Details Announced for the 3-Day-Only “Legendary Exhibition: The Art of Escaping—Special Exhibition ~An Invitation to the Past Leading to the Present~”!

Published 2026年8月7日
Modified 2026年8月14日
Author MaedaKamari2020
Categories news

Details Announced for the 3-Day-Only “Legendary Exhibition: The Art of Escaping—Special Exhibition ~An Invitation to the Past Leading to the Present~”!

It’s a chapter of history not found in textbooks. Manga artist Yusei Matsui depicts the Nanboku-cho period through the life of Hojo Tokiyuki following the fall of the Kamakura Shogunate.

In August 2026, to commemorate the series’ conclusion, AniCan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Ashiya City, Hyogo Prefecture; Representative Director: Tatsuya Nakata) will host the “The Art of Escaping: The Young Lord Special Exhibition—An Invitation to the Past That Continues into the Present” (by Yusei Matsui)!

Held at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura—the setting where the story begins and ends—this exhibition will showcase various elements that make up the work, offering a multifaceted exploration of its world. Please enjoy Japanese history, art, and culture through the story of Hojo Tokiyuki, a young boy who, while buffeted by the tides of his era, continued to fight by “escaping.”

Event Overview

Exhibition Title: The Young Lord Who Excels at Escaping: Special Exhibition — An Invitation to the Past That Leads to the Present —
Dates: Friday, August 28, 2026 – Sunday, August 30, 2026
Venue: Chokai-den Hall, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. *Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
Special Website：https://nigewaka.ten.anicarm.com

Highlights

・ Introduction / Enter the World of the Work

　In 1333, the Kamakura Shogunate fell following Ashikaga Takauji’s betrayal. The story’s protagonist, Hojo Tokiyuki, guided by Suwa Yorishige, sets out to reclaim Kamakura. Here, we introduce this work by depicting its world and its colorful cast of characters through traditional Japanese art forms such as folding screens and hanging scrolls.

・ Calligraphy“The Northern and Southern Courts Tag Game”

　The battles between Tokiyuki—who possesses the unique talent of “escaping” in the story—and the powerful foes who stand in his way are likened to a game of “tag” and have been dubbed “The Nanboku-chō Tag.” In “The Nanboku-chō Tag,” calligraphy by the calligrapher Kamari Maeda is featured to vividly depict the silent battle scenes in the manga.

・ An Era of Turmoil: The Northern and Southern Courts Period

　After the end of the Nakasendai Rebellion, Yoshishige entrusted Tokiyuki—who was fleeing to Izu—with “Onimaru,” a treasured sword passed down through generations of the Hōjō clan. Meanwhile, Takauji broke ties with Emperor Go-Daigo, plunging the country into the fierce civil strife of the Nanboku-chō period. Seizing this opportunity, Tokiyuki chose to side with the Southern Court, which was at odds with Takauji’s Northern Court, and was eventually granted a special imperial edict from Emperor Go-Daigo designating him as a friendly ally.

　We trace the history of the Nanboku-chō period through the two “weapons” that sustained Tokiyuki as he survived this turbulent era.

・ The World of the Work as Depicted Through Animation

　This work was adapted into a TV anime series in 2024, and the second season began airing in July 2026. With the addition of “motion,” “sound,” and “voices,” the characters came to life more vividly, creating opportunities for a wide range of audiences to experience the series.

This exhibition features a collection centered on the beautifully depicted scenery of Kamakura, including original animation cels and art design materials.

・ Collaboration with Japanese Painting

　The cover art for this manga series was created by Japanese-style painter Takafumi Asakura. While the official website for the series features an interview with Mr. Asakura and details the creative process, this exhibition showcases the actual Japanese-style painting used for the cover, presenting a unique collaboration between manga and Japanese-style painting.

・ Yusei Matsui’s Weapons of the Northern and Southern Courts Period

　In addition to the Hojo clan’s treasured sword “Onimaru,” the story features numerous unique items created by the author, all based on historical facts. AR elements are implemented using 3D models created specifically for this work.

Ticket Information

・Ticket with Merchandise: 3,850 yen (tax included)
・General Admission Ticket: 3,300 yen (tax included)　

*Since all admission fees are the same (flat rate), there are no discounted rates for high school students or younger.
*Tickets are required for all visitors in elementary school and above.
*This exhibition operates on a [partial time-slot reservation system]. Please purchase a ticket for your desired time slot on the ticketing website.
*Same-day tickets will be sold at the venue’s ticket counter only if time-slot tickets are still available. All tickets must be purchased via cashless payment; we cannot accept cash.

Click here for details and to purchase tickets

Bonus Merchandise

Hot-Stamped Postcard Set (Set of 6)

*Same-day tickets are limited to general admission tickets only; tickets that include merchandise will not be available for purchase.
*Bonus merchandise will be handed out upon entry.
*We cannot accept returns or exchanges except for defective items.

Original Merchandise

BIG Acrylic Stand: 3,300 yen (tax included)

*This acrylic stand features a brand-new illustration created exclusively for this exhibition.

Acrylic Stand: 2,200 yen (tax included)

About the Work

　The Young Lord Who Excels at Running Away is a popular manga series by Yusei Matsui, the creator of Neuro: The Demon Detective and Assassination Classroom. It began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump (published by Shueisha) in 2021 and concluded in February 2026. The series has garnered widespread acclaim, winning the 69th Shogakukan Manga Award and surpassing 5 million copies in cumulative circulation.

Set in the turbulent year of 1333 AD, the story follows a young boy who steadfastly chooses to “live by running away” in an era when fighting as a samurai was considered a virtue.