Highlights
- Cowboy Bebop, one of the most famous anime of all time, is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a special exhibition in Shibuya, Tokyo.
- The exhibition, put on by the studio behind Cowboy Bebop, features retellings of the story, in-depth looks at the characters, and original production artwork.
- In addition to the exhibition, Shibuya offers other attractions for anime fans, making it a worthwhile trip for any otaku. Make sure to reserve tickets in advance.
Cowboy Bebop turned 25 this year, which is no small anniversary for one of the most internationally famous anime of all time. Japan has been taking the anniversary very seriously, with special events and new products released to celebrate throughout the year. The latest celebration has been a special exhibition that has opened in Shibuya, Tokyo, and is running through the rest of the month.
The exhibition is being put on by Sunrise, the studio behind Cowboy Bebop. The exhibition opened on October 27th and is running through November 19th. It is inside Seibu Department Store in the neighborhood of Shibuya, Tokyo. The exhibition itself is not so big but is very welcome to Cowboy Bebop fans. The anime has had little merchandise or mention in Japan in the last two decades, so anyone who has been waiting for it to make a comeback can finally be happy.
Cowboy Bebop first aired in 1998 in Japan and grew in popularity not only there but abroad as well. It follows the story of bounty hunter Spike Spiegel and his friends as they journey around the galaxy trying to catch criminals - basically to get enough money so that they can eat good food. But Spike's dark past eventually begins to catch up with him, and everything he has been trying to leave behind and keep a secret has to be dealt with properly if he wants to continue with his new lifestyle.
Most of the exhibition focuses on retelling the Cowboy Bebop story and looking in-depth at each of the main characters. Additionally, you can check out production artwork from the original anime. There are also two places where you can take photos. One is a model of the Swordfish II, Spike's iconic ship and the other is a mock-up of the lounge area inside the Bebop ship. And like all special exhibitions in Japan, there is an exclusive goods shop with lots of keychains, themed snacks, and even a necktie.
The Cowboy Bebop exhibition is located in a good place to make it worth any anime fan's trip to Shibuya. In addition to this pop-up exhibition, Shibuya is also home to a permanent One Piece store, a branch of the famous anime goods store Animate, and a huge pre-owned anime merchandise shop called Mandarake. For otaku wondering if the exhibition is worth going out to visit, there are plenty of other things to do nearby, as visiting the exhibition itself will not take more than a couple of hours at most.
For anyone interested in visiting the Cowboy Bebop exhibition themselves, be sure to reserve your ticket ahead of time via this website. The event has already proven very popular, so hoping to get tickets at the door may result in serious disappointment. Plus, due to the exhibition's size, the number of people allowed inside is very limited to prevent it from becoming over-crowded. The best way to ensure you are able to visit is to make your reservation in advance. Tickets cost ¥1,800 ($12 USD) each.
The Cowboy Bebop 25th Anniversary Exhibition is running in Seibu Department Store in Shibuya, Tokyo through November 19th, 2023.
Watch Cowboy Bebop now on Crunchyroll.
Source: Forbes
