<Kanjōten: Emotions Through Tanka & Illustration> arrives at the Kadokawa Musashino Museum from February 13 to March 29, 2026, inviting visitors to literally “walk through” feelings. Under the creative direction of celebrated illustrator Mika Pikazo, the exhibition pairs 31-syllable tanka poems with contemporary visuals to show how words can shape an image—and how an image can reframe a poem. A linked pixiv contest will also bring selected winning entries into the gallery, turning audience creativity into part of the show.
Inside Kanjōten: Tanka × Illustration, Pure Emotion
What will you actually experience at Kanjōten? The galleries pair contemporary tanka—five short lines, 31 syllables in total—with newly created illustrations. Sometimes the poem comes first and the image follows; in other rooms, an image prompts a poem. Each pairing is arranged to spotlight the “spark” where words and visuals meet: a color echoing a verb, a layout amplifying a pause, a line of poetry that changes how you read a character’s gaze. Captions and space design encourage you to read slowly, look twice, and compare what you felt before and after.
Mika Pikazo’s Creative Direction Shapes the Journey
Creative director Mika Pikazo sets the overall flow from room to room. Expect bold palettes, crisp typography, and staging that borrows from pop visual culture while honoring the intimacy of tanka. Pikazo’s approach highlights creation as a process—someone feels something, then makes something—so visitors sense both the spark of expression and its ripple in the viewer.
Kadokawa Musashino Museum Hosts a Cross-media Showcase
The exhibition takes place in the 3F gallery of the Kadokawa Musashino Museum inside Tokorozawa Sakura Town (Saitama). The venue’s cube-like architecture and soft lighting suit an experience that moves between reading and looking. Practical updates and guidance will be posted on the official exhibition page.
From Verse to Visuals—Emotions Flow Between Two Arts
Tanka is a centuries-old literary form; illustration is a contemporary engine of pop art. Kanjōten brings them together to show how both are, at heart, emotion machines. You’ll find side-by-side displays, immersive wall prints, and close-reading corners that invite you to compare drafts, iterations, and alternate takes. The curation makes clear: emotion is the constant, while the medium is the variable.
Pixiv Contest Winners Featured in the Exhibition
In collaboration with pixiv, two contests run alongside preparations: Illustration from Tanka and Tanka from Illustration (entry window: Sept 10–Oct 19, 2025). A selection of award-winning works is planned for display in the gallery, extending the “call-and-response” between poetry and visuals. Submit or browse entries here: Illustration from Tanka / Tanka from Illustration.
Dates, Access, and Planning Tips at Tokorozawa Sakura Town
The run is scheduled for Feb 13 (Fri) – Mar 29 (Sun), 2026 at the museum’s 3F gallery (3-31-3 Higashi-Tokorozawa Wada, Tokorozawa). Check the official page for tickets, hours, and any special events. If you’re visiting from abroad, allow time to explore the wider Sakura Town campus—bookstores, cafes, and public art make it an easy full-day culture trip.
A Gateway for Teens and Global Visitors to Japanese Verse
Short, emotionally direct, and social-media friendly, contemporary tanka has been booming among younger readers. Kanjōten leans into that trend, framing poems and images so international visitors can feel the rhythm and surprise even when reading translations or guide notes. Come ready to look, read, feel—and maybe try writing or drawing your own response afterward.
Plan Your Visit and Join the Creative Dialogue
Experience how words and images trade places at Kanjōten this winter. Check dates and updates on the official exhibition page, and follow announcements on the official X account. Bring a friend, slow down, and see what your own emotions reveal.
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