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ACK is a Kyoto-based art fair first held in 2021. As its name suggests, it focuses on the concept of collaboration. Japanese galleries welcomed overseas galleries as guest exhibitors for joint exhibits, while ACK’s organizers also collaborated with companies and other organizations to offer programs. Working with Kyoto Prefecture, the organizers continue to present an international art fair that takes an entirely new approach.
ACK 2025 was the first time SMAH participated in the event. The special ACK × SMAH program featured MANGA ART Kaboom!!, a booth centered on collaborative works by Keiichi Tanaami and Fujio Akatsuka, at the main venue, Kyoto International Conference Center. At the same time, we also exhibited works at Shiroshoin of Higashi Hongan-ji Temple, Benrido Collotype Gallery, Kyoto Amplitude, and Daimaru Kyoto. Countless visitors were captivated by a range of exhibits featuring works from Eiichiro Oda’s ONE PIECE, Hirohiko Araki’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Kyoko Okazaki × Ito Jakuchu, Tite Kubo’s BLEACH, Riyoko Ikeda’s The Rose of Versailles, and Go Nagai’s Mazinger Z. In 2026, we plan to hold an exhibition at Hachikuan, a tangible cultural property designated by Kyoto City, in conjunction with ACK 2026, which will take place from November 7 to 9.
To explore this further, we brought together ACK’s partnership director Wakako Tezen, architect Takashi Suo, who is in charge of designing the venue’s spaces, and SMAH’s Masashi Okamoto for a conversation in the lounge space of Shueisha Manga-Art Heritage Tokyo Gallery. In this three-part series, we look back on the 2025 exhibits and explore what an art fair is all about, the distinctive features of ACK, and the qualities of manga art, before looking ahead to ACK 2026 in November.
Wakako Tezen (Left)
Tezen is the Representative Director and Art Project Director of TEZEN Inc. She worked at a gallery for contemporary art in Tokyo before founding the art management consulting company TEZEN in 2008. For over 15 years since, she has helped plan and manage projects focused on modern and contemporary Japanese art. She has overseen ACK’s VIP and corporate relations since its inception in 2020. Since becoming partnership director in April 2026, she has helped run the event as one of the seven members of its leadership committee.
Takashi Suo (Right)
Suo is an architect and the head of SUO. He worked for Kazuyo Sejima & Associates and SANAA before establishing SUO in 2015. Primarily working in architectural design, he has collaborated with artists and a range of other creators on numerous architectural projects and designed the layouts of many contemporary art exhibitions. He has been involved in ACK since its inception and has been responsible for its spatial design since the inaugural fair in 2021.
Now in translation
To TALK 1
To TALK 2
Edited by: Kei Osawa; Discussion Photos: Tomohiro Takeshita
