Q-rais EXPO at Daimaru Umeda: The Illustrator's Kansai Debut in Seven Zones

The seven zones and what is in each

The exhibition is organised into seven themed zones, each one anchored to a strand of Q-rais's work. The official Daimaru museum page and the press release confirm the structure:

• Comic Zone — centred on four-panel manga, with characters from Neko no Hi and Sukiusagi alongside lesser-known pieces
• Picture Book Zone — Q-rais's colour-illustrated children's books, presented in full spread, aimed at readers from children to adults
• Author Zone — a video piece about the artist's daily routine and the homemade bento that, per the press release, functions as his creative engine
• Story Zone — narrative works that sit between the comic and picture-book formats
• Surreal Zone — the more absurdist, deadpan side of the work
• Photo Spot Zone — set-piece installations that let visitors pose inside the work
• Goods Zone — exhibition-limited merchandise, accessible only to ticket holders

The Comic Zone is the entry point and the densest. Q-rais's four-panel work reads quickly but repeats well, and the selection here mixes the most-shared characters with deeper cuts. The Picture Book Zone is the one that most changes character depending on the visitor. Children read it as a story; adults read it as a piece of deadpan visual comedy built on colour and timing. The Author Zone video is short, but it is the piece that best explains the deadpan tone of the work, because it shows the quiet, regular life that produces it.

New art drawn for the Osaka venue

The Daimaru Umeda venue is not a straight transfer of the Tokyo or Kanazawa shows. Q-rais has drawn new artwork for the Osaka run, which is installed across the exhibition. The press release lists seven new pieces by name, including Futatsu no Pan (Two Breads), Okonomiyaki Dai Shippai (Okonomiyaki Big Failure), Daikon Kyuukei Chu (Daikon on Break), Ninjin Jin (Carrot Jin), Daikonkon to Ninjin Jin, Minna de Camp, and Matyu no Hitori Yakiniku. There is also a newly drawn four-panel comic featuring the Daimaru Manju, the department store's signature bun, installed as a focus spot in front of the south escalator on the seventh floor. That escalator spot is free to view, so it functions as a teaser if you are undecided about buying a ticket.

The Surreal Zone is the one that rewards repeat visitors who already know the work from social media. The Comic and Picture Book Zones are approachable for first-timers, but the Surreal Zone is where Q-rais's voice is most distinct, and the difference between his cute character work and the absurdist pieces is part of what makes the show more than a character-goods pop-up.

Tickets, pricing, and the signing session

Advance tickets are sold through Lawson Ticket with L-code 52880, and same-day tickets are sold both online and at the venue window. The pricing tiers, confirmed by the official outline page, are:

• Advance adult 1,600 yen / Same-day adult 1,700 yen
• Advance high school 900 yen / Same-day 1,000 yen
• Advance junior high 800 yen / Same-day 900 yen
• Advance elementary 600 yen / Same-day 700 yen
• Pre-school free (max 2 per adult guardian)

Elementary school age and below must be accompanied by an adult guardian aged 18 or above, and that guardian must also buy a ticket. The merchandise corner is not accessible without an exhibition ticket, and pre-school children and accompanying carers cannot buy goods in the merchandise corner. The standard Daimaru and Matsuzakaya membership discounts and shareholder privileges are explicitly excluded from this show, which is unusual and worth knowing before you arrive expecting a cardholder discount.

There is a signing session with Q-rais on 18 and 19 July, with two sessions each day at 13:00 and 14:30, capped at 40 people per session. Tickets for the signing are sold separately as a bundle that includes the exhibition entry and a Q-rais EXPO original character book, with prices from 2,100 yen for elementary advance to 3,200 yen for same-day adult. These were sold by lottery in advance, so check Lawson Ticket for availability. Photos at the signing are limited to the item being signed, not the artist.