ADVISORY: Yokai Parade exhibition coming to Central; Consul General of Japan to attend June 23 opening
CCSUNews
Yokai Parade to stop at Central
Consul General of Japan in Boston to attend June 23 opening, present remarks
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MEDIA ADVISORY – June 5, 2026
New Britain, Conn. - Mysterious creatures and supernatural beings will make an appearance at Central this month, as the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and the Elihu Burritt Library welcome a prestigious traveling exhibition from the Japan Foundation.
Titled “Yokai Parade: Supernatural Monsters from Japan,” the exhibition explores the rich tradition of yokai, the fantastical creatures and unexplained phenomena that have captivated the Japanese imagination for centuries.
To celebrate, Central will host an opening reception on Tuesday, June 23, from 5 to 7 p.m. on the second floor of the Burritt Library, with guest remarks from Consul General Seiichirō Takahashi, the head diplomat from the Consulate General of Boston.
Presented in partnership with the Consulate General of Japan in Boston, "Yokai Parade: Supernatural Monsters from Japan" is part of the Japan Foundation’s international traveling exhibition program. Since its establishment in 1972, the Japan Foundation has fostered cultural exchange around the world through initiatives in arts and cultural exchange, Japanese-language education, and Japanese studies and intellectual exchange.
“Yokai Parade: Supernatural Monsters from Japan” introduces Japan’s yokai culture that extends to the present day through picture scrolls and nishiki-e (“brocade pictures”), a type of multicolored Japanese woodblock print), as well as a diverse range of media, including toys and films.
“In all cultures spanning from East to West, from antiquity to modern times, various images have been used to represent mysterious and unexplainable phenomena. Japanese yokai have also appeared in a variety of tales as characters that express such supernatural powers, serving to instill surprise and fear in people,” according to exhibition notes prepared by the Japanese Foundation.
“Thereafter, as times progressed and the development of new science and technology brought about changes to people’s lives, yokai seem to have gradually become less of a subject of fear and have perhaps come to be viewed as a more charming and friendly presence. This exhibition focuses on the ‘popularization’ of these yokai and invites viewers to explore their profound world of mystery.”
Parking will be available in the Student Center parking lot.
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