"Shibuya Neko Hariko" by Akira Yoshida in Shibuya Sakura Stage!

We are delighted to announce you that Akira YOSHIDA's maneki neko (beckoning cat) shaped sculpture "Shibuya Neko Hariko" will be exhibited at Shibuya Sakura Stage from the 2nd of March, 2025.

About Shibuya Neko Hariko：
Shibuya Neko Hariko was originally created in 2020 and was installed at a commercial facility in Shibuya. By combining traditional Japanese motifs with contemporary forms, Yoshida created this work with the aim of making it a new symbol of Shibuya. He created a new Neko Hariko character by taking the maneki neko (beckoning cat) motif and crossing it with the Inu Hariko.

The shape of the beckoning cat is abstracted while the curved surfaces are smoothly joined together to create a contemporary form. Shibuya already has a much-loved symbol, the Hachiko statue. In creating this work, Yoshida chose a cat as the motif in the hope that this would form a pair with the Hachiko statue.

However in 2022, we noticed that the work was on display with drastic changes to its appearance.

Thanks to over 10,000 online signatures we collected, Shibuya Neko Hariko and its ownership was returned to the artist after tough negotiations with the owner of the artwork at that time.
Soon after Yoshida started to restore the artwork and it took 7 months for him to complete the repair.

The revived Shibuya Neko Hariko was exhibited in January, 2024 in Shibuya again and was welcomed warmly and enthusiastically by the audiences.

The exhibition at Shibuya Sakura Stage this time in beautiful sakura (cherry blossom) season will be the first time to display the artwork since the beginning of last year.

For details of Shibuya Neko Hariko, please visit the website: https://shibuyanekohariko.jp

Exhibition details：
Title：Shibuya Neko Hariko in Shibuya Sakura Stage

Venue：Shibuya Sakura Stage SHIBUYA SIDE 3F
1-4 Sakuragaoka-chi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan,150-0031

Official Website：https://www.shibuya-sakura-stage.com/en/

Access：You can find how to visit the venue here.

Date：2nd thru 26th of March, 2025

Opening hours：8am through 23pm
（Shops open between 10am and 21pm only. However you can still see the artwork during the time above.)

Admission：Free of charge

Managed by Committee to revive Shibuya Neko Hariko

Cooperated by：Tokyu Land Corporation、Mr.Hiromitsu Shimizu、YUKARI ART

Related events：
You can get a special sticker of Shibuya Neko Hariko on the 2nd of March from 10am. (While stock lasts)
Also, if you post the photo of Shibuya Neko Hariko in Sakura Stage with #ShibuyaNekoHarikoInSakuraStage on SNS (Instgram, Facebook, X and TikTok) , you can get Shibuya Neko Hariko's special mobile phone wallpaper!