Experience the Four ‘Pinches’
The exhibition is designed as a ‘pinch entertainment’ experience, moving beyond simply displaying illustrations to creating immersive, participatory moments. Visitors will physically and mentally engage with four distinct types of ‘pinches’ devised by Suzuki Noritake himself:
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Miru Pinchi (Seeing Pinches): Imagine a spilled milk carton or a collapsing cake magnified to colossal sizes. Here, everyday mishaps become grand spectacles, inviting visitors to observe and find humor in their exaggerated forms.
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Naru Pinchi (Becoming Pinches): Ever burnt toast to a crisp? Or found a spiderweb in an inconvenient spot? This section encourages visitors to ‘become’ the pinch, transforming frustrating moments into playful acts. For example, if the bread is burnt, draw it as charcoal. If the toilet is occupied, knock and chat.
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Kangaeru Pinchi (Thinking Pinches): Engage your mind with interactive challenges like the ‘Dai Pinchi Bar,’ where random combinations of ‘who, where, what, and how’ create hilarious dilemmas, or the ‘Dai Pinchi Block,’ which explores various unfortunate situations that can befall a boy’s body. These activities are designed to spark shared laughter and creative problem-solving.
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Tobikomu Pinchi (Jumping into Pinches): The ultimate immersion! Visitors can literally ‘jump into’ a pinch, such as a three-dimensional recreation of the iconic spilled milk scene from the ‘Dai Pinchi Zukan’ book, allowing a firsthand experience of being right in the middle of the mess.
Event Details and Tickets
The exhibition runs from April 22nd (Wednesday) to May 18th (Monday) at the 7th floor Grand Hall of Kyoto Takashimaya S.C. Doors are open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (closing at 7:00 PM), with the final day, May 18th, closing at 4:00 PM (entry until 5:00 PM).
Admission tickets are 1,200 yen for general admission, 1,000 yen for high school/university students, and 600 yen for elementary/junior high students (pre-sale discounts available). Children under elementary school age are free. For detailed information and to purchase tickets, please visit the Kyoto Takashimaya S.C. website: https://www.takashimaya.co.jp/kyoto/departmentstore/special/daipinchten/
Please note that entry on specific dates, including April 25th, 26th, April 29th to May 6th, May 9th, 10th, 16th, and 17th, requires advance time-slot reservations through the Asoview! reservation site. During these reserved periods, general weekday tickets will not be accepted. It is highly recommended to secure your spot in advance, as popular time slots may sell out.
Exclusive Exhibition Merchandise
To extend the ‘pinch entertainment’ experience beyond the venue, a wide array of original merchandise will be available. This includes the official exhibition catalog, interactive items like ‘Dai Pinchi Block’ and ‘Dai Pinchi Henna Fuku Card,’ as well as daily goods featuring the exhibition’s key visuals.
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Cotton Bag: Adorned with the boy’s face and ‘!!’ exclamation, perfect for carrying A4 items. (Approx. 27x34cm excluding handles) 1,980 yen.
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Mug Cup: Featuring an all-over pattern of the boy, a generously sized mug. (Dia. 7.9×8.2cm) Each 2,640 yen.
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Unfortune Cookie: Cookies containing random ‘unfortunate’ illustrations of the boy. 1,080 yen.
As one attendee remarked, “It’s amazing how something so frustrating in real life can be so much fun when you look at it differently here!”
The ‘Dai Pinchi Exhibition!’ offers a refreshing perspective on life’s little mishaps, transforming them into sources of joy and shared amusement. This innovative approach to a beloved picture book series is sure to resonate with both children and adults, fostering a mindset where even the biggest ‘pinches’ can be embraced and enjoyed. It’s a wonderful example of how Japanese creativity continues to find new ways to engage and delight audiences, perhaps inspiring a global trend of playful resilience.
