Jigoro eel and chips on the menu at brand new exhibition of work by manga legend Urasawa Naoki

Date
6 June 2019
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This is Manga – the Art of Urasawa Naoki (Via Japan House/Jeremie Souteyrat)

Manga is having a moment. In addition to the massive show just opened at the British Museum, fans of the ever-popular Japanese art form can bathe in the glory of one of the medium’s undisputed masters.

Running at the Japan House from today until 28 July 2019, This Is Manga – the Art of Urasawa Naoki showcases more than 400 drawings by the man regarded by many as a manga legend.

“Since his professional debut in 1983, Urasawa has engaged readers with dynamic storytelling and sophisticated characters that explore the hopes, dreams, and underlying fears of humanity,” say Japan House. “With hit titles spanning the genres of sport, comedy, mystery, and science fiction, his drawing style is famous for innovative compositional techniques and bold black and white panels.”

To keep things fresh, there’s an intriguing curatorial nod to the form the artist works in. The works will be rotated on a fortnightly basis, “encouraging visitors to return again and again to experience the work in the weekly serial style of many Japanese comic anthologies.”

Feeling peckish post-exhibition? Head to the gallery’s onsite Akira restaurant to tuck into one of the more intriguing examples of east-meets-west meals we’ve been proffered in many a year: jigoro eel and chips. We’re told that visitors can expect to stuff themselves silly with “deep fried, bread-crumbed eel topped with umeboshi (pickled plum), tartare sauce, lime and egg yolk shavings.”

If that wasn’t enough, they’ll be able to wash it down with another Naoki-themed treat in the shape of a sake cocktail based on a psychological thriller about a Japanese surgeon putzing about in Germany and the Czech Republic.

Entry to the show is free of charge. However, the cocktail will set you back £9.50, and the eel lands at just shy of £20.

Above

This is Manga – the Art of Urasawa Naoki (Via Japan House/Jeremie Souteyrat)

Above

This is Manga – the Art of Urasawa Naoki (Via Japan House/Jeremie Souteyrat)

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About the Author

Josh Baines

Josh Baines joined It's Nice That from July 2018 to July 2019 as News Editor, covering new high-profile projects, awards announcements, and everything else in between.

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