The “Shūji Terayama Exhibition” will be held at the Setagaya Literary Museum in Tokyo’s Roka Park from Saturday, October 5, 2024, to Sunday, March 30, 2025.
Shūji Terayama, who passed away at the young age of 47 in 1983, explored the vast possibilities of artistic expression across a variety of fields, including poetry, tanka, haiku, theater, and film. At 18, he won the Newcomer Award from Tanka Kenkyu and later expanded his work into free verse, songwriting, and radio poetry. At 31, he founded the experimental theater troupe Tenjō Sajiki. His book Throw Away Your Books, Rally in the Streets inspired countless young people and was further developed into theatrical and cinematic works.
In the late 1960s, around the age of 30, Shūji Terayama moved to Shimoma in Setagaya Ward. This period was a turning point where he transitioned his unique style into various artistic genres such as theater and film. The exhibition, held in Setagaya—significant to Terayama’s life—celebrates the 90th anniversary of his birth. It features a comprehensive display of related collections held by the museum, including approximately 150 items such as handwritten letters from his early twenties, manuscripts related to Tenjō Sajiki, scripts, and posters.
This letter was addressed to a junior high school Japanese teacher. Although Nakano was not a direct teacher of Terayama, he supported the adolescent Terayama as a valuable advisor.
“One tree / also has flowing blood / here, the blood / is sleeping while standing”
These lyrics are from a blues song performed in the play Blood Sleeps Standing (1960, directed by Keita Asari, Shiki Theatre Company). On the top left of the first page of the manuscript, it reads in pencil: “One tree / and also on utility poles / has flowing blood / here, the blood / is sleeping while standing,” with “utility poles” corrected to “tree” on the second page.
A legendary poster from the early days of Tenjō Sajiki, which was reportedly snatched away by young people almost immediately after being displayed.
Shūji Terayama Exhibition – Setagaya Literary Museum Collection Exhibition, Late 2024
Exhibition Period: October 5, 2024 (Saturday) – March 30, 2025 (Sunday) Note: There will be maintenance closures during the exhibition period.
Venue: Setagaya Literary Museum
Address: 1-10-10 Minami-Karasuyama, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Exhibition Room: 1st Floor, Setagaya Literary Museum
Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Entry and museum shop open until 5:30 PM)
Closed: Every Monday (except when a Monday is a public holiday, in which case the museum is open and closed the following weekday), year-end and New Year’s holidays (December 29 – January 3), and during maintenance (March 10 – 18)
Admission Fee:
- General: ¥200 (¥160 for groups of 20 or more or with “Setagaya Arts Card”)
- High School/University Students: ¥150 (¥120 for groups of 20 or more or with “Setagaya Arts Card”)
- Seniors (65 and over), Elementary and Junior High School Students, and those with a disability certificate: ¥100 (¥80 for groups of 20 or more or with “Setagaya Arts Card”)
*Proof of eligibility for discounts must be provided.
*University students with a disability certificate enter free.
*One caregiver for those with a disability certificate enters free.
*Free admission for those 60 and over on October 5 (Saturday) and for those 65 and over on November 8 (Friday).
*Free admission on November 16 (Saturday) and 17 (Sunday) due to Setabun Market event.
