Takashi Murakami Brings His ‘JAPONISME' Exhibition to Tokyo
On view until January 29, 2026.
Summary
- Takashi Murakami has opened his JAPONISME exhibition at Kaikai Kiki Gallery Tokyo, running until January 29, 2026
- The show features editioned prints reimagining Hiroshige’s “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” with Murakami’s pop‑infused style
Takashi Murakami has unveiled his JAPONISME → Cognitive Revolution: Learning from Hiroshige exhibition in Tokyo today at the Kaikai Kiki Gallery Motoazabu. The show revisits Murakami’s exploration of Japonisme, a theme he previously presented at Gagosian New York earlier in 2025, where he examined the influence of Japanese ukiyo‑e master Utagawa Hiroshige on Western modernism. For the Tokyo edition, Murakami expands this dialogue by presenting a series of editioned prints based on the paintings shown in New York, allowing audiences to experience the full scope of his reinterpretations in one cohesive setting.
At the heart of the exhibition are Murakami’s reinterpretations of Hiroshige’s “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo,” which he reimagines through his own pop‑infused visual language. These pieces highlight the intersection of Edo‑period aesthetics with contemporary abstraction, underscoring Murakami’s argument that Japonisme was not merely a stylistic borrowing but a catalyst for the birth of modern art.
Notable canvases on display include his reworkings of iconic prints such as “Suidō Bridge and Surugadai” and “Asakusa Ricefields and Torinomachi Festival,” to which he has meticulously added his own signature characters and elements from other ukiyo-e works. These pieces were first exhibited alongside their historical counterparts at the Brooklyn Museum in 2024, prompting a deep reconsideration of Hiroshige’s influential worldview through a contemporary lens.
The Tokyo exhibition also serves as a reflective continuation of Murakami’s broader project on cultural exchange and artistic transformation. As noted during the Gagosian presentation, Murakami framed Japonisme as a “cognitive revolution” that reshaped Western art in the late 19th century, paving the way for movements like Cubism and abstraction. By staging this exhibition in Japan, Murakami brings the conversation full circle, situating Hiroshige’s legacy within its original cultural context while demonstrating its enduring global resonance. The show not only highlights Murakami’s ongoing engagement with art history but also positions his work as a bridge between tradition and contemporary innovation.
Takashi Murakami’s JAPONISME → Cognitive Revolution: Learning from Hiroshige exhibition will remain on view at Kaikai Kiki Gallery in Tokyo until January 29, 2026
Kaikai Kiki Gallery
B1F Motoazabu Crest Bldg.,
2-3-30 Motoazabu, Minato-ku,
Tokyo 106-0046, Japan
