Kawasaki City Museum is holding an exhibition of animal photographer Iwago Mitsuaki's work, "Iwago Mitsuaki Photography Exhibition: All About Cats," from April 23rd to June 30th in Special Exhibition Room 1 and Art Galleries 1, 2, and 3. A talk show and autograph session featuring the artist will also be held on May 6th.


Born in Tokyo in 1950, Iwago Mitsuaki turned 20 while accompanying his father, animal photographer Iwago Tokumitsu, on a trip to the Galapagos Islands. Witnessing the natural beauty of the area, he decided to become an animal photographer himself. In 1979, Iwago won the 5th Kimura Ihei Photography Award for "Letters from the Sea," and his work has been highly acclaimed both in Japan and abroad, having twice appeared on the cover of the world-renowned graphic magazine National Geographic. While pursuing wild animals thriving in the great outdoors, Iwago has also turned his attention to cats living alongside people, and his photographs of cats have captivated many. In 2012, NHK BS Premium began broadcasting "Mitsuaki Iwago's World Cat Walk," and in February of this year, his directorial debut, "Grandpa and the Cat," was released, further expanding the scope of his work. This exhibition will feature over 200 photographs of cats that Iwago has taken throughout Japan, focusing on his "Island Cats" and "Cats of Pottery Village" series.

Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture ©Mitsuaki Iwago
More than 40 prints from his "Island Cats" series, which will be shown together in an exhibition for the first time, have been newly printed for this exhibition. These include large-format prints measuring 100 x 150 cm. Cats from islands across Japan, from Teuri Island in Hokkaido to Taketomi Island in Okinawa, are featured in this refreshing display, perfect for the spring and early summer exhibition. Approximately 100 photographs of gentle, adorable village cats from his "Ceramics Village" series, photographed in ceramics-producing areas across Japan, such as Bizen City in Okayama Prefecture and Kasama City in Ibaraki Prefecture, will be on display. This exhibition marks the first time that this series, which has been a hit at exhibitions around the country, will be presented in southern Kanto.

In addition, from the "Cats from All Over Japan" series, approximately 50 photographs of cats from all over Japan, spanning the four seasons, will be on display, including approximately 30 photographs of cats from Kanagawa Prefecture taken in Yokohama, Kamakura, and Fujisawa, as well as cats from Kobuchizawa Town (now Hokuto City) in Yamanashi Prefecture.

Kobuchizawa Town (now Hokuto City), Yamanashi Prefecture ©Mitsuaki Iwago
A talk show and autograph session featuring Iwago will be held on May 6th. The talk show, which will be held in the first-floor video hall from 1:00 PM, has a capacity of 270 people and will be decided by lottery. Advance applications are being accepted until April 16th on the museum's website (http://www.kawasaki-museum.jp/). The autograph session will be held in the Shoyo Exhibition Space on the first floor from 2:30 PM on the same day, and numbered tickets will be distributed to the first 300 people who purchase the photo book at the museum shop on the day. The photo book will go on sale from 9:30 AM.

Other related events include gallery tours from 2:00 PM on May 25th and June 8th. A stroller tour will also be held from 2:00 PM on June 13th for six pairs of preschool children and their parents who apply in advance between May 1st and 30th and are selected by lottery.

Mitsuaki Iwago ©Iwago Photographic Office
Three related films will be screened in the video hall. "Cats Taught Me" by director Zeida Torun will be screened from 2pm on May 3rd and 11am on the 4th, "Black Cat, White Cat" by director Emir Kusturica will be screened from 11am on May 3rd and 2pm on the 5th, and "Kitten" by director Ivan Popov will be screened from 2pm on May 4th and 11am on the 5th, with each screening taking place on a rotating schedule. To view the exhibit, a separate ticket is required (600 yen for adults, 500 yen for those aged 65 and over and university and high school students, 400 yen for elementary and junior high school students, and free for preschool children, those with disability certificates, and their caregivers).