Last updated on 2026-03-26
Impressions of the DESIGNS Nagano Mamoru Design Exhibition at Sunshine City, Ikebukuro, which I visited in December 2025
Shige’s hobby: Articles related to The Five Star Stories
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Table of contents
Exhibition Overview
- Exhibition Title: DESIGNS: Mamoru Nagano Design Exhibition
- Dates: Friday, December 19, 2025 – Monday, January 12, 2026
- Opening Hours
- Weekdays: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Weekends and Holidays: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- *Opening hours will be adjusted on weekends and holidays only on December 31st (Wednesday).
- Location: Sunshine City, Ikebukuro
- Admission Fee: ¥2,300 (see official website for discounts). Payment methods include cash and various cards.
You can take photos with your smartphone in the FIVE STAR STORIES corner inside the venue.
The exhibition will travel to the following venues, and while it’s unclear whether this Tokyo exhibition will be the final one, it will mark the end of the series.
- Tokorozawa Exhibition
- Nagoya Exhibition
- Osaka Exhibition
- Fukuoka Exhibition
- Tokyo Exhibition
Review “Nagano Mamoru, 40 Years of Journey”
The basic exhibition layout of the “DESIGNS Nagano Mamoru Design Exhibition” is the same at each venue, but several works have been added leading up to the Tokyo exhibition. Indeed, there were several works added since the exhibition I saw at Tokorozawa in March 2024.
The exhibition layout is as follows:
- Prologue
- Vifam, Gorg, Dunbine
- L-Gaim
- Z Gundam, ZZ Gundam
- Brain Powerd
- Shellbrid
- Game
- Fool for the City
- FIVE STAR STORIES
- First Image of FSS
- Comic Book Cover
- Character
- Fatima
- Motorhead GTM
- Kit Display
- Goticmade
- Message Board
- Merchandise
To list some of the things that made the biggest impression on me, the prologue featured Fire Witch, exhibited next to Death Anchor (1982), a motif that Nagano has repeatedly used, and the red witch is a striking piece.
The Dunbine exhibit featured color original drawings and design drawings of the Aura Battler Gulbidens, which did not appear in the series. The original drawing is a very impressive piece with its demonic form and dark yet vivid deep green color.
The quote from X below goes into more detail, but it also connects to Five Star Stories.
L-Gaim had the largest number of exhibits outside of FSS, including a panel signed by Nagano of the Blu-ray box packaging art, as well as original character and heavy metal drawings.
Among them were the beautiful original drawings of “EX.THREE FATES-FATIMA” (1984), which depicts Fatima on the MK-II’s head; “BLUE & WHITE,” which depicts Fatima with the upper body of the MK-I; and “SUNSET,” which depicts Tita in profile with the MK-II.
And the work “for the 1985 Sunrise calendar” featured the four main characters Daba, Kyao, Am, and Lessie, and it was moving to see characters who had various experiences and who had left the series appear on the same screen.
The L-Gaim theme song was playing throughout the venue.
As for Gundam, I liked the designs of the mobile suit Hachicca and the Gundam named Transer α.
Brain Powerd’s design, which uses multi-layer laminated plates for the “Anti-Body” and “Organic Machine,” is still innovative, and it’s impressive to see it brought to life in the anime.
As for Shellbrid, I like the design of ARMS-I Bullitt, and the original anime design for “Burning Kirin,” by the same Ikuhara + Nagano duo as Shellbrid, was on display.
As for games, there’s ZAXHARK, a character who appears to be from a fantasy RPG. The design of the Emperor of the Ancient Empire is similar to FSS, but Nagano Mamoru’s armor is cool. Tekken characters were also on display.
Smartphone photography will be allowed starting with the FOOL for THE CITY exhibit.
You can see the covers of the old version of FOOL for THE CITY and the new version, FOOL for THE CITY 2025 EDITION.
Five Star Stories features 10 original drawings from before the FSS serialization, bringing back memories of the works I saw in the pages of Newtype and elsewhere before the manga began.
Once you pass through the gate with the Teiki Magna Palace painted on it, you will enter the Five Star Stories exhibition.
In the book cover corner, you can see original illustrations from previously published volumes as well as the cover of volume 19, which is scheduled to be released in spring 2026.
The chapters on Characters, Fatima, and MH/GTM feature recent works as well as works from old magazines that I still have. I’m filled with nostalgia for the early Cayenne, Chorus III, Closeau, Atropos, and LED Mirage.
The model corner at the “Volks F.S.S. Series Exhibition Mini Caravan in Yokohama SR 2025 Winter” held in Yokohama only has VOLKS products, but the number of exhibits is much more extensive.
The VOLKS 1/72 Amaterasu Ageha-type GTM Morpho with a gray base, pictured below, is also available at the Yokohama show, but the painted version of the GTM Hourai is only on display here; the Hourai at Yokohama SR is on display with a gray base.
Other eye-catching models from Our Treasure were the multi-material 1/60 Teiki Magna Palace sculpted by Syuju and the 1/100 Amaterasu Ageha-type GTM Morpho sculpted by Tani Akira.
Following the Five Star Stories exhibit was an exhibit for the film Gottimaid, and just like at the Tokorozawa venue, a video of Kaiserin’s attack scene was playing, causing visitors to stop and stare. Indeed, the scene where Kaiserin appears while Boldox is rampaging is a good one, no matter how many times you watch it, and it’s easy to see why you want to stop and stare.
Finally, there was a corner where visitors could write their impressions on sticky notes, and a board with messages left by authors who have a connection to Nagano Mamoru. I was happy to find Shinochakuma by Nishimura Shinobu among the authors who have a connection to him. I’ve been reading Nishimura Shinobu’s work since the days of THIRD GIRL, and as I live relatively close to her hometown, I often attend her autograph sessions.
About the closing
It’s likely we won’t have another opportunity to see such a comprehensive exhibition for another 10 years, so this exhibition is well worth checking out as a culmination of Nagano Mamoru’s work to date. Also, model enthusiasts might want to combine this with the “Volks F.S.S. Series Exhibition Mini Caravan in Yokohama SR 2025 Winter” currently being held at the Volks Yokohama Showroom.
From Ikebukuro to Yokohama, the fastest train takes about 40 minutes on the JR Shinjuku Line, Fukutoshin Line, and Tokyu Line. If walking from Sunshine City to Ikebukuro Station is too difficult, you can shorten the walking distance by going from Higashi-Ikebukuro Station to Ikebukuro Station.
参考情報
- DESIGNS Nagano Mamoru Design Exhibition・Sunshine City official page
- DESIGNS Nagano Mamoru Design Exhibition・KADOKAWA official page
- “DESIGNS Nagano Mamoru Design Exhibition” to Osaka and Fukuoka! Special interview with Nagano Mamoru・Web Newtype
- “Volks F.S.S. Series Exhibition Mini Caravan in Yokohama SR 2025 Winter”・VOLKS公式Blog
- Shige’s hobby: Articles related to The Five Star Stories
寄付のお願い・Request for donations
広告
- Mamoru Nagano・Ads by Amazon
- FIVE STAR STORIES・Ads by Amazon
Photo Equipment
- iPhone12mini
Reference links
- 2026.2.11
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