Exhibit of Yokai Paintings by Mangaka Shigeru Mizuki Held at Shizuoka City Museum of Art

The Yomiuri Shimbun

11:43 JST, April 24, 2026

SHIZUOKA — An exhibition featuring yokai paintings by artist Shigeru Mizuki, best known for his manga “GeGeGe no Kitaro,” opened at the Shizuoka City Museum of Art in Aoi Ward, Shizuoka, on April 4.

On the opening day of the exhibition, titled “Shigeru Mizuki’s Yokai: Hyakki Yako Exhibition — How the Monsters were Born,” a talk was given by Mizuki’s daughter, Naoko Haraguchi. “Yokai” means monster, and “hyakki yako” means a night parade of 100 ogres.

One reason her father’s yokai paintings are unique, Haraguchi said, was that “He painted them with dye powder intended for dyeing kimonos, and he was very particular about his color choices.” She added, “I hope visitors will enjoy the vividness of the colors, which is different from what you see in published materials.”

An office worker from Aoi Ward said, “It was wonderful to hear such valuable stories from the perspective of a member of his family. I want to come back and enjoy it many times.”

Items featured at the exhibition include about 130 original drawings by Mizuki, as well as the collection of books he used for his research on yokai. It also introduces Mizuki’s upbringing, offering visitors a glimpse into his unique creative methods.

The exhibition is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and runs through June 14. The museum is closed every Monday, except for April 27 and May 4, and on May 7. Admission is ¥1,600 for adults; ¥1,200 for university and high school students and those aged 70 and over; and free for junior high school students and younger.