Let’s Go Home Together: a Koupen-chan Exhibition

At this point, I can clearly call myself a Koupen-chan fangirl. I’ve been to pop-up dining experiences, I’ve done a stamp rally, and there’s no shortage of Koupen-chan books and merchandise on my shelves. There’s something about the adorable little penguin’s naive optimism that speaks to me and gives my jaded soul hope.

“Let’s Go Home Together” is the second Koupen-chan exhibition that I’ve had the joy of attending. Although I had some concerns about a repeat experience, the contents were varied enough to give even seasoned fans plenty to enjoy.

As an artist, I was particularly intrigued by the behind-the-scenes bits: character designs, scene sketches, and even a model of the artist’s workspace. Most of all, I was struck by how prolific the artist is. So much of art is really about practice, and making as much as you can, which I would do well to remember!

A fun addition to this exhibition was a photo corner, festooned with giant plush Koupen-chans among a stage set up like a traditional Japanese home, the shadows of animated characters visible behind wooden shoji screens. Further along, a second photo spot featured a giant plush Koupen-chan figure.

Another charming feature was a set of dioramas portraying Koupen-chan enjoying the four seasons.

Then there was the wall of plushies, showcasing Koupen-chan in all manner of costume. It was fun to search for the ones that I already own, and the ones that I wish I did!

Of course, this served to whet the appetite for one of the most important parts of an exhibition — the gift shop! Exercising much willpower, I settled upon a single purchase: the “Koupen-chan Hanamaru Memory” book. Sporting the same cover image as is used in the exhibition, this book announces itself as the first Koupen-chan character book and is chock full of behind-the-scenes sketches and notes, the sort of thing I love.

The Koupen-chan exhibit is in Kobe, Japan until May 13th but will have an extended showing in Hiroshima from July through September. Check out the official website for more details.