ISLAMABAD: The Japan Foundation’s travelling exhibition “Yokai Parade: Supernatural Monsters from Japan” opens at the Lahore Arts Council Art Museum from September 23rd to October 3rd to unveil a unique glimpse into the vibrant and rich ancient Japanese folklore culture to the people in Pakistan.
According to a press release issued by the embassy of Japan in Pakistan, Yokai are Japanese folkloric imaginary monsters such as ghosts, and demons, that have captivated people’s imaginations for centuries and have long been a part of folklore Japanese tales, embodying supernatural powers that invoke senses of surprise, mystery, and fear.
Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, Wada Mitsuhiro, inaugurated the exhibition on Tuesday, September 24 in the presence of distinguished guests as well as the art and culture enthusiasts. The Japan Foundation and the Embassy of Japan in Pakistan have organized the event in collaboration with the Lahore Arts Foundation Trust and the Lahore Arts Council.
The exhibition, curated by Yumoto Koichi, (Director Emeritus of the Yumoto Koichi Memorial, JAPAN YOKAI MUSEUM), features 84 Yokai artworks and focuses on the “popularization” of these Yokai and invites the people to venture into and explore their profound world of mystery. The exhibition introduces the imaginative and diverse depictions of Yokai (Japanese folkloric imaginary monsters) throughout Japanese history, from traditional woodblock prints to contemporary interpretations through multi-coloured Japanese woodblock print, picture scrolls, books as well as a diverse range of media, including films and toys.
In the past, Yokai invoked a sense of surprise, mystery, and fear but as technology developed, Yokai gradually evolved from objects of fear to friendly and charming beings and are found in present-day manga comics, anime, movies, and character-based games such as “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba”, Pokémon (pocket monster).
Ambassador Wada speaking on the occasion expressed his pleasure to be in Lahore, the cultural capital of Pakistan, to share the spiritual world of the Japanese people through the exhibition of Yokai. “In Pakistan, when people think of Japan, they often imagine automobiles, electrical products, and animation. Our objective in presenting this exhibition is to give visitors a glimpse of the distinctive sensibilities of the Japanese people through the unique exhibits,” said the Ambassador.
The Ambassador while mentioning the cultural similarities between the two peoples, said that the existence of fairies and ghosts is also mentioned in Pakistani folklore as it is prevalent in Japanese society. He invited the Pakistani viewers to compare such supernatural beings in Pakistan and Japan through this event. He expressed his belief that understanding the cultures which flow through each other’s folklore will enhance mutual understanding between Pakistan and Japan.
Ambassador Wada thanked Executive Director Lahore Arts Council Sara Rashid, Chairman Lahore Arts Foundation Trust Saba Hussain, for extending their collaboration in arranging this exhibition at the Lahore Arts Council, Alhamra. The exhibition is open till October 3rd, for the public.
