Manga Nippon Mukashibanashi turns 50 with free event in Tokyo

Half a century after its premiere, Manga Nippon Mukashibanashi still sparks the same reaction: you hear the opening and you're already humming along. The anime that marked entire generations in Japan is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a special event in Tokyo, open until October 25.

The venue is the gallery at Azabudai Hills, in the Toranomon district. Admission is free and the hours run from 11:00 to 19:30. That's where the exhibition «Manga Nippon Mukashibanashi-ten: Mukashi, mukashi, aru tokoro ni…» is set up, which in English would be something like «Manga Nippon Mukashibanashi Exhibition: Once upon a time, in a place…».

The anime began airing in 1975 and went on to accumulate no less than 1,470 stories. The voices of Ichihara Etsuko and Tokita Fujio, with that characteristic warmth, became part of the childhood of millions of people. And the event knows it: at the entrance, a 1.8-meter figure of the famous «ningen» —the human that appears in the ending— welcomes you, perfect for a photo.

Three-dimensional work «Ryū to ko», used in the August 2026 stage play and shown for the first time.artexhibition.jp

Original art and a shop like never before

Inside the exhibition you can see original animation cels and projections with clips from the anime. There's also a piece that had never been shown before: the three-dimensional work «Ryū to ko» (The Dragon and the Boy), used in the stage play from August of this year.

1.8-meter figure of the «ningen» with animals for taking photos at sunset.artexhibition.jp

The event shop is on another level. It's the largest merchandise sale in the history of the franchise, with pouches, plushies, and charms that revisit scenes from the opening and ending. That said, you need to go with time: some products are already sold out or awaiting restock.

New merchandise with scenes from the anime; some products are sold out or awaiting restock.artexhibition.jp

A café with the taste of a classic tale

Next to the gallery, the Azabudai Hills café joined the celebration with a collaborative menu. The star dish is the «Yokubari jīsan no yokubari onigiri set» (Greedy Grandpa's Greedy Onigiri Set), inspired by Omusubi Kororin, for 1,320 yen and limited to 30 servings per day.

There's also a black sesame latte with milk called «Kasajizō no kuromitsu milk latte» (Kasajizō's Black Honey Milk Latte), for 1,180 yen. The café opens from 10:00 to 20:00, with last food orders at 19:00 and drinks at 19:30.

The event closes on Sunday, October 25. If you're in Tokyo or nearby, it's a nice chance to reconnect with a piece of Japanese anime history, one that also teaches a lot about the popular culture of this country.