Shogun’s Tadanobu Asano to host his largest art exhibition yet

Last Updated on March 27, 2025

Tadanobu Asano, a Japanese actor and artist, will present his solo art exhibition, “TADANOBU ASANO EXHIBITION PLAY WITH PAIN(T)”, at the Isetan Shinjuku department store in Tokyo.

The exhibition will be held in the event hall on the 6th floor of the main building from Wednesday, April 2nd to Sunday, April 6th, 2025.

This marks Asano’s first large-scale solo exhibition at Isetan Shinjuku and is considered his most extensive exhibition to date.

Asano’s artistic pursuits have paralleled his acting career, with previous solo exhibitions at the Watari Museum of Contemporary Art and Parco Art Gallery.

In 2018, he published his art book, “Error” through Little More, further showcasing his diverse creative expressions.

The upcoming exhibition will feature over 200 artworks, including selected pieces from his existing collection and newly created works.

Notably, original drawings that have not been previously available for sale will be offered for purchase.

Asano’s artistic journey began as a means of personal expression during extended periods of waiting on film sets. He found that drawing provided a form of mental respite.

The 2013 film “The Disappearance of Luomandi,” filmed in a foreign country, presented Asano with language and cultural challenges, and drawing became a vital outlet for him.

Since then, he has maintained a prolific artistic output, creating one to five artworks daily for over a decade, resulting in a body of work exceeding 3,500 pieces.

Asano describes his art as an “encounter with emotions,” providing him with personal insights.

The exhibition’s theme, “PLAY WITH PAIN(T)”, reflects the core of his artistic approach which involves the dynamic expression of deep-seated emotions through painting. The exhibition aims to create an immersive space that resonates with each viewer’s emotional landscape.

Asano was born in Yokohama in 1973 and made his acting debut in a TV drama in 1988.

He made his silver screen debut in 1990 with “Bataashi Kingyo” and has since developed into a distinctive actor, appearing in films by Shunji Iwai, Shinji Aoyama, and Hirokazu Koreeda.

He gained fame in “Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicles” (2000) and won the Japan Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for “Zatoichi” (2003) and “Kabe” (2008).

He has also appeared in overseas productions and won international awards including the Best Actor Award at the Venice International Film Festival for “The Last Two People on Earth”.

He played the role of Kashiwagi Yabu in the TV drama series “SHOGUN,” which began broadcasting in 2024, and won the Best Supporting Actor in a TV Drama category at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, becoming the first Japanese person to win the award.

Exhibition Details

• Event Name: TADANOBU ASANO EXHIBITION PLAY WITH PAIN(T)
• Dates: Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025, to Sunday, April 6th, 2025.
• Hours: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily, except Wednesday, April 2nd (3:00 PM close) and Sunday, April 6th (6:00 PM close).
• Venue: Isetan Shinjuku Main Building, 6th Floor Event Hall.
• Admission: Free.
• Website: https://www.mistore.jp/shopping/event/shinjuku_e/tadanobuasanoexhibition_10

The exhibition will feature original artworks available for purchase. Asano’s decision to exhibit and sell his works stems from a desire to share his creations with a wider audience, acknowledging that his extensive collection, stored in his atelier, could be better appreciated by those who connect with them.

Live Painting Event

A live painting event with Tadanobu Asano will be held on Saturday, April 5th, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the exhibition venue.

The event will have a capacity of 50 attendees, with admission determined by a lottery system through PassMarket.

Applications for the lottery will be accepted from March 19th at 11:00 PM (Japan time) via the Isetan Shinjuku website.

Event Details