For over 40 years, manga artist Ryo Ikuemi has been creating from her base in Sapporo. An exhibition of her original artwork, focusing on pieces set in Sapporo, is now being held at Sapporo Factory. Ryo Ikuemi has long been a leading figure in the world of shojo manga, and this exhibition includes special touches that will surely resonate with Sapporo locals, making you want to dive into her works after your visit. Here are the highlights of the exhibition!

The entrance, greeted by the protagonist from a work set in Susukino and a handwritten message from the artist

Since her debut in 1979, Ryo Ikuemi has remained at the forefront of the manga world and is currently a popular artist with three ongoing series. The 'Ryo Ikuemi Original Art Exhibition' begins with a comprehensive overview of her career.

A long-awaited reunion with *Kare no Te mo Koe mo*, which I was obsessed with in middle school! So nostalgic!

Lining the shelves of the first room are about 200 items, including comics, paperbacks, and magazines featuring her work, from her debut to her current series. Whether you're a long-time fan or just discovered her recent works, this impressive collection is a must-see that will surely make you want to read or reread her stories.

A scene from *Oyasumi Karasu Mata Kite ne* featuring Tanukikoji and Maruyama Park (Image courtesy of SamaLit*)

The following original art display delves deeper into Ryo Ikuemi's world. The "Stories Woven in Sapporo" section, which focuses on works set in Sapporo, introduces titles like *POPS*, *Kare no Te mo Koe mo*, *Baby Blue*, *Mitsumete Itai*, *I LOVE HER*, *Principal*, *G Senjō no Anata to Watashi*, and *Oyasumi Karasu Mata Kite ne*.

There's also a corner introducing the Hokkaido dialect spoken by the characters. The dialect supervisor was none other than Waki Yamato of *Asaki Yumemishi* fame!

Tanukikoji and Susukino are casually depicted, the "HILOSHI" statue next to the entrance of Sapporo's Pole Town underground shopping mall appears as a meeting spot, and protagonists visit the Sapporo Snow Festival and the Toyohira River Fireworks Festival. There are so many scenes that Sapporo locals will find delightfully familiar.

The beautiful use of color in the original illustrations is mesmerizing (Photo courtesy of SamaLit)

Next are "Ryo Ikuemi's Colorful World," which showcases color originals, and "Ongoing Stories," which picks up her currently serialized works. With over 200 original drawings on display, the exhibition is quite substantial! You can enjoy the evolution of her art style, and the charm of Ryo Ikuemi's characters comes through so strongly that it makes you want to read their stories.

The making-of video for the exhibition's main visual is a must-see! (Photo courtesy of SamaLit)

At the end, a nearly 8-minute video shows the creation process of the exhibition's main visual. It's quite rare for Ryo Ikuemi's creative process to be shown to the public. You'll be amazed by moments like, "She's drawing that without a sketch!" and admire the delicate layering of colors. This is a must-check!

The message board is filled with loving messages from visitors (Photo courtesy of SamaLit)

Outside the exhibition hall, there's a message board. It's filled with heartfelt comments from visitors expressing their love for Ikuemi's works, like "It brought back memories of my youth!" and "I loved [character name]!" As a fellow reader, I found them highly relatable. These messages will be given to the artist after the exhibition, so why not leave a note yourself?

The extensive merchandise corner

And don't forget to grab some merchandise to commemorate your visit! There are many exclusive items, including financiers and tuiles from the pistachio confectionery specialty store "Satodo," featuring a cat illustration newly drawn by Ryo Ikuemi. And don't miss out on the pamphlet, which includes her very rare pre-debut work!