Ukiyo-e Cat Encyclopedia: Lazy, Round, and Totally Cat

This exhibition explores how cats have been perceived, represented, and celebrated in Japanese art, focusing on ukiyo-e woodblock prints from the Edo period. The exhibition presents more than 100 ukiyo-e works, organised into four thematic sections: The Appearance of Cats, Living with Cats, Seven Transformations of Cats, and Toy Pictures of Cats. Through these categories, visitors can observe a wide range of feline depictions - from naturalistic portrayals that emphasise cats’ hunting instincts, to affectionate domestic scenes, supernatural “monster cats”, and playful satirical prints in which humans are humorously depicted as cats.

Special attention is given to Utagawa Kuniyoshi, widely known as the most devoted cat lover among ukiyo-e artists, whose works feature cats in imaginative and expressive ways. The exhibition also includes works by more than 20 artists, such as Suzuki Harunobu, Utagawa Hiroshige, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, and Kawanabe Kyosai, allowing visitors to compare different artistic approaches to portraying cats across generations.

In addition to the artwork, the exhibition introduces a section titled “Cat Iroha”, which presents familiar and amusing feline behaviours following the traditional Japanese iroha ordering. Topics include cats’ fondness for watching the outdoors from windows, their historical relationship with fire and oil lamps, and their remarkable physical ability to land safely when falling from heights.

Several related events will take place during the exhibition. Gallery talks will be held on 4 April and 5 April, led by Toshihiko Tsukimoto, the exhibition supervisor and a curator at the Fukushima Prefectural Museum of Art. These talks will be conducted inside the exhibition space and require a valid museum admission ticket.

The museum will also host a participatory display titled “Goromaru: Show Off Your Cat”, featuring visitor-submitted photographs of their own cats. Selected photos will be displayed in the museum corridor throughout the exhibition period. In addition, submissions will be accepted via the museum’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, with a lottery offering exhibition merchandise to selected participants.