SHOJO MANGA INFINITY: Moto Hagio, Ryoko Yamagishi and Waki Yamato - A Major Exhibition Tracing the Expanding Possibilities of Shojo Manga

The National Art Center, Tokyo | October 28, 2026 – February 8, 2027

TOKYO, October 27, 2026--To commemorate its 20th anniversary, The National Art Center, Tokyo presents SHOJO MANGA INFINITY: Moto Hagio, Ryoko Yamagishi and Waki Yamato, a major exhibition bringing together three pioneering artists who transformed the possibilities of shojo (girls') manga.

Moto Hagio, Ryoko Yamagishi, and Waki Yamato all began their careers in the late 1960s and became leading figures in the 1970s "golden age of shojo manga." Over nearly six decades, their work has expanded the genre far beyond conventional romance, exploring the inner self, relationships with others, women's independence, diverse forms of sexuality, history and culture, spirituality, fantasy, science fiction, and new approaches to visual storytelling.

The exhibition traces their individual creative paths through more than 800 original monochrome and color artworks, including manuscripts from some of their best-known works and valuable archival materials. Visitors will have a rare opportunity to experience the delicate lines, sophisticated compositions, subtle colors, and physical qualities of original manga artwork—details that cannot be fully reproduced on the printed page.

Each artist opened up a distinctive creative territory: Hagio through fantastic narratives and profound explorations of interior worlds; Yamagishi through incisive portrayals of human nature, spirituality, and the body; and Yamato through vivid stories rooted in history and culture, often centered on women navigating social change.

The title "Infinity" reflects the multilayered appeal and boundless potential of shojo manga. Through the work of these three artists, the exhibition considers how the genre developed a rich expressive language capable of addressing complex questions of identity, society, history, and imagination.

This is the first large-scale shojo manga exhibition to be held at a national museum in Japan, offering international audiences an opportunity to encounter both the artistic achievements of these three major figures and the broader cultural significance of shojo manga.

SHOJO MANGA INFINITY: Moto Hagio, Ryoko Yamagishi and Waki Yamato

Dates: October 28, 2026 – February 8, 2027
Venue: The National Art Center, Tokyo
URL: https://www.shojomanga.jp/en/

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Yasuko Ichikawa
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