"Yokai Parade": Japanese Art Exhibit at Elihu Burritt Library, CCSU, 6/23-7/16

[Matthew Chudnow]

Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) is pleased to host the Japan Foundation's special traveling exhibit “Yokai Parade: Supernatural Monsters from Japan.” This exhibit will be held from June 23 through July 16, 2026, on the Second Floor of the Elihu Burritt Library (1615 Stanley St, New Britain, CT 06053). A special reception will be held on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 from 5:00-7:00pm.

This exhibition introduces Japan’s yokai (Japanese folkloric imaginary monsters) culture that extends to the present day through picture scrolls and nishiki-e (a multicolored Japanese woodblock print), as well as a diverse range of media, including toys and films. Japanese yokai have appeared in a variety of tales as characters that express supernatural powers, serving to instill surprise and fear in people. Over time, yokai have become less of a subject of fear and 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. Displayed objects are mostly fine-quality replicas created from the originals for this special traveling exhibition. Please visit https://library.ccsu.edu/calendar/ to check the Elihu Burritt Library’s hours.

This exhibit is presented by the Japan Foundation, the Consulate General of Japan in Boston, the Burritt Library, and the Japanese Program in the department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (WLLC). Please contact Dr. Matthew Chudnow (WLLC) at mchu...@ccsu.edu or Renata Vickrey (Elihu Burritt Library) at Vick...@ccsu.edu with any questions.

Matthew Chudnow, PhD.
Assistant Professor of Japanese
Japanese Program Coordinator
World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Central Connecticut State University
email: mchu...@ccsu.edu
phone: (860) 832-2892