Collaboration with the Manga "Kingdom"

A wonderful collaboration has come to fruition at the Osaka solo exhibition: artwork based on the manga Kingdom. To my great honor, Mr. Yasuhisa Hara, the author of Kingdom, has long been very fond of my work, and he personally requested that I draw Kingdom in the "Yamashita style" someday. Realizing there was no time like the present, I completed the pieces immediately!

Kingdom art "Shin"

Kingdom art "Ouki"

Kingdom art "Kyoukai"

Kingdom art "Eisei"

Kingdom art "Yo Tanwa"

Kingdom art "Kanki"

Behind-the-Scenes Story: From the Osaka Solo Exhibition Gallery Talk

Taniguchi (MC): This collaboration with the manga Kingdom is already a hot topic on Twitter and other social media platforms, and many people have come to the exhibition specifically for it. Could you tell us how this came about?

Yamashita: That’s right. It is unusual, isn't it? You must be wondering why there are paintings of Ouki and Shin in this exhibition. I didn't just paint them without permission. (Laughs.) These are two pieces that I had the honor of painting after receiving a direct order from Yasuhisa Hara, the author of Kingdom. Yes. It’s surprising, right? Why Mr. Hara?

To be frank, Mr. Hara is a fan of mine. (Laughs.) Mr. Hara and I actually graduated from the same university (Kyushu Institute of Design). He was two years behind me, and we didn't interact much as students. However, in 2018, there was a large alumni reunion for the university's 50th anniversary, and Mr. Hara and I were included in the group discussion among the graduates who spoke on stage. I was very nervous. In the waiting room that day, as I was wondering how to approach him, he was the one who asked me, "Are you Ryohei Yamashita?" and then said, "I have been very fond of your paintings for a long time." (Laughs.) I was like, "Seriously?!"

Mr. Hara told me he really liked the dynamism, and the expression of light and color in my paintings, and he even clearly explained his reasons. I had so many things I wanted to ask him, but instead, I was peppered with questions! He asked me various questions, such as, "How do you use acrylic paints?" and "How do you plan your color schemes?" I was genuinely happy. Being questioned by Mr. Hara helped me organize my own thoughts and made me consciously reflect on "how I paint." That was the first contact that led to my close relationship with him.

After that, we had a vague conversation about collaborating on something someday, but it never came to fruition. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Kingdom serialization, and Mr. Hara suggested doing a commemorative collaboration. As the works to initiate that project, I first created these two pieces. I believe further developments will emerge as we see the reaction to these works.