YUGEN Gallery What is “Kawaii Hell”? Shiriagari Kotobuki’s solo exhibition “Kagai Iji Hell”

【YUGEN Gallery】What is “Kawaii Hell”? Shiriagari Kotobuki’s solo exhibition “Kagai Ijigoku” ​ Image
URL: Gene Co., Ltd. Press release: September 12, 2025 To Members of the Press [YUGEN Gallery] What is “Kawaii Hell”? Shiriagari Kotobuki’s solo exhibition “Kagai Iji Jigoku” (Saturday, October 4th, 2025 – Sunday, October 19th, 2025) An exhibition featuring an installation that brings hell to life. Rakugo performances will also be held during the exhibition period.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/74187/505/74187-505-b6721cd9b86d066d13e73346f172435b-1280×670.jpg

YUGEN Gallery (4F KD Minami-Aoyama Building, 3-1-31 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo) will be holding a solo exhibition by Kotobuki Shirai, “Kagai Jigoku (Cute Hell),” from Saturday, October 4, 2025. Shiriagari Kotobuki is a manga artist known for his representative works such as “Yaji-san and Kita-san at Midnight,” “Earth Defense Family,” and “Manga from That Day,” which won the Excellence Award in the Manga Division of the 15th Japan Media Arts Festival held by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Having always approached essential themes in his diverse creative endeavors, including manga, video, and art, for over 40 years, he has now taken on the theme of “hell.” He will cover part of the exhibition space with large sheets of paper, on which he will paint demons, monsters, and other creatures, creating an installation that brings a “cute” hell to life in the gallery space. The exhibition will consist of approximately 30 ink paintings and panel drawings. “Kawaii” is a culture that Japan boasts to the world. Shiriagari sees it as a filter that obscures many social issues. People put off solving problems and seek comfort and solace in “kawaii” while their anxieties about the future linger. Isn’t this hellish? Rather than depicting a visibly terrifying hellscape, this film depicts a gentle afterlife. The feeling of being warm and fuzzy one moment and then being plunged into despair the next is truly a Shiriagari world. A special event will be held on Saturday, October 11th, during the exhibition. The first half will feature a rakugo performance by Tatekawa Sunshi, and the second half will be a talk show with Shiriagari Kotobuki. Tatekawa Sunshi is a notable
storyteller who was recently promoted to full-fledged performer. This entertainment show by the up-and-coming storyteller Shiriagari Kotobuki is also a must-see. A worldview born from the narrative style of manga that gets to the heart of the matter and the “bleeding” and “white space” of ink painting. Come experience a hell you’ve never known before at the venue. For more information, please visit the gallery’s official website.
https://yugen-gallery.com/blogs/exhibitions/kotobukishiriagari-tokyo Event overview ■Title: Kagai different hell ■Period: Saturday, October 4th – Sunday, October 19th ■Opening Hours: Weekdays 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM; Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM *Closes at 5:00 PM on the last day only *Last admission 30 minutes before closing. *Open daily throughout the exhibition period. ■Location: YUGEN Gallery ■Address: KD Minami-Aoyama Building 4F, 3-1-31 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo (also home to Gene Co., Ltd. office) ■Admission fee: Free Artist profile
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/74187/505/74187-505-8fce0f0aab73db333413dba8027b0973-800×800.png Kotobuki Shiriagari Shiriagari Kotobuki / Manga artist. Born in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture in 1958. After graduating from the Department of Graphic Design, Faculty of Fine Arts, Tama Art University in 1981, he joined Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd., where he was responsible for package design, advertising, and promotion. He made his debut as a manga artist in 1984 with “Ryusei Kacho” in the “Shonen Sunday Special Edition.” He gained attention as a new type of comedy manga artist focusing on parodies. His representative works include “Electric Spring” (Hakusensha), “Mayonaka no Yaji-san Kita-san” (Magazine House), “Earth Defense Family People” (Asahi Shimbun), and many others. His awards include the 46th Bungeishunju Manga Award (‘Current Affairs Oyaji 2000’/Aspect, ‘Yuruyuru Oyaji’/Bungeishunju, 2000), the 5th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Manga Excellence Award (‘Yanikita indeep’/Enterbrain, 2001), and the 15th Agency for Cultural Affairs Japan Media Arts Festival Manga Division Excellence Award (‘Manga from that day’/Enterbrain, 2011). In 2014 he was awarded the Purple Ribbon Medal. He is a visiting professor at Kobe Design University. Exhibition 2020, The National Art Center, Tokyo, “Classics x Contemporary 2020 – Japanese Art Transcending Time and Space” 2021: Sumida Hokusai Museum, Tokyo “Shiriagari-san Hokusai-san – A hilarious SHOW TIME!-” 2022: Komyoin, a sub-temple of Tofukuji Temple, Kyoto “If you extinguish your mind, fire is also COOL” Kuraya, Kyoto: “Dreaming Within a Dream” 2023: Cafe La Ruche, Yufuin, Oita: “The Yufuin Cave Bath Appears! ” 2024: Hibiya Library & Museum, Tokyo: Special Exhibition “Shiriagari-san and Time Trouble: Edo x Tokyo” 2025, Gallery Q, Tokyo, Two-person exhibition “Is Naoto Kotobuki a Weird Person…?” Isetan Shinjuku, Tokyo, “Oyaji no Kurashi” Kyoto, Tofukuji Temple, Komyoin, “Light and Arhats” About YUGEN Gallery
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/74187/505/74187-505-9df7d872d2eb0a5e537303a91d39177d-1280×670.jpg YUGEN Gallery is a gallery specializing in Japanese contemporary art, established in February 2022. It operates from two locations: Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, and Tenjin, Fukuoka. The gallery’s name, “YUGEN,” comes from the uniquely Japanese aesthetic concept of “yugen,” and embodies our desire to convey to as many people as possible the appeal of Japanese art, which embodies elements such as depth, sublimity, elegance, grace, brilliance, and magnificence. Our gallery introduces up-and-coming contemporary artists active both in Japan and abroad, exhibiting a wide range of works across genres. In addition, our official website sells works online in both Japanese and English, bringing art to people around the world. [Gallery overview] ＜YUGEN Gallery＞ ■Address: 4F KD Minamiaoyama Building, 3-1-31 Minamiaoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo ■Business days: Only during exhibition periods ■Business hours: Weekdays 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM / Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM *May vary depending on the exhibition. ＜YUGEN Gallery FUKUOKA＞ ■Address: 4F Stage 1 Nishidori, 2-1-4 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture ■Business hours: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM ■Closed: Every Tuesday *The museum may be closed temporarily due to exhibit changes. Please check the official website and official social media accounts. ■Official website: https://yugen-gallery.com/ ■Official SNS: X:
https://twitter.com/yugengallery_jp Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/yugengallery.jp/ Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/yugengallery.jp/ About Gene Co., Ltd.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/74187/505/74187-505-e7ca60d2c5b5792b3dd858f07bcb952a-1280×670.png In addition to our Digital Marketing Business, which provides consulting services utilizing internet advertising, we also operate our Art & Media Business and Lifestyle Business. ‧Various research including market research and competitive analysis ‧Internet advertising management (search, SNS, video, etc.) ‧SEO strategies, affiliate strategies ‧Creative production, system development ‧Various consulting services ‧ASP service “Kachi Kachi” https://katikati.jp/ ・Contemporary Art Gallery “YUGEN Gallery”
https://yugen-gallery.com/ja/ ・Shonanjin, a comprehensive information site for the Shonan area https://shonanjin.com ・Publishing business “Jeane Books” https://jeanebooks.com/ja/ – Cosmetics Division “LIPOPEEL (Serum)” https://lipopeel.jp/ – Real Estate Business “Shonanjin Real Estate” https://realestate.shonanjin.com/ ・Shonan area recruitment site “Work Shonan” https://work.shonanjin.com/ [Gene Co., Ltd. Company Profile] ■Representative: Representative Director Hiroaki Hayashida ■Established: December 8, 2016 ■Capital: 100 million yen (as of January 2023/including capital reserve) ■Official website: https://jeane.jp ■Official SNS: https://www.facebook.com/jeaneincjp https://twitter.com/jeaneinc https://www.instagram.com/jeaneincjp ■Location: 107-0062 KD Minami Aoyama Building 4F, 3-1-31 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo Phone 03-6380-6165 FAX 03-6380-6215 ■License, etc.: Antique dealer (artwork) Tokyo Metropolitan Public Safety Commission No. 30331212827 Real Estate Transaction Business Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (1) No. 10616 Paid employment placement business License number 13-U-314999 Specific recruitment information provision business 51-Recruitment-001048 ■Contact: pr@jeane.jp Copyright ©
Corporation All Rights Reserved.