Travelling exhibit is going on now.

As the world’s most famous beagle, Snoopy is well-known and much-loved in Japan. Last year the Snoopy Museum opened in Tokyo’s trendy Roppongi neighborhood, and as 2017 comes to a close there’s another celebration planned for the Peanuts franchise in Japan.

2018 is being billed as Peanuts’ 50th anniversary in Japan, ostensibly counting from when the comic (which began its English circulation in 1950) was first published in Japan. To celebrate, an art exhibit called the Arigatousai, Japanese for “Thank You Festival,” is taking place.

It’s not just the event’s name that has a Japanese flair to it. Dominating the floor space will be a yagura, a tower that serves as the central location in traditional Japanese festivals, modeled after Snoopy’s iconic doghouse, with the character sitting on the roof dressed in his Flying Ace outfit.

▼ Special Japanese-style paper lanterns show Snoopy flying past Mt. Fuji, with a rising sun behind the peak.

Surrounding the yagura will be art panels from memorable scenes chosen by a fan survey, and also displays of vintage Peanuts memorabilia.

For those who aren’t satisfied just looking at merch, there’ll also be a gift shop selling limited-edition trinkets, including plastic files showing Snoopy and his pals hanging out in the feudal Edo period.

And of course, since this is Japan, there are also gift snacks with stylish packaging.

The Peanuts 50 Years in Japan Arigatousai is already underway at the Osaka Shinsaibashi branch of department store Daimaru, and runs until December 29, after which it moves to the Omiya branch of the Sogo department store chain in Saitama Prefecture, the currently scheduled stop closest to Tokyo, from January 1 to 9.

Event information
Peanuts 50 Years in Japan Arigatousai / PEANUTS日本上陸50周年記念ありがと祭
Venues:
● December 15-29
Daimaru (Shinsaibashi branch) / 大丸（心斎橋店）
Address: Osaka-fu, Osaka-shi, Chuo-ku, Shinsaibashisuji 1-7-1
大阪府大阪市中央区心斎橋筋１丁目７−１
Admission free
Website
● January 1-9
Sogo (Omiya branch) / そごう（大宮店）
Address: Saitama-ken, Saitama-shi, Omiya-ku, Sakuragicho 1-6-2
埼玉県さいたま市大宮区桜木町１丁目６−２
Admission free
Website

Sources: PR Times, Peanuts official website
Images: PR Times
[ Read in Japanese ]