EVENT
Shinjuku City
Hobby gathering
A Small Love Story — The World of Small-Format Shunga —
In advance of “Hokusai and Eisen: A Contest of Allure — Kabukicho in Full Bloom” Shinjuku Kabukicho Shunga Exhibition WA, Vol. 2, we will hold “Small Love Stories — The World of Mameban Shunga” Shinjuku Kabukicho Shunga Exhibition WA, Bridge Edition from Saturday, February 14, 2026 to Sunday, March 15, 2026.
This exhibition will present approximately 200 mameban shunga from the collection of Mitsuru Uragami, director of Uragami Sōkyūdō.
We introduce intimate and humorous love stories contained within palm-sized images.
“Mameban shunga” are small multicolor woodblock prints—namely, nishiki‑e shunga—printed at a palm size. The standard size is about 9 cm tall × 12.3 cm wide, and many were originally sold in sets of twelve in a pouch. Their charming size and accessible price made them beloved by many, from commoners to daimyo.
In the Edo period, apart from the shogunate‑approved calendars, there was a culture of distributing private picture calendars called “Daisho” at New Year, like greeting cards. Inspired by that playful spirit, the shunga “Daisho,” and then mameban shunga, are thought to have been born. Among the works on view, if you look closely, there are pieces that incorporate devices as “Daisho/egoyomi,” so please try to find them.
Who drew them, where were they printed?
In fact, many mysteries still surround mameban shunga.
But precisely because of that, perhaps we can face the pictures themselves directly, free from names and titles.
Step right up—let us guide you into “Small Love Stories”!
Through “mameban shunga,” small, casual, and intimate,
please enjoy a moment of getting much closer to shunga.
This exhibition will present approximately 200 mameban shunga from the collection of Mitsuru Uragami, director of Uragami Sōkyūdō.
We introduce intimate and humorous love stories contained within palm-sized images.
“Mameban shunga” are small multicolor woodblock prints—namely, nishiki‑e shunga—printed at a palm size. The standard size is about 9 cm tall × 12.3 cm wide, and many were originally sold in sets of twelve in a pouch. Their charming size and accessible price made them beloved by many, from commoners to daimyo.
In the Edo period, apart from the shogunate‑approved calendars, there was a culture of distributing private picture calendars called “Daisho” at New Year, like greeting cards. Inspired by that playful spirit, the shunga “Daisho,” and then mameban shunga, are thought to have been born. Among the works on view, if you look closely, there are pieces that incorporate devices as “Daisho/egoyomi,” so please try to find them.
Who drew them, where were they printed?
In fact, many mysteries still surround mameban shunga.
But precisely because of that, perhaps we can face the pictures themselves directly, free from names and titles.
Step right up—let us guide you into “Small Love Stories”!
Through “mameban shunga,” small, casual, and intimate,
please enjoy a moment of getting much closer to shunga.
| Event Date | 2026.02.14 、2026.03.15 |
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| Time | 11:00–19:00 (last admission 18:30) |
| Location | Shinjuku Kabukicho Noh Stage |
| Address | 〒160-0021 東京都新宿区歌舞伎町2丁目9−18 ライオンズプラザ新宿 2 階 |
| Participation Fee |
Ticket price: General 1,100 yen; Students 700 yen (same-day payment only; student ID required) ※ Visitors with a disability certificate (valid) and their caregiver: one person admitted free. ※ This exhibition uses a date-specific system. Please purchase a “date-designated ticket” via the online site. No time slots are assigned. Please visit at your preferred time. ※ If there is availability on the day, you may enter without a prior reservation. Please note that guests with reservations will be given priority. ※ Re-entry is permitted only on the day of your visit. No admission for guests under 18 ※ Age verification is required when purchasing tickets. We may also ask you to present identification (My Number card, driver’s license, health insurance card, etc.) upon arrival. Thank you for your understanding. |
| Contact | Organizer: 株式会社ワインライス Inquiries: 03-3209-9619 |
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| Related Website | https://www.smappa.net/shunga/exhibition/ex15.html |