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On October 16, 2026, Nikko Toshogu Shrine held a horseback archery ritual known as yabusame. That same day, we presented the shrine with a pair of artworks depicting Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli from Hirohiko Araki’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 7: Steel Ball Run as an offering. It is a mysterious work that makes it difficult to tell where the protagonists and the horses are as they blend into the snowy grove.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure / SBR Lenticular Works by Hirohiko Araki (2026, lenticular prints)
Lenticular prints create the illusion of depth due to the parallax of human binocular vision. As you view these illustrations from different angles, the artwork shifts between looking flat and three-dimensional. Shueisha Manga-Art Heritage oversaw the production of the work.
On October 16, after the horseback archery ritual, a dedication ceremony was held in the worship hall of the main shrine, a National Treasure. We presented the artwork as an offering with prayers for world peace and for the success of the anime Steel Ball Run: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
Comments from Hirohiko Araki
“This year, which is the Year of the Horse, I watched a horseback archery ritual at Nikko Toshogu Shrine. When you witness it firsthand, the sheer power of the horses is incredible. Aiming and hitting targets at such speeds seems to be a superhuman feat. Steel Ball Run is a story about crossing North America on horseback. I see horses as animals that have been our companions throughout history. This horseback archery ritual gave me the sense that people, horses, and gods are one.
“To mark our offering, Nikko Toshogu Shrine displayed the lenticular prints in its worship hall and held a dedication ceremony. The two illustrations were created as a pair. With snow blanketing the scene, the trees, horses, Johnny, and Gyro seem to merge in a kind of optical illusion. I’m truly honored to have a work about the unity of people, horses, and nature placed in such a special place.”
These works are scheduled to be displayed from November 19 to December 27, 2026 in the corridor at Nikko Toshogu Shrine, a National Treasure, home to the Sleeping Cat carving.
＊An admission ticket is required to enter the shrine.
＊As this is a semi-outdoor exhibition, it may be canceled in the event of severe weather.
＊Artwork will not be sold at Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
＊When viewing the artwork, please be considerate of other visitors to the shrine.
In 1980, Araki received the runner-up prize at the 20th Tezuka Award for his debut work Poker Under Arms, which was published in Weekly Shonen Jump. In 1986, he started the series JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure in the same magazine. Cumulative circulation of the series has surpassed 120 million copies. As of 2026, he is currently serializing The JOJOLands in the monthly magazine Ultra Jump.
In 2009, he participated in an exhibition at the Louvre Museum, where Rohan Kishibe Goes to the Louvre (Rohan au Louvre) was unveiled. In 2013, collaborative works he created with Gucci were showcased worldwide in the fashion brand’s directly operated stores. In 2018, the Hirohiko Araki JoJo Exhibition: Ripples of Adventure was held in the National Art Center, Tokyo. This was the first time that a solo exhibition of an active manga artist has been held at a national art museum.
＊An admission ticket is required to enter the shrine.
＊As this is a semi-outdoor exhibition, it may be canceled in the event of severe weather.
＊Artwork will not be sold at Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
＊When viewing the artwork, please be considerate of other visitors to the shrine.