Shinjuku Kabukicho Mameban Shunga Exhibition Ticket

Highlights

• Immerse yourself in the world of Mameban shunga at a unique exhibition
• Discover approximately 100 bean-sized shunga works from the Edo period
• Explore themes of desire and intimacy through multicolored woodblock prints
• Enjoy a moment of closeness with shunga art in a small, intimate format
• Visit the exhibition at your own pace with a ticket for your chosen date

Description

Step into the world of Mameban Shunga, a unique exhibition showcasing approximately 100 'bean-sized' shunga works from the collection of Mitsuru Uragami. These palm-sized prints contain intimate, humorous, and tender love stories. Though small in scale, they are rich in expression. Mameban, meaning “bean-sized” in Japanese, refers to a miniature format. Mameban shunga are shunga works created on this intimate scale and are often realized as multicolored woodblock prints (nishiki-e) that explore themes of desire and intimacy. Typically measuring approximately 9 × 12.3 cm, these works were often produced as sets of twelve prints. Their charming size and accessible price made them popular among a wide range of people, from common townsfolk to feudal lords. During the Edo period, alongside the official shogunate calendar, a custom of privately issued pictorial calendars known as daishō existed. These were distributed during the New Year like greeting cards. Inspired by this playful tradition, shunga versions of daishō emerged, eventually giving rise to Mameban shunga. Some works in this exhibition still retain these calendrical devices. Visitors are encouraged to look closely and discover them. Many mysteries surrounding Mameban shunga remain unresolved. Because of this, visitors can encounter the images themselves, freed from names, titles, and authorship, and engage with them directly.

Includes

Access to the Shunga Exhibition Viewing of approximately 100 Mameban shunga artworks Late-night opening on Fridays and Saturdays

Important Information

• Admission is restricted to visitors aged 18 and over Age verification is required at the time of ticket purchase Visitors may be asked to present valid identification upon entry Re-entry is permitted on the same day

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund