Botteghe di Tokyo – The Immersive Exhibition at TENOHA (Milan, Italy)

In the heart of Milan, in the famous Navigli-Darsena area, we find Tenoha: a Japanese concept store, bar and restaurant. Among the things people can do there, the most relevant is their latest exhibition: Botteghe di Tokyo – The Immersive Exhibition (Tokyo Storefronts – The Immersive Exhibition). (Maneki Neko: The Japanese Lucky Cat is Calling You!)

The show takes inspiration from the illustrations made by Japan-based Polish artist Mateusz Urbanowicz. Laura Micalizzi is the curator behind it. 

After booking an online ticket and registering in the shop, visitors get a fictional passport and airplane ticket. As soon as they enter the designated area, they find themselves in an airplane-like room: therefore they have the impression to be traveling towards Japan. In the next room visitors “have landed” and can leave their personal belongings in the lockers of the fictional baggage claim area.

                                   
Note. Cefis, E., February 2, 2022                                 Note. Cefis, E., February 2, 2022

After the first two rooms visitors get to the exhibition and can finally start their journey through some curious Tokyo shops. In the room, there is a reconstruction of streets and shops, but people can also find vintage (non-functioning) vending machines and (functioning) photo boots. A video of Urbanowicz is also shown in a corner, alongside some of the supplies used to create his art.

Some of the shops are:

1. Kikumi senbei shop.

Note. Intorre, M. February 2, 2022

2. Kobayashi Hairdresser.

Note. Cefis, E., February 2, 2022

3. Saitō Bakery.

Note. Nembrini, S., February 2, 2022

4. Tsuruya clothing store.

Note. Nembrini, S., February 2, 2022

5. Zabuton Koizumi (pillow shop).

   Note. Intorre, M., February 2, 2022

6. Seishin-dou book store (with real books).

Note. Both pictures by Intorre, M. February 2, 2022

7. Sakae-ya restaurant.

Note. Nembrini, S. February 2, 2022

Not pictured are: Nakajima Saketen (wine and alcoholics) Okashou haberdashery, Chūōbutsuruyū-sha shopping company, Fellows hamburger restaurant, Kikuyabashi photography corner, Ten’yasu grocery store.

Alongside the Japanese boutiques people can also see the sketches behind the finished product.

In conclusion, visitors can understand that the exhibition is only a small part of the bigger project created by Urbanowicz. Tokyo Storefronts, his book tells us more about Tokyo by analyzing its areas and shops; present in the book are also his sketches and the story behind his work.