Animals & Monsters: Cute, Scary, and a Little Weird

Various animals and monsters appear in ukiyo-e. From cats and dogs depicted as beloved pets to weird, terrifying demons and giant earth spiders, their portrayals are incredibly diverse. You will find anthropomorphized animals and even humorous, strangely shaped characters.

This exhibition showcases 140 works, ranging from popular pieces known for their charm and humor to newly acquired works shown for the first time (full rotation between terms). Explore the fascinating world of ukiyo-e through three keywords: “Cute,” “Scary,” and “A little weird.”

Highlight 1: Adorable Animals and Monsters

The world of ukiyo-e is filled with charming animals and monsters (yōkai). There are beloved cats and dogs, and even foxes and elephants that move with comical, human-like expressions.

Not all monsters are spine-chilling; some are surprisingly cute, like the Nekomata (mythical two-tailed monster cat), often depicted dancing with a hand towel on its head. Come and see an all-star lineup of popular animals and monsters!

Highlight 2: Anthropomorphized “Mimic” Animals

In ukiyo-e, animals like cats, rabbits, and octopuses—and even plants like Chinese lanterns and pumpkins—are transformed into lively, human-like figures. Cats are especially popular, often depicted relaxing at soba shop and eel eateries, and public baths. This exhibition features a full lineup of anthropomorphized characters from the Ota Memorial Museum of Art collection.

Highlight 3: “A little weird” Characters: What on Earth is this?

Ukiyo-e features more than just well-known animals and monsters. You’ll encounter a bizarre array of mysterious characters: the “Torako-ishi” (a mythical creature with a stone body and a tiger’s legs and tail), fish with human faces, and a single creature merging all twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac. Even abstract concepts like diseases, medicines, and money are transformed into human forms. This collection is full of the rich imagination of ukiyo-e artists.

Highlight 4: Nearly One-Fifth of the Exhibition on Display for the First

The Ota Memorial Museum of Art has hosted several exhibitions focused on animals and monsters in the past. This time, alongside our most popular masterpieces, we are showcasing a large number of works for the very first time. In fact, 27 out of the 140 pieces on display—nearly one-fifth of the entire exhibition—are new acquisitions. Even if you have seen our previous shows, there is plenty of new material for you to enjoy!

Admission

Adult	1200 yen
University and High school students	800 yen
Junior High School Students and below (under 15 years old)	Free

＊Student ID required for junior high school students and above.
＊¥100 discount with a disability ID (Valid for the holder and 1 caregiver).
＊We accept cash only. No credit cards or mobile payments.

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Utagawa Hiroshige “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” －His Final Challenge

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), a master of ukiyo-e, transformed meisho-e (pictures of famous places) in the late Edo period. Throughout his career, he remained at the forefront of the genre. His celebrated series, One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, is widely regarded as a masterpiece that vividly captures the spirit of the city.

Hiroshige devoted the final three years of his life (aged 60–62) to this ambitious series. Several prints were published after his death, and the series is the culminating achievement of his career and his most extensive project, comprising his largest body of prints.

The works are notable for their bold and unconventional compositions, employing striking perspectives rarely seen in earlier landscape prints. Depicting over one hundred sites in Edo, Hiroshige identified and introduced “new” famous places that had previously received little attention, while also incorporating elements of contemporary life and popular culture. In this sense, the series represents a highly inventive and experimental undertaking in the artist’s later years. Presented here for the first time in approximately 8 years, the complete set of 120 prints from the series is shown in 2 terms. We invite you to explore the remarkable artistic achievements that Hiroshige attained in his final years and to experience the enduring appeal of these works.

①A final masterpiece: The art of exquisite carving and printing

Created by the artist between the ages of 60 and 62, One Hundred Famous Views of Edo represents Hiroshige’s final artistic testament, with several prints published posthumously. The exhibition is divided into 2 terms to showcase the complete set of 120 works: 118 designs by Hiroshige, 1 by Hiroshige II, and the series index. Our museum’s collection is renowned for its exceptional preservation and the vibrant beauty of its early-edition carving and printing, offering a rare opportunity to experience the full brilliance of this masterpiece.

② Innovation in landscape art: The challenge of bold composition

One of the most striking features of this series is the “foreground-dominant” style (kinzō-gata kōzu), in which a large motif is placed prominently in the immediate foreground. Hiroshige also utilized dramatic cropping and bird’s-eye perspectives to create innovative, highly graphic compositions. This series exerted a profound influence on Western art and remains pivotal in redefining landscape art worldwide.

③ Capturing the “now” of Edo: Discovering new landmarks and social trends

Hiroshige introduced numerous innovations beyond just composition. Expanding his vision from the city center to the suburbs—including scenic areas such as Ōji and Meguro—he actively redefined and popularized new “famous views.”

He also keenly captured the turbulent social conditions of the late Edo period. For instance, he depicted how Mt. Goten was carved away to provide soil for constructing coastal artillery batteries (Odaiba) following the arrival of the “Black Ships.”

These works demonstrate Hiroshige’s diverse innovations—particularly how he redefined the landscape genre by weaving the pulse of the era into his art.

Admission

Adult	1200 yen
University and High school students	800 yen
Junior High School Students and below (under 15 years old)	Free

＊Student ID required for junior high school students and above.
＊¥100 discount with a disability ID (Valid for the holder and 1 caregiver).
＊We accept cash only. No credit cards or mobile payments.

Calendar