Step into the World of Ukiyo-e and Travel Back to the Edo Period!
「Immersive Digital Art Theater: UKIYO-e RE:BORN」

■Immerse yourself in ukiyo-e from the Edo period and experience a journey through time and space

Ukiyo-e, the vibrant woodblock prints of the Edo period, were once a major part of everyday life. They showed everything from daily life and fashion trends to beautiful landscapes, heroic samurai, kabuki actors, beauty portraits, and even mythical creatures. Mass-produced and easy to find, these prints gave people a colorful window into the world around them.

Now, at the Kadokawa Culture Museum, you can experience that world like never before in a fully immersive digital art show created with renowned creative director Gianfranco Iannuzzi, who we have collaborated with many times before. Walk through famous towns, take in kabuki performances, and come face-to-face with legends and yōkai — all inside the vivid scenes painted by ukiyo-e masters like Utamaro, Sharaku, Hokusai, Hiroshige, and Kuniyoshi.

The soundtrack is an original piece by violinist Ryoma, from the Ryoma Quartet, blending traditional Japanese instruments like shakuhachi and koto with modern strings and piano — perfect for your journey back to Edo.

Free audio guides by Director Akira Ikegami are available during the show. Just bring your own smartphone and earphones to listen in!

■A brand-new immersive digital art theater experience by Gianfranco Iannuzzi, inspired by ukiyo-e

Dive into a fully immersive experience where art and storytelling surround you from all sides. At the Kadokawa Culture Museum’s Grand Gallery, over 1,000 square meters of space has been transformed into a spectacular immersive digital art theater, filled with music and moving images. With 33 high-brightness projectors seamlessly covering every wall and even the floor, this completely new kind of visual experience is unlike anything else — not a movie, not VR, but a shared, one-of-a-kind space you can explore with others.

Previous shows in this series included:
• Vol.1: Ukiyo-e Theater from Paris (2021)
• Vol.2: Van Gogh: This is How I See the World (2022)
• Vol.3: Salvador Dalí – Endless Enigma (2023)
• Vol.4: Monet: I Can See the Lights - An Immersive Journey (2024)

Each one has enchanted visitors with its deep, all-encompassing art experiences. Working once again with creative director Gianfranco Iannuzzi — who’s led the shows since Van Gogh — Kadokawa Culture Museum presents an all-new original production: Immersive Digital Art Theater: UKIYO-e RE:BORN. This show is being unveiled in Japan first before going global.

● Immersive Art Creative Director Gianfranco Iannuzzi

A digital artist and creative director for immersive art exhibitions. As a pioneer of immersive art installations, he has hosted numerous exhibitions worldwide over more than 35 years, welcoming millions of viewers.

【comment】
“From the end of the 80s I never stopped creating new immersive installations by integrating new technologies to provide an ever-growing public with the opportunity to experience art in a more emotional way. I hope that more and more people will enjoy art through this new kind of immersive and social experience.”

website：http://www.gianfranco-iannuzzi.com/

●Multimedia content production：
Karmachina / Rino Stefano Tagliafierro

　

Karmachina is a multimedia design studio based in Milan, founded by Paolo Ranieri and Rino Stefano Tagliafierro. The studio produces immersive exhibitions and events for museums, cultural institutions, and fashion brands both in Italy and around the world.Karmachina

Rino Stefano Tagliafierro — an Italian artistic director, video artist, and co-founder of Karmachina — has worked with world-renowned museums such as the Prado Museum in Madrid and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, using multimedia technology to bring art to life. His animated short film Beauty has won numerous awards. In recent years, he has also been active in the immersive exhibition scene, collaborating with Gianfranco Iannuzzi on various projects.

Official Karmachina website：https://www.karmachina.it/

■Time-travel to the Edo period with original music by violinist Ryoma

Accompanying the immersive world of ukiyo-e surrounding the venue is an original soundtrack composed specially for this exhibition by Violinist Ryoma. Blending modern musical styles with Edo-period themes, his compositions reimagine the world of ukiyo-e in a fresh, contemporary light.

●Violinist Ryoma (from Ryoma Quartet)
Ryoma has contributed music to over 300 visual works, including popular NHK historical dramas like Ryomaden and Heart of a Samurai, as well as the film Always: Sunset on Third Street. He has also appeared in various TV dramas, films, and commercials. As a composer, he has created music for events, commercials, stage productions, and fashion shows. His song YAMATO was even chosen as the official cheer anthem for Japan’s national baseball team, Samurai Japan. As a producer, he founded the instrumental group Ryoma Quartet, which made its major label debut with Pony Canyon in 2016. The group has earned international acclaim for its unique sound and style.

 

Exhibition Overview

Exhibition Title：Immersive Digital Art Theater: Ukiyo-e RE:BORN – The Spirit of Edo and Timeless Japonism
Venue：Kadokawa Culture Museum, 1st Floor, Grand Gallery
Exhibition Dates：April 26, 2025 (Sat) – January 18, 2026 (Sun)
Closed Days：Every Tuesday (except April 29, May 6, August 12, September 23, and December 30 when the museum will be open)
Note: The museum will be closed from June 2 (Mon) to June 6 (Fri), as well as on December 31 (Wed) and January 1, 2026 (Thu).
Opening Hours：10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Last admission: 5:30 PM)
Organizer：Kadokawa Culture Museum (Kadokawa Culture Promotion Foundation)
Advisor：Nobuhisa Kaneko (Curator, Fuchu Art Museum)
Ticket Prices (Tax Included)：
●Online Purchase（https://tix.kadcul.com/）、Same-Day at Museum
Adults (University students and up)：¥2,700／Junior High & High School Students：¥2,200／Elementary School Students：¥1,500／Preschool Children：Free
※This exhibition is also included with the “1DAY Passport.” For details, please refer to the ticket page.

＊Note: Museum hours and closed days are subject to change. Please check the latest calendar for updates.
＊Exhibition content may change or be canceled without notice.