[1]Toshio Suzuki and Ghibli Exhibition: Feel The Powerful Magic of

[1]Toshio Suzuki and Ghibli Exhibition: Feel The Powerful Magic of
Words by Tiffany:

Toshio Suzuki and Ghibli Exhibition: Feel The Powerful Magic of
Words
Any talk about Studio Ghibli will bring to mind the legendary Hayao
Miyazaki or Isao Takahata, but perhaps some fans may be less
familiar with Toshio Suzuki. As the producer and former president,
Suzuki is as integral to the studio's success as Miyazaki and
Takahata. Thanks to the dynamic trio of Miyazaki, Suzuki, and
Takahata, Ghibli films are critically acclaimed, well-loved hits all
over the world.
toshio suzuki and ghibli exhibition Photo by Tiffany Lim
If you're a Ghibli aficionado and/or you want to know more about
Suzuki, you're in luck! April 20, 2019 marked the launch of a
Suzuki-centric exhibition, simply called Toshio Suzuki and Studio
Ghibli. Held at the newly opened Edo Culture Complex (EDOCCO) center
on the grounds of [2]Kanda Myojin, one of Tokyo's most famous
shrines, the exhibition runs from April 20 (Saturday) to May 12
(Sunday), 2019.

What to expect at the Toshio Suzuki and Ghibli Exhibition

toshio suzuki and ghibli exhibition Photo by Tiffany Lim
In addition to being a co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Suzuki is also a
talented calligrapher, so the exhibition features some of his
writings. Suzuki is a believer in the power of words, and indeed, as
you walk through the venue, you too will feel the magic of words.
toshio suzuki and ghibli exhibition Photo by Tiffany Lim
You'll see Suzuki's inspirations-old-school, Showa-era (1926-1989)
manga and films-and learn more about the trajectory of his career.
While explanations are only in Japanese, and there are sadly no
multilingual audio guides as of this writing, there's more than
enough for you to see and enjoy even if you can't understand
Japanese. If you've ever wondered what anime magazines from the '70s
looked like, or what a handwritten thesis looks like& well, you'll
wonder no more once you check out this exhibition.
Suzuki's love for the written word didn't just stop at calligraphy;
his way with words also helped him brilliantly craft the copy for
Ghibli films' promotional materials. Did you know that the taglines
for many Ghibli films have the word "live" (ikiro in Japanese) or
some variation of it? Thanks to this exhibition, now you know! Be
sure to have a look at Suzuki's documents, notes, sketches,
handwritten versions of Ghibli films' taglines, and more.
Yubaba | Photo by Tiffany Lim
And now for the fun part. Time to have your fortune told. Take your
pick from the imposing Yubaba or her twin sister Zeniba, who's just
as imposing. Yubaba's got luck-related fortunes up her sleeve (er,
mouth), while Zeniba has love-related ones. Unfortunately, you can't
line up for both.
toshio suzuki and ghibli exhibition Zeniba | Photo by Tiffany Lim
Reach into either sister's mouth, pull out a number, and head to the
nearby drawers. Find your number, and take a fortune. Don't worry;
this one's got English translations. Heed Yubaba's reminder to take
good care of your new "name" (i.e. fortune), and off you go.
toshio suzuki and ghibli exhibition Photo by Tiffany Lim toshio
suzuki and ghibli exhibition Photo by Tiffany Lim
Finally, at the end of the exhibition, you'll find merchandise, in
case you want to take home the magic with you. Not only
event-exclusive items, but also some popular items from the Ghibli
Museum in Mitaka, are in store.
toshio suzuki and ghibli exhibition Photo by Tiffany Lim
Downstairs, you'll also find the shrine selling limited-edition
Ghibli-themed omamori (charms) and _ema _(prayer tablets). While ema
are typically used to write prayers or wishes, and then left on
shrine grounds, you can take these tablets home.
…

Tips

* Especially if you're visiting on a weekend or holiday, be prepared
to wait in line just to get into the gallery. While not tiny, it's
not huge enough to accommodate too many people, either.
* Save time by buying tickers from Loppi, Lawson's ticketing service
(link in Japanese only).
* If you don't want to spend too much time in line waiting for your
fortune, the line for Zeniba's love fortunes is shorter.
* Are you a merch hound? If so, check out not only the shop at the
end of the exhibition, but also the first floor of EDOCCO and the
shrine's stand for lucky items. Each area has its own merch related
to the exhibition.
Can't make it to the exhibition? Check out the [3]permanent Ghibli
Museum in Tokyo.
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My original entry is here: [4]Toshio Suzuki and Ghibli Exhibition: Feel
The Powerful Magic of Words. It posted Mon, 22 Apr 2019 13:30:07 +0000.
Filed under: culture, Japan,

References

1. https://tokyocheapo.com/entertainment/toshio-suzuki-and-ghibli-exhibition/
2. https://tokyocheapo.com/place/kanda-myojin-shrine/
3. https://tokyocheapo.com/entertainment/art/lose-your-way-at-the-ghibli-museum/
4. https://www.prjorgensen.com/?p=2730