It has been announced that the first large-scale exhibition since the death of the late Reiji Matsumoto, "Galaxy Express 999 50th Anniversary Project Reiji Matsumoto Exhibition: A Journey of Creation," will be held. Held as part of the Galaxy Express 999 50th anniversary project, the exhibition will explore Matsumoto's skills and power as an artist who continued to express his unique worldview in the two fields of manga and anime, as well as the message he has left for the future through his creative activities over more than 70 years, through over 300 original drawings, including early works, never-before-seen materials, and precious memorabilia. The exhibition will be held from June 20 to September 7 at Tokyo City View (Minato-ku, Tokyo) and from September 27 to January 12, 2026 at the Kitakyushu Manga Museum Special Exhibition Room (Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu).
Makiko Matsumoto, representative director of Reijisha, which is collaborating on the project, commented, "It's been two years since my father, Reiji Matsumoto, set off on his journey into the sea of stars, and now, thanks to the efforts of all the companies involved, we are able to hold this original art exhibition. Matsumoto set off on his journey without even the pen he treasured so much, but each of the original drawings he left behind, which are countless in number, truly breathes life into Matsumoto at each moment in time. I grew up watching my father's profile as he sat at his desk, drawing with his pen in complete concentration. When I was little, I felt lonely because my father was always working, but now, through the original drawings he left behind, I feel happy and delighted to have had the miracle of meeting my father at that time, the father he was as a boy."
"'We will meet again at a place far away where the wheels of time join,' is something Matsumoto always said, and this does not only apply to the future, but may also exist in the past. I hope that through this exhibition, each and every visitor will be able to meet Matsumoto at their own 'place where the wheels of time join,'" the statement continued.
February 13th is the anniversary of Matsumoto's death, and a special video of a conversation between his close friend Tetsuya Chiba and astronaut Naoko Yamazaki titled "Thoughts on Reiji Matsumoto" was released on Toei Animation's official YouTube channel. It was also announced that the 2013 animated film "Captain Harlock -Space Pirate Captain Harlock-" will premiere on the channel at 8pm on February 15th.
