guided tours, workshops and multimedia content designed for all ages, as well as a packed calendar of events in the city, from concerts to films, all with a Japanese theme.

The University of Bologna, the Film Library, the Centre for Far Eastern Art Studies… these are just some of the organisations involved. In short, it will be a real celebration of Japanese culture, and you are invited!

You should definitely visit this exhibition because Japan is much closer than you think and because art, when it is made up of symbols dancing on paper, can tell the story of entire worlds. Once again, Bologna proves itself to be a city capable of welcoming the best of international culture.

Don’t miss this opportunity. Tickets are available online, so I recommend you grab your diary and choose when to go.

See you there, with eyes full of wonder and maybe a notebook in your pocket to sketch your dreams.

Graphic Japan

From Hokusai to Manga

curated by Rossella Menegazzo with Eleonora Lanza

Museo Civico Archeologico, Via dell’Archiginnasio 2, Bologna

20 November 2025 – 6 April 2026

OPENING HOURS

Monday to Friday 10am-6pm

Saturday and Sunday 10am-7pm

Closed on Tuesdays