It’s very much a fair statement to say that the characters of NisiOisin are almost instantly recognizable to any modern-day anime fan. With the success of works such as the Bakemonogatari series, both in Japan and overseas, as well as the catalog of other hits like Kubikiri Cycle, and finally with the upcoming anime adaptation of Juni Taisen, the time seems just right to collect all of that worldbuiling and characterization and put it all together for fans to enjoy. That’s why you should definitely keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming NisiOisin Dai Jiten exhibition, taking place all across Japan.
The exhibition is being promoted with an eye-catching poster featuring the words from the master himself, as well as artwork for his various series from illustrators take and VOFAN.
You’ll be able to catch it if you’re in Japan during the bulk of the late summer. From July 27 to August 7, the exhibition will be open in Tokyo at the Ginza location of department store Matsuya. After that, the exhibition hits the road for Osaka, where it will be open at the Daimaru Shinsaibashi department store from August 9 to August 21.
I have a strong feeling that this is going to be one event I absolutely have to check out. It remains to be seen just how much of the event will be divided between the actual prose of NisiOisin vs. the artwork that is featured in his series. If it turns out to be a text-heavy showing, then your mileage will of course vary depending on how much Japanese you know. In any case, it’s obvious that there’s a demand from fans to become more involved with the author’s worlds, so color me interested.
Overseas, NisiOisin’s works have been steadily picked-up for publishing. If you are interested in taking the dive into one of Japan’s biggest pop-culture phenomenons, I would recommend the Monogatari series, which begins with Kizumonogatari. Vertical Inc., the publisher of the series in the Americas, have provided a concise background on the master himself.
There are few authors in Japan who have reached the heights of success as NISIOISIN. Born in 1981, NISIOISIN left Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, to pursue a career in story-telling. Initially he had ambitions to be a comic artist, but when he realized his art was not up to snuff, he began to focus on his writing. He would eventually win the 23rd Mephisto Prize, for Kubikiri Cycle (Del Rey), acknowledging his talents as a mystery writer, at the age of 20. Since his debut in 2002 he has penned more than 50 novels and a number of comics. NISIOISIN’s works often cover themes of youth, but are framed in genres that are familiar to the masses. His works tend to mix mystery with comedy and touches or romance and/or the supernatural. He is a modern author in every sense, sometimes even experimenting with the Japanese language itself. Many of his works have been adapted into animated television series and films. His best known works are the MONOGATARI series and Katanagatari.
If you’re interested in checking a little more out about NisiOisin, you can make your way to their Official Website.