"Five Star Story" Design Exhibition by Toshio Nagano Opens in Tokyo for the First Time, Featuring Screening of "Gothic Made" at Sunshine City in Ikebukuro from December 19
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/991/G999110/20251008046/
Editorial Department: maru | 2025/10/08 08:20 (UTC)
KADOKAWA announced on October 6, 2025, that the exhibition “DESIGNS Nagano Mamoru Design Exhibition -The Ultimate Collection-” will be held at Ikebukuro’s Sunshine City from December 19, 2025, to January 12, 2026, and has started selling advance tickets.
Mamoru Nagano is a creator who has worked on numerous iconic works such as Mobile Suit Z Gundam and Heavy Metal L-Gaim, and currently serializes his science fiction manga “Five Star Story” in the monthly magazine Newtype. This exhibition traces the evolution of his creative journey, having previously toured Saitama (2024), Aichi, Osaka, and Fukuoka. Now, after successful stops across Japan, it arrives in Tokyo for its first-ever presentation here.
At the venue, original artwork, illustrations, concept designs, rough sketches, and cel drawings created by Nagano will be displayed in large numbers. In addition to new works added at previous Osaka and Fukuoka venues, this Tokyo exhibition will feature three previously unreleased pieces: “FATIMA FATIS (original art),” “STORATO (original art),” and “WHITE EATTA (original art)”, making their debut here.
“STORATO (original art)”
“WHITE EATTA (original art)”
Additionally, to commemorate the exhibition’s opening, a screening event for the anime film “The Poetess of Flowers: Gothic Made,” directed and written by Nagano himself, will be held. Details on dates and ticket information will be announced later—stay tuned.
||?￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣?||
DESIGNS Nagano Mamoru Design Exhibition
? The Ultimate Collection ?
||?＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿?||A widely popular exhibition across Japan #NaganoMamoruDesignExhibition.
Tokyo debut with newly added exhibits—The Ultimate Edition!For exhibition and ticket details, visit:
?https://t.co/iVzRa0zCvA pic.twitter.com/bqqf3gKJxG— Official @nagano_ex_tokyo (@nagano_ex_tokyo) October 6, 2025
Official Website for “DESIGNS Nagano Mamoru Design Exhibition -The Ultimate Collection-”
DESIGNS Nagano Mamoru Design Exhibition
Tokyo debut confirmed!
New exhibits added and advance tickets now on sale
Dates: December 19, 2025 (Fri) – January 12, 2026 (Mon, National Holiday)
(Closed on January 1 [Thu, National Holiday])
Venue: Sunshine City Exhibition Hall B, Ikebukuro
Kadokawa Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo; CEO and Representative Director: Takashi Natsuno) will host the Tokyo debut of “DESIGNS Nagano Mamoru Design Exhibition” starting December 19, 2025.
～The Ultimate Collection～
Beginning with its debut at Tokorozawa Sakura Town in February 2024, the exhibition traveled to Telepia Hall in Aichi in April of that year, then moved on to Grand Front Osaka in January 2025, followed by a run at Fukuoka Sogo Department Store in April. The exhibition has since drawn massive crowds across all locations. In December 2025, it arrives in Tokyo for its long-awaited debut.
The venue is Exhibition Hall B at Ikebukuro’s Sunshine City. Visitors will be invited to explore the artistic journey of Mamoru Nagano—the creator behind Five Star Story, TV anime characters, mecha designs, and many other iconic works—immersing themselves fully in his unique creative universe.
A wide range of original artworks, illustrations, concept art, rough sketches, and cels created by Nagano over the years will be on display. The exhibition offers a comprehensive look at his career—from his early commercial debut as a designer up to his latest designs.
This Tokyo edition includes not only three new exhibits making their first appearance here but also additional works newly added in Osaka and Fukuoka, culminating in what can truly be called an ultimate version of the exhibition. This will mark the final stop of the tour at the Ikebukuro venue—don’t miss this chance to experience it.
Exhibition Overview
Event Title:
DESIGNS Nagano Mamoru Design Exhibition
Dates:
December 19, 2025 (Fri) – January 12, 2026 (Mon, National Holiday)
Note: Closed on January 1 (Thu, National Holiday)
For the latest updates, please check the official exhibition website.
Opening Hours:
Weekdays: 11:00–19:00 / Weekends and Holidays: 10:00–18:00 (Last entry 30 minutes before closing)
Note: On December 31 (Wed), hours will follow weekend/holiday schedule.
Venue:
Sunshine City Exhibition Hall B
◇Address:
4th Floor, Bunka Kaikan Building, 3-1-4 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima Ward, Tokyo
Event Inquiries:
KADOKAWA Event Support
https://kdq.jp/kdevent
Please include the event name when contacting us.
Response may take some time.
Support is limited to Japan only.
Official Exhibition Website URL:
https://tokorozawa-sakuratown.com/special/naganomamoru/
Official X Account:
@nagano_ex_tokyo
Organizer:
Ikebukuro Executive Committee for the “DESIGNS Nagano Mamoru Design Exhibition”
Special Support:
Edit Co., Ltd.
Support:
Newtype Editorial Department
Production Planning:
“DESIGNS Nagano Mamoru Design Exhibition” Executive Committee
Planning Cooperation:
Rainbow Egg Inc.
Exhibition Support:
Bandai Namco Film Works, Inc., Sohgo Inc., Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc., Boks Co., Ltd., Awa Treasure Co., Ltd., Wave Inc., Sega Corporation, Petworks Inc.
◆ New Exhibits at the Tokyo Venue
This exhibition features three new original artworks making their debut in Tokyo! Additionally, works newly added during previous Osaka and Fukuoka exhibitions will be specially displayed.
● FATIMA FATIS (Original Art) – 1984
● STORATO (Original Art) – 1985
● WHITE EATTA (Original Art) – 1985
Screening Event to Mark the Tokyo Exhibition Launch!
In celebration of the “DESIGNS Nagano Mamoru Design Exhibition” opening in Tokyo, a screening event for the film “The Poetess of Flowers: Gothic Made” is scheduled. Details on dates and ticket sales will be announced later.
Ticket Information:
All prices include tax / Tickets are date- and time-specific only for December 19 (Fri); other days allow free entry
Note: Schedules may change depending on circumstances.
Advance Tickets:
• General Admission: ¥2,000
• Sales Period: October 6, 2025 (Mon) 12:00 – December 18, 2025 (Thu) 23:59
Day-of-Ticket:
• General Admission: ¥2,300
• Sales Period: During exhibition dates only
Ticket Sales:
• Available via eplus
https://eplus.jp/naganomamoru/
Note: Day-of tickets will also be available at the venue.
Entry Gift:
• Each visitor receives one random picture ticket per entry!
• Details of designs to be announced later.
• Limited in quantity; no selection by type.
Audio Guide:
• Price: ¥900 (tax included)
• Narration by Maria Kawamura
• Usage Method: Listen using your own smartphone and earphones
● Maria Kawamura Profile
Maria Kawamura / Born November 21, Tokyo. Voice actress and singer.
Notable roles include: Saint Seiya (Cham Faou), Heavy Metal L-Gaim (Gau Ha Resshi, Lilis Faou), Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack (Quess Paraya), the Slayers series (White Snake Nagu), “Okaasan to Issho” (first-generation Spoo), and video game Dragon Quest X (Goddess Zenea).
She voiced the heroine Laksis in the 1989 film adaptation of Five Star Story, and portrayed the main character Belin in the 2012 film The Poetess of Flowers: Gothic Made.
● Mamoru Nagano Profile
Mamoru Nagano / Born in 1960, from Maizuru, Kyoto. Designer.
He joined Nihon Sunrise (now Bandai Namco Film Works) in 1983 and gained recognition the following year for his character and mecha designs on the TV anime Heavy Metal L-Gaim, which aired that same year. He continued to contribute to major projects such as Mobile Suit Z Gundam.
Starting in 1986, Nagano launched the manga series “Five Star Story” (read: Five Star Stories) in the monthly magazine Newtype, published by Kadokawa Shoten (now KADOKAWA). As of 2025, 18 volumes have been released (with ongoing publication), and including related books, the total series circulation has surpassed 10 million copies.
In 2012, he directed and wrote his own feature animation film, The Poetess of Flowers: Gothic Made. As a designer, Nagano continues to captivate fans worldwide with his original, distinctive style—producing unique designs for robots, characters, and more.