Evangelion Meets National Treasure: ‘EVANGELION Wind God and Thunder God Screens’ Launch July 17

The fusion of Evangelion and traditional Japanese art continues with the second installment of the Eva Japonism project. Titled “EVANGELION Wind God and Thunder God Screens” (EVANGELION 風神雷神図屏風), a series of five folding screens will go on sale July 17, 2026, via the official online shop “Ukiyo-e Kobo” operated by Hansan (版三).

Eva Japonism: A New Expression of Japanese Culture

The Evangelion series began with the 1995 TV anime Shin Seiki Evangelion, depicting young pilots piloting humanoid weapons called Evangelions to battle mysterious enemies known as Angels. The Rebuild of Evangelion film series launched in 2007 and concluded with Shin Evangelion Gekijōban in 2021.

Eva Japonism is a project that reinterprets Evangelion through traditional Japanese art forms—ukiyo-e, washi paper, woodblock prints, and folding screens—to highlight the mythological, symbolic, and spiritual dimensions of the work. The new screen series embodies this vision.

Five Screens, Five Characters

Each screen is inspired by the national treasure “Wind God and Thunder God Screens” (風神雷神図屏風) by Tawaraya Sōtatsu. The gods of wind and thunder are reimagined as Evangelion units, with Sōtatsu’s brushwork and sense of form sampled to create the illusion that he himself painted the EVA units. The characters floating in the space are rendered with expressive brushstrokes rather than realism, symbolizing their inner worlds and narratives.

The lineup consists of five works:

• Thunder God: Unit-01 / Ikari Shinji – The thunder god, symbolizing nature’s awe and terror, is paired with Unit-01, which embodies both fear and salvation. Shinji is depicted with closed eyes, drifting in midair, a figure tossed by harsh fate.
• Wind God: Unit-00 / Ayanami Rei – The wind god, representing protective power, is matched with Unit-00. Rei stands resolute yet empty, reaching for an elusive purpose.
• Wind God: Unit-02 / Shikinami Asuka Langley – The dynamic energy of the wind god aligns with Unit-02’s strength. Asuka is shown diving into crisis without hesitation, symbolizing action and strong will.
• Wind God: Unit-08 / Makinami Mari Illustrious – The wind god’s protective force is paired with Unit-08. Mari is captured in a lively, full-body pose, smiling even in difficulty, representing positivity and open-minded strength.
• Wind God: Mark.06 / Nagisa Kaworu – The wind god as a guiding, protective presence is linked with Mark.06. Kaworu is drawn with a gentle smile and open arms, as if accepting everything.

Design and Display

Each screen works as an independent art piece, but when placed side by side, the characters’ gazes, hand directions, and distances create a dialogue and relationship. The two-panel folding screen format allows viewers to place figures in front, expanding the scene into a three-dimensional Japanese display space.

Product Details

(C)カラー