5 unmissable manga and anime exhibitions in Tokyo in 2025

The creator of seminal works of manga that have profoundly influenced cyberpunk aesthetics and futuristic storytelling, Masamune Shirow is best known for Ghost in the Shell, Appleseed and Dominion. As a pioneer in the study of the implications of artificial intelligence on society, the Kobe-born artist has been exploring the intersection of technology, humanity and consciousness since the 1980s...

As his nickname ‘God of Manga’ suggests, the Osaka-born Osamu Tezuka (1928–1989) revolutionised Japanese manga and animation, shaping the industry into what it is today. His immense creativity and pioneering storytelling introduced the world to classics such as Astro Boy, Black Jack and Kimba the White Lion. The artist himself, however, considered Phoenix (Hinotori) his magnum opus...

After celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2024, the legendary kaiju takes center stage at the Mori Arts Center Gallery with ‘Godzilla: The Art’, an exhibition highlighting the still-evolving legacy of the world’s most famous monster. Running from April 26 to June 29, this fifth installment in the acclaimed ‘Godzilla: The Art’ series invites visitors to experience the beast through a new artistic lens...

Originally serialised in Weekly Big Comic Spirits from 2020 to 2022, mononymous author Uoto’s manga Orb: On the Movements of the Earth takes readers to a fictional 15th-century European kingdom where heliocentric theory challenges the long-held geocentric worldview upheld by the Church. In an era where knowledge was tightly controlled and heresy could cost one’s life, the work tells a gripping story of intellectual challenge...

For over a decade, My Hero Academia has captivated fans worldwide with its gripping narrative, compelling characters and high-octane battles. Created by Kohei Horikoshi, the manga debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2014 and quickly became a cornerstone of modern shonen storytelling. Its success spawned a multimedia empire, including an anime adaptation by Studio Bones, multiple animated films, spin-off manga and an upcoming live-action adaptation...