40 Manga Artists Including “Touch” and “City Hunter” Create Original Collaboration Illustrations! Meiji Milk Chocolate 100th Anniversary Exhibition Opens in December

Meiji Milk Chocolate, beloved since its release in 1926, reached its 100th anniversary on Sunday, September 13. To mark the occasion, the Meiji Milk Chocolate 100th Anniversary Exhibition will be held for a limited time at Tokyo International Forum starting Wednesday, December 23. Ticket sales will begin on Thursday, October 29.

The biggest highlight of the exhibition is its display of collaborative works by more than 60 manga artists and other artists in total, who symbolize Japanese pop culture. In the Manga Corner in particular, newly drawn celebratory illustrations and messages will be gathered from 40 top manga artists who have driven Japanese culture through the Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa eras, including Mitsuru Adachi (“Touch”), Yoko Kamio (“Boys Over Flowers”), and Tsukasa Hojo (“City Hunter”). Combining the 100-year-old product with classic manga, these are rare collaborations that can be seen only at this exhibition.

The Artist Corner will also display special works and messages created by 21 artists active in a variety of genres. Paintings, three-dimensional works, and other highly individual pieces by artists including Takeru Amano and Yukino Ohmura express memories of and the appeal of the product from each artist's own unique perspective.

At the venue entrance, an impressive giant “Miruchi” chocolate block wall printed with real chocolate blocks will greet visitors. The exhibition will also feature a timeline looking back over the 100 years, past packaging that reflects each era, and a number of advertisements featuring iconic celebrities. Introductions to people connected with the product, such as Taku Izumi, who wrote the lyrics and music for the “Meiji Chocolate Theme,” and valuable historical materials will also be shown.

The product's brand site has also been publishing the collaboration works and messages since Wednesday, October 28. Alongside the 100-year history of Meiji Milk Chocolate, the exhibition offers a warm experience in which each visitor can look back on their own memories.