LaLa Magazine Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary with a Giant Original Art Exhibition: A Visual Feast in Tokyo and Osaka
Hakusensha's iconic shoujo manga magazine LaLa is organizing a massive original art exhibition themed "Enchanting Creation" to celebrate its half-century history. This special event, which will open its doors at Shinjuku Takashimaya in Tokyo on July 17, 2026, will then move to the Namba Parks Museum in Osaka on September 5. The exhibition will bring together more than 200 original hand-drawn and digital works from 76 different artists who have left their mark on the magazine's history in such a comprehensive way for the first time.
The exhibition hosts many masterpieces that bear witness to the evolution of the shoujo manga genre. Visitors will have the opportunity to see rare sketches of globally popular series such as Yuki Midorikawa's Natsume's Book of Friends (Natsume Yuujinchou), Bisco Hatori's unforgettable work Ouran High School Host Club, and Matsuri Hino's Vampire Knight up close. Additionally, works like Masami Tsuda's His and Her Circumstances (Kare Kano) and Sorata Akiduki's Snow White with the Red Hair are among the focal points of the exhibition. These works prove once again how LaLa has been a pioneer not only in romance but also in drama and supernatural genres.
One of the most exciting details for fans is the entry rewards. Visitors will be gifted special collection cards that change every day of the week and represent different series. For example, while Minako Narita and Sorata Akiduki cards will be given on Mondays, Natsume Yuujinchou designs will be distributed on Wednesdays. Readers who collect all five different cards will be able to combine them to create a special commemorative frame featuring 10 different characters. Furthermore, special autograph sessions will be held with names like Bisco Hatori in Tokyo and Hiro Fujiwara in Osaka.
Starting its publication life in 1976, LaLa is known as a school of thought in the shoujo manga world that prioritizes aesthetic quality and profound storytelling. Established by Hakusensha initially as a spin-off of the Hana to Yume magazine, it quickly gained its own independent identity and introduced many artists who pushed the boundaries of the genre to the industry. This 50th-anniversary exhibition is not just a celebration, but also a tribute that reminds us of the value of physical drawings in a digitalizing world. If you have the chance to be in Japan during these dates, you should definitely add this exhibition to your list to see the intricacies of manga art in person.
