Akiko Ikeda 40th Art Exhibition
DAYAN the CAT‐
Dayan’s Mysterious Journey
Wachifield, created by Akiko Ikeda, is a mysterious world inhabited by Dayan the cat and his friends.
It is a magical land where fairies and witches live and where inhabitants different from those of Arus (Earth) where we live. The story woven by Dayan and other unique characters has gained a lot of support in the form of novels, picture books, animations and more.
This exhibition, held to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the birth of Dayan, the cat who is the main character of the show, will feature new pastel paintings of various landscapes from the mysterious world of Wachifield. The venue will be divided into five zones, and will feature three-dimensional works, videos, as well as mysterious devices and photo spots, allowing you to travel with Dayan through Wachifield and experience Dayan's mysterious world.
Exhibition official website
https://nekono-dayan.com/
Outline
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Admission fee
Adults and university students: 1,300 yen; elementary, middle and high school students: 650 yen
* Free admission on August 1st (Friday) as it is the birthday of founder Ryuichi Sano.
* Free admission for those aged 65 and over on Monday, September 15th (National Holiday), Respect for the Aged Day.
*Free admission for elementary and junior high school students on Saturdays
*20% discount for groups of 15 or more -
Advance tickets (until July 4th)
Adults and university students: 1,000 yen; elementary, middle and high school students: 500 yen
Sales point:
Sano Museum of Art (until June 29th)
○ Seven-Eleven (Ticket Pia/P Code: 687-206)
○ Family Mart (Please purchase directly at CN Play Guide [multi-copy machine]) -
Discount tickets (during the exhibition period)
Adults and university students: 1,170 yen / High, junior high & elementary school students: 590 yen
Sales point:
○Izuhakone Railway Sunzu Line manned station
○ Seven-Eleven (Ticket Pia/P Code: 687-206)
○ Family Mart (Please purchase directly at CN Play Guide [multi-copy machine]) -
Opening hours
10:00 - 17:00 (entrance accepted until 16:30) -
Closed
Thursday -
Organizer
Sano Museum of Art, Mishima City, Mishima City Board of Education, Daiichi-TV, Akiko Ikeda Original Art Exhibition Executive Committee -
Sponsored by
Shizuoka Prefectural Board of Education, Certified NPO Borneo Conservation Trust Japan -
Grant
Mishima Shinkin Bank -
Sponsorship
Izuhakone Railway Co., Ltd. -
Cooperation
Holp Publishing, Seizansha, Genkosha, Hakusensha, Takarajimasha, Gakken, Kawaguchiko Konohana Museum -
Planning cooperation
WACHIFIELD LICENSING CO., LTD.
profile
Akiko Ikeda
Born in Kichijoji, Tokyo
He first drew Dayan in 1983, and has since created many stories with Dayan as the main character. He is also active in a wide range of fields, including a series of sketch travelogues that chronicle his travels through illustrations and essays, and illustrations for textbooks.
The Kawaguchiko Konohana Museum has a permanent exhibition that changes once or twice a year.
Main exhibits
Upside-down clock © Akiko Ikeda／Wachifield Licensing, Inc.
Train from the Sea ©Akiko Ikeda／Wachifield Licensing, Inc.
Portrait of Dayan ©Akiko Ikeda／Wachifield Licensing, Inc.
A bouquet of mimosas ©Akiko Ikeda／Wachifield Licensing, Inc.
Related Events
Call for submissions for the "Let's Draw My Dayan!" competition
■Examination Results■
Grand Prize
"What will I catch?" Uchida Akari (12 years old)
Excellence Award
"Dayan Climbing Mount Fuji" Yuki Yoshimura (10 years old)
Encouragement Award
"Summer Festival with Dayan" Karin Kanbayashi (8 years old)
Dayan Award
"My Portrait of Dayan" Ruka Sato (9 years old)
<Wachifield Special Award>
"Dayan Looking at the Dayan Exhibition" Yurina Yagi (8 years old)
Sano Museum of Art Director's Award
"Dayan from the Rainbow World with a Bright Heart" Chiho Hirata (5 years old)
・All submitted works will be displayed in the lobby on the first floor of the Sano Museum of Art during the "40th Anniversary of Dayan the Cat: Dayan's Mysterious Journey: Akiko Ikeda Original Art Exhibition" (until September 21, 2025).
・Prizes will be given to the winners along with their artworks after the exhibition has ended. They can be given to them in person at the Sano Museum of Art or by mail.
・If you would like your submitted work returned, please come to the Sano Art Museum on an open day between September 27th and November 3rd, 2025 (closed on Thursdays) to pick it up. Please note that we cannot return submitted works by mail.
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Submissions are now closed
The announcement of the winning entries and exhibition in the museum are scheduled for Saturday, August 23, 2025.
Thank you for all your applications!
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Please use your imagination to draw a picture featuring the cat Dayan and submit it!
The judges will be Akiko Ikeda, the creator of Dayan, and the winners will receive a certificate and a wonderful prize.
The work is,DAYAN the CAT‐Dayan’s Mysterious JourneyThe works will be exhibited in the lobby on the first floor of the Sano Art Museum during the exhibition period (after the announcement of the winning works).
We look forward to receiving many works!
Winning works: There will be six awards, including the Grand Prize and the Excellence Prize, and the results will be announced in the museum and on this page (scheduled for 2025.08.23 Sat.)
Eligible for: Elementary school students up to 6th grade
Work conditions:
Dayan must appear in the painting (either an original or a copy of Dayan's painting is OK)
Size is A4 (210mm x 297mm, portrait or landscape orientation is free)
Paper is free
Hand-drawn works only (no digital works)
Any art materials are OK, including pastels and watercolors.
How to apply:
Submit using either method ① or ②
① By mail (Sano Art Museum, 1-43 Nakata-cho, Mishima-shi, Shizuoka-ken, 411-0838, "Let's Draw Dayan!" Event Officer)
② Please bring it to the reception on the 1st floor of the Sano Art Museum (10:00-17:00, closed on Thursdays)
* Limit one entry per person
*In either case, please be sure to attach your name, age, address, phone number, and the title of your work to your submission.
Benefits for applicants:
Children who bring their submitted work directly to the Sano Art Museum will receive free admission for themselves and up to one accompanying person on the day!
Application deadline: 2025.08.12 Tue.
*Please note that submitted works may be posted on the Sano Museum of Art website and official social media accounts.
Dayan Exhibition Competition Let's draw my own Dayan! Flyer (PDF)
