Exhibition Overview

Ahead of the second edition,
“A Contest of Allure: Hokusai and Eisen, Kabukicho in Full Bloom”
Shinjuku Kabukicho Shunga Exhibition: WA, Vol. 2,
This exhibition will be held from February 14 (Sat) to March 15 (Sun), 2026, as a bridging chapter titled:

“A Small Love Story: The World of Mameban Shunga.”

The exhibition presents approximately 100 Mameban shunga, “bean-sized” shunga works, from the collection of Mitsuru Uragami, representative of Uragami Sōkyūdō.

These palm-sized prints contain intimate, humorous, and tender love stories. Though small in scale, they are rich in expression.

Mameban, meaning “bean-sized” in Japanese, refers to a miniature format. Mameban shunga are shunga works created on this intimate scale and are often realized as multicolored woodblock prints (nishiki-e) that explore themes of desire and intimacy.

Typically measuring approximately 9 × 12.3 cm, these works were often produced as sets of twelve prints. Their charming size and accessible price made them popular among a wide range of people, from common townsfolk to feudal lords.

During the Edo period, alongside the official shogunate calendar, a custom of privately issued pictorial calendars known as daishō existed. These were distributed during the New Year like greeting cards. Inspired by this playful tradition, shunga versions of daishō emerged, eventually giving rise to Mameban shunga.

Some works in this exhibition still retain these calendrical devices. Visitors are encouraged to look closely and discover them.

Who created these works? Where were they printed?
Many mysteries surrounding Mameban shunga remain unresolved. Because of this, visitors can encounter the images themselves, freed from names, titles, and authorship, and engage with them directly.
Now, step into “A Small Love Story.”
Through the small, approachable, and intimate world of Mameban shunga, we invite you to enjoy a moment of closeness with shunga art.

Exhibition Details

Dates: February 14 (Sat) – March 15 (Sun), 2026
Duration: 30 days (open daily)
Opening Hours:
11:00–19:00 (last admission 18:30)
Late-Night Opening:
Every Friday & Saturday, 11:00–21:00 (last admission 20:30)

Venue:
BOND
Kabukicho Social Building 9F
1-2-15 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Access:
7-minute walk from Higashi-Shinjuku Station (Toei Oedo Line)
9-minute walk from Shinjuku-sanchome Station (Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line)
12-minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station (Yamanote Line)

Tickets

Planned ticket sales start: January 15, 2026
(One month before the opening)

Admission: ¥1,100

Visitors holding a valid disability certificate and one accompanying person are admitted free of charge.
This exhibition uses date-specific ticketing. Purchase your ticket for a selected date online. No time slot is required; enter at any time during opening hours on your chosen date.
If capacity allows, same-day entry without a reservation will be accepted. Please note that visitors with reservations will be given priority.
Re-entry is permitted on the same day.

Admission is restricted to visitors aged 18 and over.
Age verification is required at the time of ticket purchase. Visitors may also be asked to present valid identification (My Number Card, driver’s license, health insurance card, etc.) upon entry.

Staff Credits

Planning:
Maki Tezuka (Chairman, Smappa!Group)

Art Direction / Curation:
Yasutaka Hayashi
(Chim↑Pom from Smappa!Group)

Project Manager / Curation:
Honyashan

Project Leader:
Shinichi Kato

Public Relations:
Hanako Aiyama (OFFICE-Hai)
Rui Minamoto
Smappa!Group

Design:
Smappa!Group

Merchandise Production:
Smappa!Group

Key Member Profiles

Mitsuru Uragami

PROFILE

Influenced from an early age by his father, Toshiro Uragami, an avid collector and Honorary Director of the Hagi Uragami Museum, Mitsuru Uragami developed a deep engagement with classical art. After training at Mayuyama Ryusendo, he founded Uragami Sōkyūdō in 1979. He has organized numerous exhibitions and became the first Japanese art dealer to participate continuously in the International Asia Art Fair in New York for 11 years beginning in 1997, also serving on its vetting committee. He contributed significantly to major shunga exhibitions, including the 2013 British Museum exhibition through the establishment of Shunga in Japan LLP, and the 2015 exhibition at Eisei Bunko Museum. His collection of Hokusai Manga is widely regarded as the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Executive Board Member, International Ukiyo-e Society Special Member, Society for the Study of Oriental Ceramics http://www.uragami.co.jp/

Maki Tezuka

PROFILE

Chairman of Smappa!Group, which operates more than 20 establishments in Kabukicho, including host clubs, bars, restaurants, and salons. Born in 1977 in Saitama Prefecture. Executive Director of the Kabukicho Shopping District Promotion Association. Certified Sommelier (Japan Sommelier Association). After becoming a top-ranking host, he founded his own business and later launched the volunteer organization Yatagarasu no Kai, conducting nighttime street-cleaning activities. He also serves as a board member of the NPO Green Bird. In 2017, he opened Kabukicho Book Center, the district’s first bookstore, and in 2018 launched a caregiving business grounded in hospitality principles. Author of Shinjuku Kabukicho (Gentosha).

Yasutaka Hayashi

PROFILE

Member of the artist collective Chim↑Pom from Smappa!Group, founded in 2005. Based in Tokyo, his practice spans media and geography, participating in exhibitions worldwide. Winner of Emerging Artist of the Year (Grand Prize) at the 2015 Prudential Eye Awards. Held a retrospective exhibition at the Mori Art Museum in 2022. His works are held in major collections, including the Guggenheim Museum and Centre Pompidou.