by The exhibition ” Galaxy Express 999 50th Anniversary Project Leiji Matsumoto Exhibition: A Journey of Creation” will be held from June 20 to September 7, 2025, at Tokyo City View (52nd floor, Mori Tower, Roppongi Hills). Details of the exhibition have now been announced.
“Galaxy Express 999 50th Anniversary Project Leiji Matsumoto Exhibition: A Journey of Creation” is the first large-scale exhibition since the death of manga artist Leiji Matsumoto, who created many masterpieces such as “Galaxy Express 999” and “Space Pirate Captain Harlock.” More than 300 original drawings, including early works, materials that will be shown for the first time, and precious mementos, will be on display.
The venue comprises three zones that trace Leiji Matsumoto’s creative journey. First, at the entrance in front of the zones, visitors will be greeted by the “Galaxy Express 999” station platform and a Galaxy Super Express 999 monument. Zone 1 features a lineup of his early works.
The exhibition will feature works such as “Mushi no Sekai Tankenki” (A World Exploration of Insects), a work from when Matsumoto was 14 years old and aspired to become a manga artist; his early girls’ manga, which marked his first steps as a manga artist after moving to Tokyo; and the original drawings of “Otoko Oidon,” which depicts the importance of individuality, all of which are likened to the ticking of time on the Reiji Meter, an instrument that Matsumoto likes to draw in his works.
The exhibition will also feature his precious “creative notebook” from his debut, which will be on public display for the first time. The exhibition will explore the source of his creativity in the two fields of manga and animation, including the original drawings for the manga version of “Space Battleship Yamato,” which realized Matsumoto’s childhood dream of becoming an animation producer, and the original drawings and hand-drawn storyboards for the world-famous “Space Pirate Captain Harlock.”
Zone 2 will explore how the elements that characterize Matsumoto Leiji’s works, such as space, women, and mecha, were formed, including the precious original drawings for the first episode of his masterpiece, “Galaxy Express 999.” Through memorabilia such as the art materials, reference books he used, and his favorite hat, the exhibition will explore the secrets of Matsumoto Leiji’s creations from various angles.
Zone 3, “Artist Leiji Matsumoto,” displays original color drawings from his representative works, such as “Otoko Oidon,” “Space Battleship Yamato,” and “Galaxy Express 999.” The works, painted with delicate brushstrokes and vivid colors, invite visitors into the world of the stories.
“The Galaxy Express 999” 50th Anniversary Project Leiji Matsumoto Exhibition -Journey of Creation Period: Friday, June 20 to Sunday, September 7, 2025 Venue: Tokyo City View (52nd floor, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo) Opening hours: TBA Admission fee: TBA Organizer: Tokyo City View Special cooperation: Reijisha Planning and production: Toei, Toei Animation Supervision: Omote Tomoyuki (Kitakyushu Manga Museum) Sponsored by: J-WAVE, TOKYO MX (C) Matsumoto Reiji / Reijisha (C) Matsumoto Reiji / Reijisha, Toei Animation
