Graphic Japan: Hokusai, Manga & Japanese Culture in Bologna

Bologna, Italy – A comprehensive exhibition exploring the evolution of Japanese graphic art, from the delicate ukiyo-e prints of the Edo period to contemporary manga, continues to draw visitors to the Museo Civico Archeologico. The exhibition, Graphic Japan. Da Hokusai al Manga, which began on November 20, 2025, is scheduled to run until April 6, 2026.

The exhibition aims to delve into the cultural roots and visual languages that have established Japanese graphic art as a globally influential force. It examines the unique interplay between line and form that characterizes the art, tracing its development through centuries of innovation, and tradition.

A series of events scheduled throughout February and March will further explore various facets of Japanese culture, encompassing graphic design, comics, and fashion. These events will feature prominent figures and experts in Japanese traditions, including Alessandro Guidi, Director of the Centro Studi d’Arte Estremo-Orientale, manga artist Igort, and kimono designer Hiroko Takahashi.

Today, Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 4:00 PM, Alessandro Guidi will deliver a lecture titled Magie di carta e di legno: la produzione di stampe ukiyo-e (Magic of Paper and Wood: The Production of Ukiyo-e Prints). The lecture, held at the Museo Civico Archeologico’s conference hall, will detail the complex process of creating ukiyo-e prints, a collaborative effort involving artists, engravers, printers, and publishers. Guidi will explain how seemingly impossible visual effects were achieved using traditional techniques. Admission is free, with a capacity of 90 attendees.

On February 22, manga artist and screenwriter Igort will join curator Rossella Menegazzo for a discussion on Manga e arte grafica: il pop prima del pop (Manga and Graphic Art: Pop Before Pop). This event will explore the relationship between manga and the broader history of pop art.

A concert, Otodama. L’anima dei suoni (Otodama. The Soul of Sounds), is scheduled for March 8 at 4:00 PM. The performance will feature Shinobu Kikuchi on vocals and sanshin (a traditional Okinawan instrument) accompanied by Yuriko Mikami on cello, followed by a screening of works by Katsuya Kikuchi.

Complementing the exhibition at the Museo Civico Archeologico, a film series inspired by Graphic Japan is currently underway at the Cinema Modernissimo, in collaboration with the Cineteca di Bologna. Screenings continue throughout February. On February 20 at 10:15 PM, Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams will be shown, followed by Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron on February 21 at 3:30 PM. Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist is scheduled for February 23 at 7:45 PM.

All films are presented in their original Japanese with Italian subtitles. Ticket holders for Graphic Japan are eligible for reduced admission to screenings at the Cinema Modernissimo, and vice versa, fostering cross-promotion between the exhibition and the film series.

The exhibition is divided into four thematic sections: Nature, Figures, Signs, and Contemporary Japonism. It features over 200 works, including woodblock prints, books, albums, posters, and katagami (Japanese paper stencils). The exhibition traces the evolution of Japanese graphic art across various disciplines, from calligraphy and design to typography, theatre, fashion, cinema, and comics.

The project, curated by Rossella Menegazzo and Eleonora Lanza, aims to explore the reasons behind the global success of Japanese graphic art, highlighting its distinctive combination of line and drawing. The exhibition showcases the work of prominent artists and examines the evolution of styles, techniques, and subject matter.

Works on display originate from both Italian and Japanese institutions, including the Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art in Genoa, the Museum of Oriental Art in Venice, civic and national libraries, and prestigious Japanese collections such as the Dai Nippon Foundation for Cultural Promotion and the Adachi Foundation. The exhibition is sponsored by the Emilia-Romagna Region, the Consulate General of Japan in Milan, and the Italy-Japan Foundation.