Japanese Manga Exhibit Invades Cairo

Great news for Japanese Manga fans living in Cairo. In what is truly a rare treat, the Japan Foundation will be bringing their travelling exhibition 'Japan: Kingdom of Characters' right to Zamalek.

Manga literally translates in Japanese as 'whimsical sketches' and its origin story, like all great origin stories, is shrouded in mystery as many argue it begins in the aftermath of World War II, with the inspiration of comics brought to Japan by American soldiers

Egyptians, just like the rest of this planet have been fascinated by the colourful fantasy worlds and the Anime and Manga characters that fill them. From Captain Majed to Hello Kitty, beloved Japanese characters have been welcomed in Egypt for decades.

Divided in three sections, the imported exhibition hopes to highlight the chronological rise of this artistic medium while showcasing pivotal characters in the subculture. The first section spans several decades covering the evolution from the post-war 50s characters to the more recent and recognisable character of 2000s. Taking a bizarre twist, the second section aims to recreate a Japanese high-school girl's bedroom, giving insight into the obsessive nature in which diehard fans live their life. The third room in the exhibit explores the future of characters being developed and where this genre is heading.

It isn't everyday that an interesting exhibit is flown in to Cairo, so if you are a fan of the art, don't miss out. Did we forget to mention that admission to this rare event is set at the best possible price...Free? So if you are wondering what to do this Eid that is cheap, interesting, and colourful, then visit Japan: Kingdom of Characters, which will be running until the 9th October (10 am–2 pm, 5 pm–9 pm all weekdays except Fridays and official holidays) at the Gezira Art Center located at 1 Elsheikh Elmarsafy Street in Zamalek.

For more information or a sneak peek check out their Facebook page here.