A Special Conversation at the Adachi Mitsuru Exhibition
The exhibition “-Commemorating 55 Years of Work- Adachi Mitsuru Exhibition“, celebrating the 55-year career of popular manga artist Adachi Mitsuru—known for masterpieces like ‘Miyuki‘, ‘Touch‘, ‘Rough‘, and ‘H2‘—is being held at the Sunshine City Exhibition Hall C in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, from December 19, 2025, to January 14, 2026.
On the 18th, the day before the opening, a special talk event was held at the venue featuring Adachi Mitsuru and Hidaka Noriko (※), who is in charge of the exhibition’s audio guide. They discussed highlights of the exhibition and shared valuable behind-the-scenes stories about the creation of his works.
(※The “高” in Hidaka Noriko is formally written as “はしごだか” [ladder high]).
What is the Adachi Mitsuru Exhibition?
The “-Commemorating 55 Years of Work- Adachi Mitsuru Exhibition” brings together beloved works from throughout Adachi’s career, from his early series ‘Nine‘ to ‘Hiatari Ryoukou!‘, ‘Miyuki‘, ‘Touch‘, ‘Rough‘, ‘H2‘, ‘Cross Game‘, and the currently serialized ‘MIX‘. Visitors can look back on his works through dynamic displays featuring precious original artwork, theater screenings, and photo spots that let you feel the worlds of his stories.
When asked for their impressions after touring the venue, Adachi smiled shyly and said, “I didn’t think it would become such a big deal, so I kind of regret casually showing up.” Hidaka seemed thoroughly satisfied with the rich exhibition, stating, “There wasn’t enough time (to see everything). It’s simply a wonderful space, and I felt the time spent surrounded by sensei’s manga was truly precious.”
First Public Talk Between Old Acquaintances
While Adachi and Hidaka have been friends for a long time, this was their first time doing a public talk together. “I’m a little nervous,” Hidaka admitted with a shy smile as they began to touch upon Adachi’s works in chronological order.
‘Touch‘, in which Hidaka played the role of Asakura Minami, started serialization in 1981. There was a period where it was serialized concurrently with ‘Miyuki‘, which began in 1980. “I was just so busy, I have no memory of that time in between,” Adachi recalled. “It was an era when senior manga artists were working at an even more insane pace, so I thought I’d get scolded if I complained. But I also thought I wouldn’t live long if I continued working at this pace,” he joked.
The Signature “Adachi-style” Expression
A characteristic feature of Adachi’s works, including ‘Touch‘, is the use of scenes where characters don’t say much. The greatest charm lies in how feelings are conveyed through expressions and scenery. Adachi himself confirmed, “I was conscious of that.”
“I liked thinking about whether there was a way to convey nuances and hidden emotions without using words. However, for that to work, the other person needs the ability to sense those feelings. That’s why characters who seem unbelievably mature for high schoolers appear around the protagonists in my works (laughs),” he revealed.
Hidaka also said she loves scenes where thoughts are conveyed through description alone, without dialogue. “You think about so many things during that scene. You receive the characters’ feelings and savor them. Because there is that time, you can immerse yourself in the story more,” she praised. However, from the perspective of actually performing such a scene, she recalled the tough recording sessions: “I was told to ‘put emotion into the space between the lines’ and had to re-record so many times. I love it as a reader, but it was really hard to perform!”
“I was worried about it constantly, so I had a permanent furrow between my brows. The reason those wrinkles are still there today is sensei’s fault!” she protested playfully.
The Story Behind the Current Series ‘MIX’
Adachi’s currently serialized work, ‘MIX‘, is set in the world of ‘Touch‘ about 30 years later. “I think a persistent editor is the reason I ended up drawing it (laughs). When drawing a high school baseball story, I felt the previous work (‘Touch’) would inevitably get in the way, but I decided that since I’ve come this far, I’d just go for it. I thought I’d not worry about the setting and throw in all the materials I have at hand to make a mixed juice,” he confessed about its origin.
He says he hasn’t decided the ending yet. “I don’t know how it will turn out. I think it will be at least drinkable,” he showed a hint of confidence.
Exhibition Highlights from the Creators Themselves
When asked once more about the exhibition’s highlights, Hidaka appealed to visitors: “I think the charm is seeing famous scenes from sensei’s works, along with their dialogue, scattered throughout a large space. There’s a photo spot recreating the memorable study room from ‘Touch’, and I was really excited about that. And above all, what you must see are the original drawings. You can see them in the colors sensei painted before they were printed. Please take a look. And please listen to the audio guide too!”
Adachi left a message: “I don’t remember asking for it to be made such a big deal, but I know many people worked very hard to liven up this 55th anniversary. If you have ever encountered Adachi Mitsuru’s manga, even once, please come to the venue. It will make everyone happy. Thank you.”
Exhibition Information
| Exhibition Name | Commemorating 55 Years of Work – Adachi Mitsuru Exhibition |
| Dates | December 19, 2025 (Fri) – January 14, 2026 (Wed) *Closed on January 1, 2026 (Thu/Holiday) |
| Hours | 10:00 – 19:00 *Last admission at 18:30 |
| Venue | Sunshine City Exhibition Hall C (Culture Hall Building 3F) 3-1-4 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013 |
(C) Adachi Mitsuru / Shogakukan
《Yoneda Kaori》
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