Date: July 11th (Sat) – October 12th (Monday/holiday), 2026
Venue: National Museum of Nature and Science (Ueno Park, Tokyo)
The special exhibition "The Survival Strategies of Living Things: The National Museum of Nature and Science x Darwin's Coming!", themed on "The Survival Strategies of Living Things," will finally open on July 11th (Saturday) at the National Museum of Nature and Science (Ueno Park, Tokyo).
From the Earth's formation to the present day, the Earth's environment has changed dramatically. Living things that have adapted to this diverse and ever-changing environment have nurtured the next generation and built a long history of life's evolution. This exhibition broadly introduces the adaptive evolution and survival strategies of such living things, as well as the traits and functions they have acquired. Furthermore, in collaboration with NHK's nature program "Darwin's Coming!", the exhibition utilizes specimens and materials from the National Museum of Nature and Science's collection, research results, and a wealth of footage filmed by NHK to develop the environmental adaptations and survival strategies of living things on a topic-by-topic basis.
We are pleased to announce the official catalog for this exhibition, as well as merchandise featuring our original character "Kujirajii" and other exclusive original goods. A "Junior Guide" will also be available to help elementary and junior high school students enjoy the exhibition even more. Furthermore, original stickers and collaborative projects have been decided to coincide with the "Creature Super World Exhibition" so that visitors can enjoy the exhibition.
[Official Catalog]
This illustrated book uses visuals and the latest research to funnily introduce the survival strategies of living things that have adapted and evolved to various environments!
Price: 2,600 yen (tax included)
Sales location: Special exhibition shop
Size: W210 x H257mm
Specifications: Paperback
Number of pages: 200 pages of main text + 4 pages of cover
*The image is for illustrative purposes only. Specifications and design may change without notice.
[Junior Guide]
Enjoy the exhibition even more! Introducing the Junior Guide!
This is an exhibition guide aimed at elementary and junior high school students.
・There will also be participatory events linked to NHK's popular science program, "The Wakey Show"!
● Information on original and collaborative merchandise for the "Creature Super World Exhibition"
Lots of original and collaborative goods will be available to make the "Creature Super World Exhibition" even more enjoyable!
■Pop-style merchandise featuring the exhibition's original character, Kujirajii, is now available. The lineup includes four items: clear files, acrylic keychains, tote bags, and T-shirts!
T-shirt Kujiraji
(KIDS 110/130/150)
2,970 yen (tax included)
Whale Grandpa Tote Bag
1,430 yen (tax included)
■Manuru's Evening / Manuko Mama, Tsunomin, and their friends are now available as merchandise! You might find yourself getting hooked and picking them up before you know it!
Tote bag Manul's evening
2,200 yen (tax included)
(C) NEP/Mazurin
Collaboration goods
■Creature Super World Exhibition × B-SIDELABEL
"B-SIDELABEL," hugely popular for its messages and illustrations that make you chuckle, has created six new artworks specifically for this exhibition.
We'll be releasing a variety of merchandise, including our standard stickers, as well as can badges, acrylic keychains, and more!
■Creature Super World Exhibition × Hikaru Matsubara
Hikaru Matsubara, whose designs combine humor and graphics and are very popular, has created original artwork for this exhibition, which will be available as collaborative merchandise at the special shop!
Tenugui (coloring book) 1,100 yen (tax included)
Mini towel: 715 yen (tax included)
Sacoche bag: 1,540 yen (tax included)
■Creature Super World Exhibition × Koichi Yairi
This exhibition features original merchandise showcasing the unique worldview of graphic artist Koichi Yairi, who is active both in Japan and internationally! We have T-shirts, bandanas, and other items that are perfect not only as souvenirs of the exhibition but also for everyday wear!
Bandana: 1,650 yen (tax included)
T-shirt (S/M/L/XL) ¥3,520 (tax included)
*Image is for illustrative purposes only.
● Various creatures that appear in the "Super World of Living Things Exhibition" are now available as stickers!
Try to collect all 8 types of creatures!!
The creatures featured in this exhibition will be available as stickers. There are eight different types of creatures, including the giant sloth, rhinoceros beetle, golden eagle, and orca. The stickers will be distributed in limited quantities from July 11th (Saturday) at the entrance to the special exhibition hall of the National Museum of Nature and Science, as well as at participating shops in facilities around Ueno Station (ecute Ueno, Ueno Marui, Atre Ueno Sanseido Bookstore) and the aquarium. Try to collect all eight types!
1. Gifts exclusively for visitors
The first visitors to this exhibition will receive an original sticker featuring designs of a giant sloth, a giant seahorse, a Steller's sea eagle, and a green sea turtle.
[Distribution Period] From July 11th, 2026 (Saturday) *Ends when supplies run out
[Distribution Location] Distributed randomly at the entrance of the special exhibition venue upon entry. *You cannot choose the design.
[Designs] "Giant Sloth," "Giant Seahorse," "Steller's Sea Eagle," and "Green Sea Turtle" (4 types in total)
● You can enjoy the "Super World of Living Things Exhibition" at a slightly lower price with "Living Things Stickers"!
Distribution will begin on July 11th (Saturday) at facilities around Ueno Station and the aquarium, with limited quantities available.
2. Distribution of stickers with discount coupons.
Discount coupon stickers will be distributed at facilities near Ueno Station and at aquariums (the design will vary depending on the facility).
[Distribution Period] From July 11th, 2026 (Saturday) *Ends when supplies run out
[Distribution locations and designs]
*Distributed to customers who use or make a purchase at participating shops and facilities.
"Beetle" Distribution location: Ecute Ueno
"Barn Owl" distribution location: Ueno Marui
"Western Gorilla" Distribution location: Ecute Ueno Sanseido Bookstore
"Orca" Distribution locations: Kamogawa Sea World and others
■ Coupon discount price
[General Public/University Students] Regular Price: 2,300 yen → Discounted Price: 2,200 yen
[Elementary, Junior High, and High School Students] Regular Price: 600 yen → Discounted Price: 550 yen
*This offer is valid only for purchases made using ART PASS during the exhibition period.
*This offer is not applicable to special promotional tickets.
*Discount coupons are valid for up to two people per purchase.
*This offer cannot be combined with other discounts.
*Discounts cannot be applied retroactively to tickets that have already been purchased.
●Ecute Ueno Collaboration Fair "Super Ecute Creatures Exhibition" to be held!
Start your summer vacation "creature adventure" from Ueno Station! The "Creature Super Ecute Exhibition" is now being held!
By combining the special exhibition "The Super World of Living Things: National Museum of Nature and Science x Darwin's Coming!" with Ecute Ueno, the commercial facility inside JR Ueno Station, you can enjoy the world of living things throughout the day.
This fair offers an exciting experience that will make you feel like you're continuing your adventure, from the moment you step off the train until you leave. It includes the sale of limited-edition gourmet foods and cute sweets and goods themed around the sea and land, as well as workshops that stimulate intellectual curiosity by teaching you about the preciousness of life and the structure of insects in a delicious way.
[Fair Period] July 11th (Sat) – August 31st (Mon), 2026
[Location] Ecute Ueno, 3rd floor inside the ticket gates and 2nd floor outside the ticket gates at JR Ueno Station.
For details on the "Creature Super Ecute Exhibition," please check the official Ecute Ueno website: https://www.ecute.jp/ueno
● "Darwin's Coming!" Program Information
Darwin's Coming! NHK General TV / Every Sunday at 7:30 PM
Darwin's Coming! – Selected episodes on BSP4K / Every Sunday at 8:00 AM
From remote wilderness to familiar city streets, this NHK nature program closely follows wildlife around the world. Utilizing the latest equipment to its fullest, it presents stories of the great outdoors filled with wonder and emotion through exclusive footage. 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of its broadcast! To date, it has aired over 900 episodes and covered more than 70 countries and regions. The reporting team has achieved over 160 "world firsts"! Their findings have also been published in numerous scientific papers.
During the event, "Darwin's Coming!" will be airing a collaborative project with the National Museum of Nature and Science!
■ "Let's Search with Aiba-san! The Super World of Microscopic Creatures" <Broadcast Date: July 19th (Sun)>
Join us in a grand investigation of the nature around us, along with the exhibition's navigator, Masaki Aiba!
We'll explore the "super world" of creatures found in familiar places, such as "insect galls" that you can encounter in parks and "meiobenthos" that live in the crevices of sand on the beach.
■ "20th Anniversary Special (tentative title)" <Broadcast date: August 2nd (Sun)>
We bring you an expanded version from the venue of the special exhibition "The Super World of Living Things"!
From nostalgic and precious footage to spectacular visuals created with the latest technology, we'll introduce you to the many attractions of this special exhibition!
■ "Unraveling the Mystery of the Giant Sloth! (tentative title)" <Broadcast date: August 9th (Sun)>
In the past, there were giant sloths on Earth that were completely different from those of today.
We'll get up close and personal at the excavation site to uncover the truth: Why was it so large? Why did it become extinct?
(Program schedules are subject to change or cancellation.)
[Event Overview]
Name: Special Exhibition "The Super World of Living Things: National Museum of Nature and Science x Darwin's Coming!"
Date: July 11th (Sat) – October 12th (Monday/holiday), 2026
Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Last entry at 4:30 PM)
The museum will be open until 6:00 PM from August 9th (Sunday) to August 15th (Saturday) (last entry at 5:30 PM).
Closed on: July 13th (Mon), September 7th (Mon), 14th (Mon), 24th (Thu), and 28th (Mon)
Venue: National Museum of Nature and Science [Ueno Park, Tokyo] (7-20 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8718)
Admission fee: General admission/University students: Advance tickets: 2,100 yen; Same-day tickets: 2,300 yen
(Tax included) Elementary, junior high, and high school students: Advance tickets: 500 yen, Same-day tickets: 600 yen
*Admission is free for preschool children.
*Admission is free for persons with disabilities and one caregiver.
*Please present your student ID or other identification documents upon entry.
*Visitors to this exhibition may also view the permanent exhibitions (Global Gallery and Japan Gallery) on the same day, but only during the permanent exhibitions' opening hours.
*Entry may be restricted due to overcrowding or other issues within the venue.
[Reservation System in effect] Reservations with specified dates and times will be required on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, and from August 10th (Monday) to August 14th (Friday). While there will be some same-day tickets available, you may have to wait to enter. Entry will not be permitted once all tickets are sold out. Please check the official website for details.
Online tickets
・Official ticket "ARTPASS"
https://art-ap.passes.jp/user/e/ikimonoworld-tokyo
・Electronic tickets "Asoview!"
https://evt.asoview.com/ikimonoworld-tokyo
• Electronic ticket "SmaTicket"
https://eplus.jp/ikimonoworld-tokyo-spticket/
Rakuten Travel
(Weekdays) https://experiences.travel.rakuten.co.jp/experiences/62552?scid=official_ikimonoworld-tokyo
(Tickets with specified dates and times for Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, and August 10th (Mon) – August 14th (Fri))
https://experiences.travel.rakuten.co.jp/experiences/62555?scid=official_ikimonoworld-tokyo
Play guide:
・Seven Tickets https://7ticket.jp/sp/ikimonoworld-tokyo/
[In-store sales] Seven-Eleven stores (in-store multi-copy machines)
・e+ (eplus) https://eplus.jp/ikimonoworld-tokyo/
[In-store sales] FamilyMart stores (in-store multi-copy machines)
・Lawson Ticket https://l-tike.com/ikimonoworld-tokyo/
Lawson and Ministop in-store Loppi terminals
・Ticket Pia https://w.pia.jp/t/ikimonoworld-tokyo/
Seven-Eleven storefront (in-store multi-function copier)
・CN Playguide https://www.cnplayguide.com/ikimonoworld-tokyo/
[In-store sales] FamilyMart stores (in-store multi-copy machines)
・Iko-yo https://iko-yo.net/facilities/893/c_tickets/1446
For inquiries: 050-5541-8600 (Hello Dial), 03-5814-9898 (FAX)
Official website: https://ikimonoworld.jp
Official X: https://x.com/ikimonochoworld @ikimonochoworld
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ikimonochoworld/
Organizers: National Museum of Nature and Science, NHK, NHK Promotions
Sponsored by: Mitsumura Printing, Waseda Academy
Cooperation: Shinchosha, ZEISS, Bridgelink
Supervisor: General Supervisor
Yuko Tajima (Senior Researcher, Vertebrate Research Group, Department of Zoology, National Museum of Nature and Science)
Supervision
Hiroshi Namikawa (Marine Invertebrate Research Group Leader, Zoological Research Department, National Museum of Nature and Science)
Hiroshi Yamazaki (Researcher, Marine Invertebrate Research Group, Department of Zoology, National Museum of Nature and Science)
Tatsuya Ide (Senior Researcher, Terrestrial Invertebrate Research Group, Department of Zoology, National Museum of Nature and Science)
Takanobu Hiji (Research Director, Evolutionary Paleontology Research Group, Life History Research Department, National Museum of Nature and Science)
[From the press release of the "Super World of Living Things" exhibition secretariat]
