The exhibition “Osamu Tezuka’s Phoenix: The Symbol of Cosmic Life Resisting the Entropic Increase of Dynamic Equilibrium” will take place from Friday, March 7, to Sunday, May 25, 2025, at Tokyo City View in Roppongi Hills, Tokyo.
Tezuka’s Phoenix, his self-proclaimed life’s work, is an epic saga alternating between past and future. It follows the struggles of those in pursuit of the legendary bird, the Phoenix, which grants eternal life to those who drink its blood. Spanning over 30 years in serialization across various magazines, Phoenix continues to captivate audiences 70 years after its debut, with the upcoming film Phoenix: Eden’s Flower, adapted from the “Nostalgia” arc, set for release on Sunday, November 3 (national holiday).
Curated and supervised by biologist Shinichi Fukuoka, this exhibition reinterprets the narrative structure of Phoenix from the perspective of a new philosophy of life, seeking answers to Tezuka’s lifelong exploration of the question, “What is life?” Fukuoka’s comments on this thematic approach were released alongside the event announcement.
Comment from Shinichi Fukuoka, Project Curator
Osamu Tezuka’s life work, Phoenix, explores the theme of “What is the meaning of life and death?” This is one of the most profound questions for humanity. Throughout the story, the immortal Phoenix appears, manipulating humans who cling to life. It presents a view of life that embraces reincarnation, showing how all beings continuously change in form while being passed down through generations. This reflects a pantheistic worldview and aligns perfectly with my philosophy of life, which posits that life perpetually oscillates between destruction and creation, resisting the laws of increasing entropy—a state I call “dynamic equilibrium.”
The aim of this exhibition is to interpret the meaning of the Phoenix from the perspective of dynamic equilibrium. I also hope to imagine the conclusions of stories that Tezuka promised to depict but could not fulfill. I hope you look forward to it.
Additionally, the key visual created by graphic designer Taku Sato has been revealed. It features the super-being “Phoenix,” which exists beyond time and space, surrounded by a design primarily in red and black.
NiEW Best Music is a playlist featuring artists leading the music scene and offering alternative styles in our rapidly evolving society. Hailing from Tokyo, the NiEW editorial team proudly curates outstanding music that transcends size, genre, and nationality.