Professor Munakata’s British Museum Adventure

First created in 1990, Professor Munakata is one of Japan’s most popular manga characters: a professor of folklore at the fictional Tōa Bunka University. Every two weeks, millions of readers in Japan eagerly follow the professor’s latest adventures in the manga magazine: Big Comic.

In October, leading Japanese Manga artist, and creator of Professor Munakata, Hoshino Yukinobu visited the British Museum in order to draw the start of Professor Munakata’s new adventure set at the Museum. Whilst there he also created three ink drawings showing Professor Munakata’s most recent encounters with treasures of the ancient past.

Opening this month, the British Museum features a free display of an exclusive new manga by Hoshino Yukinobu called Manga: Professor Munakata’s British Museum adventure.

This display will highlight his most recent encounters with iconic treasures at the British Museum, as well as featuring scenes of past adventures which will introduce visitors to the world of Professor Munakata. Visitors will also be able to browse Japanese manga books in a setting which evokes a ‘manga coffee shop’, or manga kissa, in the corner of the room – a perfect way to discover more about the art of manga.

Hoshino plans to return next year to create a series of new episodes based on Professor Munakata’s adventures at the British Museum. They will feature his encounters with more of the Museum’s most iconic objects, as he delves into their mysteries. Mr Hoshino also plans to publish the full series of British Museum adventures in both Japanese and English translation.

Professor Munakata’s British Museum Adventure runs from Thursday, 5th November, to Sunday, 3rd January 2010, at The British Museum, and admission is free.

For further details on the display, as well as information on the accompanying talks, screenings and workshops, please visit the British Museum website.

Related Exhibition, Displays and Gallery:

The Power Of Dogu: Ceramic Figures From Ancient Japan: This exhibition highlights the beauty and power of remarkable ceramic figures known as dogū, mysterious masterpieces that were produced in great numbers in prehistoric Japan. This free exhibition is on display from Thursday, 10th September – Sunday, 22nd November.

Excerpts From A Recent Work By Hoshino Yukinobu: This imaginative work brings the world of dogū and the Jōmon period to life.

The Mitsubishi Corporation Japanese Galleries: Japanese objects in the Museum’s collection, where Japanese history and culture is explored from prehistory to the present. Or explore the collection online at www.britishmuseum.org.

All Images courtesy of The British Museum © Hoshino Yukinobu/Shogakukan Inc.