© OSAMU HARADA/KOJI HONPO
OSAMU GOODS Forever
Osamu Harada (1946-2016) is the creator of OSAMU GOODS, which enjoyed explosive popularity among junior and senior high school girls from the late 1970s through to the 1990s.

His illustrations, influenced by American comics, TV anime, and pop art from the 1950s and 1960s -- in particular, his characters, drawn with simple lines and fresh colors -- had a major impact on Japan's subsequent "kawaii" culture.

This exhibition, one of the first nationwide touring exhibitions since his death, will feature works spanning a wide range of fields, including his work for the magazine "an・an," launched in the 1970s and which inspired him to start working as an illustrator, as well as advertising, publishing, and various merchandise. It will also feature early materials from his childhood to his early twenties, as well as materials related to his essay collection "My Art Book," providing a comprehensive look at Harada Osamu, a man beloved across the ages.

In addition, a wide variety of "OSAMU GOODS" will be on sale in the museum only during the "Harada Osamu Exhibition: Discovering Cuteness" exhibition.


© OSAMU HARADA／KOJI HONPO
■Event Overview
1) Title: Harada Osamu Exhibition: "The Discovery of Cuteness"

2) Venue: Kobe Fashion Museum (2-9-1 Naka, Mukaiyama-cho, Higashinada-ku, Kobe)
Tel: 078-858-0050 Fax: 078-858-0058

3) Period: Saturday, July 3, 2021 – Sunday, August 29, 2021
*This period is subject to change due to the impact of the new coronavirus. :

4) Closed: Mondays, August 10th (open on August 9th)

5) Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (last entry at 5:30pm)

6) Admission fee: 1,000 (800) yen for adults, 500 (400) yen for university students and those 65 and over, free for high school students and younger
*Free for those 65 and over who reside in Kobe city
*Prices in parentheses are for groups of 30 or more paying visitors
*Children under elementary school age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian (university student or older)
*Discount available with same-day admission tickets (stubs) from Kobe-related art museums and Koiso Memorial Museum of Art

7) Organised by: Kobe Fashion Museum, Kobe Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun

8) Sponsored by: Sun Television, Radio Kansai

9) Cooperation: Cozy Honpo, Tom's Box, Palette Club, design studio paperweight
10) Exhibition cooperation: Osaka Shoin Women's University

11) Planning cooperation: Setagaya Literary Museum

12) Planning and production: Cosmo Merchandising

13) Venue design: Igarashi Rui

14) Art direction: Hattori Kazunari



■Exhibition zone overview (tentative)
ZONE 1 History: From the time of his debut as an illustrator
ZONE 2 Works: Harada Osamu's work including magazines, book designs, and advertising
ZONE 3 Joy: Harada's works and creative background, which are different from his image as an illustrator
ZONE 4 Dusty Miller: Characters from OSAMU GOODS


■Harada Osamu's profile
Born in Tokyo. Graduated from the Design Department of Tama Art University. He made his debut as an illustrator in 1970 with the then-launched magazine "an・an." In 1976, he began producing "OSAMU GOODS," original character goods based on "Mother Goose," which became hugely popular among junior and senior high school girls. In 1984, he provided illustrations for Mister Donut's premiums (prizes), which were subsequently made into a series and became a huge hit. In 1997, he opened "Palette Club School," a school for training illustrators, in Tsukiji, where he was born and raised. His major works include "My Art Book" and others.


◎Contact Information
Kobe Fashion Museum
(Designated manager: Kobe Shimbun Regional Creation/Kobe Shimbun Business Company Joint Venture)
Person in charge: Nishiyama
TEL: 078-858-0050
URL: https://www.fashionmuseum.or.jp
E-mail: press＠fashionmuseum.or.jp


●We will make the following announcements to visitors and operate with safety as our top priority.
・Please cooperate with temperature checks upon entry. If you have symptoms of illness such as a cough or fever, please refrain from visiting.
・Please wear a mask. Please observe proper cough etiquette.
・Please cooperate with hand sanitizer. Disinfectant is available throughout the museum.
・Please refrain from conversations and view the exhibits quietly.
・Please maintain as much distance as possible from others while viewing the exhibits.
We may also restrict or prohibit entry depending on the situation.
・Museum staff wear masks to prevent infection and the spread of infection.



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