Three Manga Masters Together: Joint Original Art Exhibition of Yamada Namihei, Hidaka Mari, and Takao Shigeru Opens
Yamada Namihei, Hidaka Mari, and Takao Shigeru – all three are names known for their unique styles in the Japanese manga world – have now come together in a joint exhibition. Held at the historic Ozaki Teodora Mansion, known for its special atmosphere in Tokyo, the "3-Person Original Art Exhibition ~HAPPY Anniversary~" has opened its doors. The exhibition brings together original hand-drawn works, scanned copies, and rare concept pieces selected from different periods of the three artists’ careers.
At the press launch held before the event, the three manga artists candidly discussed what has changed and what has remained the same as they looked back at their past manuscripts. Yamada Namihei (known for works such as "Kimi no Iru Machi" and "Hiyokoi") expressed that the meticulous detail of his early hand-drawn period has now been replaced by digital tools, but the emotional depth he wants to convey in his characters has always remained the same. Hidaka Mari (the master who drew the second half of "Kare Kano") said she now blends the soft shading techniques she used in her youth with sharper lines. Takao Shigeru (author of "Otome no Teikoku" and "Uta Koi") emphasized how his lines, which particularly bring traditional Japanese motifs into modern shōjo manga, have simplified over time but his aesthetic concern has always been consistent.
The venue of the exhibition, Ozaki Teodora Mansion, is known as a historic building that blends Western and Japanese architecture. Built in the 1920s, the mansion now hosts cultural and artistic events. The reason the three manga artists wanted to hold an exhibition in this special venue is to give the exhibition a warm, "house party" atmosphere. Indeed, the phrase "HAPPY Anniversary" in the exhibition name coincides with important career anniversaries for all three artists in 2024-2025. While 25 years have passed since Yamada Namihei's first professional publication, Hidaka Mari celebrates her 30th year, and Takao Shigeru his 20th.
Such joint exhibitions are a rare event in the Japanese manga industry. Rather than the retrospectives often organized by major publishers, here the artists themselves curate and tell their personal stories, which is much more valuable for readers. Fans will be able to attend autograph sessions of the three masters, and purchase limited edition prints and exhibition-specific postcards. The exhibition will be open for the next few weeks (until the end of April 2025). If you find yourself in Tokyo, seeing the hand-drawn works of these three important names in manga history together is an opportunity not to be missed.
