The TV anime Yuri Kuma Arashi first aired in January 2015, shocking and delighting audiences with its unique style. To commemorate a decade since its release, the "Yuri Kuma Arashi Exhibition -10th anniversary-" is currently being held at the Design Festa Gallery Harajuku EAST 1F from Friday, February 6 to Sunday, February 15, 2026.
Yuri Kuma Arashi is one of the celebrated works by Director Kunihiko Ikuhara, the mastermind behind classics like "Revolutionary Girl Utena" and "Penguindrum". This event offers fans a rare opportunity to see actual production materials, setting documents, and original drawings from the series.
In this report, we bring you a photo-filled walkthrough from the press preview held the day before the opening. We also had the privilege of receiving comments from Director Ikuhara himself, who visited the venue on the same day.
Planning documents from Director Ikuhara on display!
Upon arriving at the Design Festa Gallery in Harajuku, visitors are immediately welcomed by freshly drawn visuals of Ginko Yurishiro, Lulu Yurigasaki, and Kureha Tsubaki created specifically for this event.
Stepping inside, the first thing you see is a greeting message from Director Ikuhara regarding this exhibition. It’s the perfect place to recall the phrases that colored the series, such as "Invisible Storm" and "I won't back down on love!" before diving into the rest of the displays.
Right next to this, the opening sequence and trailers from the original broadcast are playing. Scattered throughout the venue are tapestries reminiscent of the show's "Bear Alarms" and corners decorated with lilies. Just stepping into this space is enough to fully immerse you in the world of 《Yuri Kuma Arashi》.
Near the desks right by the entrance, a message board has been set up. Fans can leave their own messages or illustrations to commemorate their visit.
In the showcases and on the walls near the message board, you'll find planning documents for the series drafted by Director Ikuhara (which unfortunately could not be photographed for this report). Seeing how the work took shape from its initial stages is an absolute must-see!
Acrylic panels of the bears are hidden in various spots throughout the venue, so be sure to hunt for them.
There are also life-size panels of Ginko, Lulu, and Kureha available for photos. Why not snap a commemorative shot with them to remember your visit?
There is also a recap corner picking up specific scenes from all 12 episodes.
Here, you can compare the video of the opening theme "Ano Mori de Matteru" by Bonjour Suzuki and storyboards of iconic scenes against the completed scene cuts. Below these, the actual key animation drawings (genga) for those scenes are displayed in showcases.
Furthermore, there is a section dedicated to the in-show picture book "The Moon Girl and the Forest Girl," as well as a display of "88 Graphs" featuring Director Ikuhara's replica signature, which are available for purchase.
"88 Graph" is an art expression method utilizing a mixed-media print technique independently developed by EDITION88, an online store handling goods for various artists and illustrators. Since there are details you can't quite grasp just by looking at samples online, making the trip to check out the texture and quality before purchasing is a great idea.
In some areas, the character setting materials on display will change daily. This means it’s worth visiting the venue not just once, but multiple times during the exhibition period. Best of all, admission is free!
At the merchandise corner, you can purchase standard goods like clear files and acrylic stands, so be sure to stop by and grab a memento of the event.
"Even in intense emotions, I felt it was ironically good."
——Could you tell us about how this exhibition came to be and what the highlights are?
Ikuhara: Since it’s the 10th anniversary, I was thinking about whether we could do an exhibition, and I just happened to get this offer. The pilot film and planning documents are on display, and I think they are quite rare because the characters written in them are quite different from the finished work.
——Last year, the "Yuri Kuma Arashi 10th Anniversary Live: Waiting at that Bear" was held. Ten years later, do you still feel the heat from the fans?
Ikuhara: I felt grateful realizing that there are people who remember the work and say they love it this much. I'm personally a bit scared to watch my own work sometimes, but I think it’s good that the characters are so lovable.
——In your greeting at the entrance, you mentioned that this was a work where you had many realizations.
Ikuhara: There were a lot of things I didn't know until I tried doing them. Sometimes, while making a story, you realize, "Oh, so this is what this story is about." The whole series is a highlight, but I feel like there are things in it that might actually reach viewers better now, 10 years later, than they did back then.
——Are there any episodes from the production that you can talk about now, 10 years later?
Ikuhara: The entire production was just difficult. I can't put it into words well myself, but the phrase "I won't back down on love" (Suki wo akiramenai) really remains with me as a powerful phrase. This was also words that came out while we were making it; even within intense emotions, I felt like it was ironically—or perhaps paradoxically—good.
I think people probably wanted something more fun, but when we made it, it turned out to be a surprisingly hard story. But as a result, I like that gap. It’s a very hard story, yet there is something precious in it... I think it was good that we were able to express that.
——At the time of production, what kind of story did you entrust to Ginko, Lulu, and Kureha?
Ikuhara: I think I probably wanted to do a story about friends. I had been wanting to do that for a long time, and I guess this work was it. I wanted to explore what it means for beings living in absolutely incompatible worlds to become friends.
——Thank you. Finally, please give a message to the fans looking forward to the exhibition.
Ikuhara: I hope you will come and meet the various bears.
"Yuri Kuma Arashi Exhibition -10th anniversary-"
Dates: Friday, February 6 – Sunday, February 15, 2026
Venue: Design Festa Gallery Harajuku, EAST 1F (Tokyo)
Hours: 11:00 – 19:00 (Last entry 30 minutes before closing)
Admission: Free
Also Held at EDITION88 Flagship Shop!
A "Best Selection" exhibition condensing the highlights will be held here. Original drawings and materials exclusive to this venue are also planned for display.
Detailed information will be announced at a later date!
Venue: EDITION88 Flagship Shop (Gotanda)
Tokyo Design Center 1F, 5-25-19 Higashi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0022
(1 min walk from Toei Asakusa Line Gotanda Station, 2 min walk from JR Yamanote Line Gotanda Station)
Dates: Thursday, February 19 – Sunday, March 1, 2026
Operating Days: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday only (Closed Mon-Wed)
Hours: 12:00 – 18:00
Admission: Free
Talk Show & Autograph Session
A talk show and autograph session with four gorgeous guests has been decided!
Guests: Director Kunihiko Ikuhara (Animation Director), Akiko Morishima (Manga Artist), Yoshiko Ikuta (Voice Actor: Lulu Yurigasaki), Bonjour Suzuki (Singer)
Date & Time: Saturday, February 14
Talk Show: Starts 13:00 (Approx. 30-40 mins)
Autograph Session: 14:30 – 16:30
Participation Conditions: Autograph session tickets will be distributed to those who purchase over 5,000 yen (tax included) at the venue (First come, first served).
Capacity: 40 people
Item for Signature: Special Shikishi (Art board)
© Animate Times
*Some parts of this text have been translated using machine translation
