Shizuoka City Museum of Art “The World of Hiroshi Kagakui: The Picture Book Author Who Brings Smiles to Children All Over Japan” Opens Saturday, January 10, 2026

Shizuoka City Museum of Art: “The World of Hiroshi Kagakui, the Picture Book Author Who Brings Smiles to Children All Over Japan” Opens Saturday, January 10, 2026 ​
Shizuoka Shimbun Co., Ltd. Press Release: October 29, 2025 [Shizuoka City Museum of Art] “The World of Hiroshi Kagakui, the Picture Book Author Who Brings Smiles to Children All Over Japan” Opens Saturday, January 10, 2026 The first major retrospective of Hiroshi Kagakui’s work since his death, the author of the beloved “Daruma-san” picture book series.
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The Shizuoka Shimbun Press, Shizuoka Broadcasting System, Shizuoka City Museum of Art, and others will be holding the “The World of Kagakui Hiroshi” exhibition. Kagakui Hiroshi (1955-2009), the author of the “Daruma-san” picture book series, beloved by children and with a total circulation of over 10 million copies, will be on display. Kagakui made his debut at the age of 50 and produced 16 picture books in just four years before his sudden death from illness. A former teacher at a special needs school, he poured his passion into creating picture books that would bring a smile to anyone’s face, drawing on the knowledge and insight he gained from years of experience in the field. This exhibition, the first major retrospective of Kagakui’s work since his death, explores Kagakui’s legacy and the appeal of his picture books through invaluable materials, including the original illustrations for all 16 picture books, idea notebooks that served as the source of his creativity, video footage from his teaching days, and unfinished rough sketches. ■Period: January 10, 2026 (Sat) – March 22, 2026 (Sun) ■Venue: Shizuoka City Museum of Art (Aoi Tower 3rd floor, 17-1 Konyamachi, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City) ■Closed: Every Monday, except Monday, January 12th (national holiday), Monday, February 23rd (national holiday), and the following day, Tuesday, January 13th and Tuesday, February 24th. Closed. ■Opening Hours: 10:00-19:00
*Exhibition room admission is available until 30 minutes before closing. ■Admission Fee: Adults 1,300 yen (1,100 yen), University/High School Students and those 70 years of age and older 900 yen (700 yen), Junior High School Students and younger Free. ※ is available for advance and same-day tickets only for groups of 20 or more. * Free admission for those who present a disability certificate, a
certificate for recipients of designated medical expenses (designated intractable disease), or a certificate for recipients of medical care for children with specific chronic diseases, as well as one necessary attendant. ■Organizers: Shizuoka City, Shizuoka City Museum of Art, Shizuoka City Cultural Foundation (designated manager), Shizuoka Shimbun, Shizuoka Broadcasting System. ■Sponsored by: Shizuoka City Board of Education ■Special cooperation: Kumiko Katakei, Naoko Watanabe, Takeshi Katakei, Bronze Shinsha, Atsuko Okimoto, Keizo Yamazaki ■Supported by: Kodansha, PHP Institute, Kosei Publishing, Kyoikugageki, Kaiseisha, Genkosha, Hakusensha, Tokushu Tokai Paper, Ehon Navi, Puppet Theater PUK, Roba’s Music Theatre, Shizuoka Library Friendship Association ■Special sponsor: Shimizu Bank ■Supervision: Naoki Mizushima (Professor, University of the Sacred Heart) ■Creative Design: Masahiro Kakinokihara (10 inc.) ■Video: Benpineko ■Planning and Production: Yoshiko Horikawa, Bunka Kikaku On sale from Friday, November 14th to Friday, January 9th, 2026 ・Shizuoka City Museum of Art (Ticket counter, online tickets) ・Seven Ticket [Seven Code: 112-898] ・Lawson Ticket [L Code: 43912] ・Ticket Pia [P-Code: 687-343] ・Tanishimaya (Parche store, Mark Is Shizuoka store, Ryutsu Dori store) ・MARUZEN & Junkudo Bookstore Shin-Shizuoka store ・Toda Bookstore Ejiridai store ・Hyakuchomori
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/100047/104/100047-104-b82796e83abd640703770436dd3d387e-1000×1500.jpg Photography: Yoichi Oshima “Daruma-san” Cover Illustration, 2007 (C)Hiroshi Kagakui/Bronze Publishing Inc.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/100047/104/100047-104-2818a95705dfc7ffbe9de0eb77125be7-2000×1332.jpg “Original illustrations for ‘Omochi no Kimochi'” 2004-2005 (C)Hiroshi Kagakui/Kodansha
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/100047/104/100047-104-e18a0308ff1dbd1a03c6e2dffcfe5c1b-2000×1490.jpg “Original illustration for ‘The Arrival of Summer'” 2008 (C)Hiroshi Kagakui/PHP Institute
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/100047/104/100047-104-2fde1100eee87eba6ee55a84d0ec70e1-2000×1456.jpg “Gaman’s Cake” Original Artwork 2009 (C)Hiroshi Kagakui/Education Gageki
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/100047/104/100047-104-6284eac5d242a0fb1785f929fcc5520d-1800×2700.jpg Dolls handmade by Kagakui. Photo by Yoshinori Kurosawa 1) Lecture “Discussing the World of Kagakui Hiroshi” ◎Date and time: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 14:00-15:30 (doors open 13:30) ◎Lecturer: Mr. Naoki Mizushima (Professor, University of the Sacred Heart, Supervisor of this exhibition) ◎Venue: Shizuoka City Museum of Art Multipurpose Room ◎Participation Fee: Free ◎Capacity: 70 people (lottery will be held if there are too many applicants) ◎Application Deadline: Thursday, January 8, 2026 (must arrive by this date) *For details on application procedures, please visit the Shizuoka City Museum of Art website 2) Lecture: “Hiroshi Kagakui, The Secrets of Picture Book Making – The Creation of ‘Daruma-san'” ◎Date and Time: Saturday, February 7, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (Doors open at 1:30 PM) ◎Lecturer: Atsuko Okimoto (Children’s Book Editor, Editor in Charge of Kagaku Hihiroshi) ◎Venue: Shizuoka City Museum of Art, Multipurpose Room ◎Participation Fee: Free ◎Capacity: 70 people (lottery will be held in the event of oversubscribed participants) ◎Application Deadline: Thursday, January 22, 2026 (must arrive by this date) *For details on how to apply, please visit the Shizuoka City Museum of Art website. Various other events are planned! Picture book storytimes, slide talks by curators, and more. *For more information, please visit the Shizuoka City Museum of Art’s official website or contact the Shizuoka City Museum of Art at the address listed below. Sign language video, text, and audio commentary are available at the venue. Braille explanatory pamphlets are also available upon request. Please contact the Shizuoka City Museum of Art for more information. Exhibition Homepage SBS Event Information Shizuoka City Museum of Art For inquiries: Shizuoka Shimbun/Shizuoka Broadcasting System, Regional Business Promotion Bureau (054-281-9010) Weekdays 9:00-17:00 Shizuoka City Museum of Art (054-273-1515) *If you use an image in an article, please destroy it after use. *Please be sure to include credit when using.