The Doraemon Exhibition First Global Showcase Outside Japan - National Museum of Singapore

Straight from Japan to Singapore, the first Doraemon Exhibition to be held outside of Japan will open at the National Museum of Singapore on 5 November!

Venue: National Museum of Singapore
Dates: 5 Nov 2022 - 5 Feb 2023
Admission: $30 (Available on Klook)

The Doraemon Exhibition Singapore 2022 makes its debut outside Japan at the National Museum of Singapore, from 5 November 2022 to 5 February 2023. The exhibition will showcase how one of the most beloved Japanese characters sprung out of the pages of a manga and into the hearts of generations of fans around the world. 

Exploring the past, present and the future of Doraemon, the multi-sited exhibition offers several experiences that include a contemporary art show; a showcase of original drawings and sketches by its creator, the late Mr Fujiko F Fujio; a Doraemon-themed cafe and limited-edition merchandise that engage visitors to make new memories with the iconic Japanese manga character. 

Rediscovering Doraemon

Takashi Murakami, ‘Wouldn't It Be Nice If We Could Do Such a Thing’ (2017), THE DORAEMON EXHIBITION SINGAPORE 2022 ©Fujiko-Pro / Image credit: BYKidO

Many parents will remember watching Doraemon as a child, in fact since its birth in 1970, Doraemon has been capturing the imagination of audiences across the world and this exhibition invites visitors to consider their own personal memory of Doraemon, and how one of the most iconic Japanese characters has grown with them over the years.

MANGA DORAEMON Original Drawings Exhibition

To acquaint visitors with the original manga version of Doraemon and offer insight into the mind of its creator, the exhibition in Singapore features an exclusive section titled MANGA DORAEMON Original Drawings Exhibition, comprising more than 70 drawings and sketches by the late Mr Fujimoto.

MANGA DORAEMON Original Drawings Exhibition ©Fujiko-Pro / Image credit: BYKidO

On loan from the Fujiko F Fujio Museum in Japan, this marks the very first public showcase of the original Doraemon creator’s inventive and formative illustrations outside Japan. 

MANGA DORAEMON Original Drawings Exhibition ©Fujiko-Pro / Image credit: BYKidO

The drawings will take visitors on a journey to explore the beginnings of Doraemon and his friends, as well as the stories behind some of his fascinating gadgets such as the ‘Memory Bread’ and the ‘Lying Mirror’.

In addition to the drawings, visitors can experience selected highlights from the Doraemon the Movie series. They can also interact with a reproduction of Mr Fujimoto’s desk in his workroom where he created many of the Doraemon drawings, featuring his drawing tools as well as books and figures on his favourite themes such as dinosaurs and outer space that inspired his rich world of works.

Create Your Own Original Doraemon

THE DORAEMON EXHIBITION SINGAPORE 2022 ©Fujiko-Pro / Image credit: BYKidO

This section showcases Doraemon through the lens of 28 leading contemporary Japanese artists and arts groups, whose artworks respond to the theme of “Create Your Own Original Doraemon”. The exhibition will feature distinctive artworks that present the artists’ memories of Doraemon and their take on Japan’s beloved icon, through a mix of ideas, mediums and techniques that include paintings, sculptures, graphics and photography.

THE DORAEMON EXHIBITION SINGAPORE 2022 ©Fujiko-Pro / Image credit: BYKidO

Sebastian Masuda, ‘Final Weapon’ (2017), THE DORAEMON EXHIBITION SINGAPORE 2022 ©Fujiko-Pro / Image credit: BYKidO

The artworks range from painting and sculptures to graphics and photography, and they are divided into two acts: 

• Act 1: Featuring 18 Japanese artists and art groups, this segment presents artworks that respond to the prompt “Create Your Own Original Doraemon”. Artists were free to interpret and represent the unlimited possibilities of the iconic Doraemon character. 

• Act 2: In this segment, 10 contemporary artists created their own interpretation of Doraemon while taking reference from their favourite Doraemon movies produced over the years such as, Doraemon: Nobita's Great Adventure into the Underworld and Doraemon: Nobita and the Kingdom of Clouds, among others. 

More Pictures

Satomi Kondo, ‘Sometimes humans do things that just don’t make sense’ (2017), THE DORAEMON EXHIBITION SINGAPORE 2022 ©Fujiko-Pro / Image credit: BYKidO

Tomoyoshi Sakamoto, ‘I wonder when we'll grow up’ (2017), THE DORAEMON EXHIBITION SINGAPORE 2022 ©Fujiko-Pro / Image credit: BYKidO

RenaRena, ‘Determination’ (2017), THE DORAEMON EXHIBITION SINGAPORE 2022 ©Fujiko-Pro / Image credit: BYKidO

Jahan Loh, ‘Intergalactic Voyagers’ and ‘Teleportation Art: Series 1 & 2’ (2022), THE DORAEMON EXHIBITION SINGAPORE 2022 ©Fujiko-Pro / Image credit: BYKidO

Doraemon Cafe

THE DORAEMON EXHIBITION SINGAPORE 2022 ©Fujiko-Pro

In conjunction with the two exhibits, visitors can also expect a Doraemon-themed cafe experience at the Basement Gallery Foyer created in collaboration with Toraya, an esteemed wagashi (traditional Japanese confections) maker with a history of close to 500 years.

THE DORAEMON EXHIBITION SINGAPORE 2022 ©Fujiko-Pro

After exploring the exhibition, visitors can enjoy a Singapore-exclusive Dorayaki set inspired by the character’s favourite snack as well as other snacks imported from Japan. The Doraemon themed dorayaki costs S$6.90 each at the pop-up cafe. 

Exclusive Doraemon Merchandise

THE DORAEMON EXHIBITION SINGAPORE 2022 ©Fujiko-Pro

For visitors looking to bring home a piece of the exhibition, there will also be an exclusive line-up of Doraemon merchandise from The Doraemon Exhibition and the Fujiko F Fujio Museum, as well as exclusive Doraemon collectibles. These include tote bags, mugs, and stationery items, among others. 

First Exhibition Outside Of Japan

The first Doraemon Exhibition was held in 2002. It was restaged in 2017 at the Mori Arts Center Gallery in Tokyo and has since toured over eight cities in Japan. The upcoming presentation at the National Museum will be its first-ever edition outside of Japan.

Families may remember the Doraemon’s Time-Travelling Adventures in Singapore back in 2020, and The Doraemon Exhibition Singapore 2022 will continue connecting Doraemon with visitors to the National Museum to share the cultural impact of the iconic character in contemporary history.

Dates and Admission

The Doraemon Exhibition Singapore 2022 will open to the public from 5 November 2022 to 5 February 2023 from 10am to 7pm daily. Tickets priced at SGD 30 will go on sale from 3 September 2022, and will be exclusively available on Klook.