Tokyo Gendai is delighted to announce the participating galleries for its third edition this September, returning to Pacifico Yokohama from 12 – 14 September (VIP Preview and Vernissage on 11 September), with SMBC as its Principal Partner. Bringing together Japan’s leading galleries and institutions alongside major international exhibitors, Tokyo Gendai presents an ambitious and dynamic edition this September. With its exceptional program of talks, installations, special events and activations within and beyond the fairgrounds, Tokyo Gendai is an occasion for the international art community to explore new perspectives and immerse themselves in Japan’s extraordinary creative landscape.

Taking place during a pivotal moment of creative activations across Japan, and with its new September welcoming the traditional arts season, Tokyo Gendai reinforces its role within the local art ecosystem. For its 2025 edition, the fair introduces new collaborations and partnerships across Japan and the wider region, giving further visibility to Japan’s established gallery scene and fostering valuable new opportunities for cultural exchange.

Eri Takane, Fair Director, says ‘We are so pleased to be highlighting such a diverse and wide-ranging selection of presentations at the 2025 edition of Tokyo Gendai, opening new dialogues across disciplines; from fresh explorations of craft and traditional visual languages, to pioneering contemporary practices. With our new autumn dates we are starting a new chapter and welcoming the cultural season in Japan; we are thrilled to be collaborating closely with institutions, festivals, and fairs across Japan and the wider region, to show visitors the breadth and dynamism of Japan’s contemporary art scene.’

Magnus Renfrew, Co-Founder, Tokyo Gendai says ‘Over its past two editions, Tokyo Gendai has served as a conduit for Japan’s extraordinary creative energy while establishing itself as an essential destination on the international art calendar. This year, the fair once again offers an exceptional platform for our robust roster of local and international exhibitors to connect with collectors and institutions, build new relationships and spark new collaborations, paving the way for further cross- cultural exchange, and cementing Japan’s position as a major player in the global art market.’

Toru Nakashima, President and Group CEO, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, says: ‘SMBC Group is truly honored to serve as the Principal Partner of Tokyo Gendai once again this year. We sincerely hope that Tokyo Gendai, which connects Japan and the world through art, will act as a bridge between different generations, cultures, and economies, contributing to the further growth of the Japanese art market and promoting social value enhancement.’

Fair sectors

Tokyo Gendai presents an expansive showcase of contemporary art, from internationally renowned artists showing seminal works, to emerging artists at the cutting edge of their disciplines, across 67 galleries divided into three key sectors. The Galleries sector welcomes multi-artist curations reflecting the participating galleries’ programming, Hana ‘Flower’ features presentations of one or multiple artists at an early or mid-stage in their career, and Eda ‘Branch’ is dedicated to solo or multiple presentations by established or historically significant figures, especially across Asia.

Galleries

Several leading exhibitors return to Tokyo Gendai for its third edition, including Pace Gallery (New York, Los Angeles, London, Geneva, Berlin, Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong), Sadie Coles HQ (London), Taka Ishii Gallery (Roppongi, Kyobashi, Kyoto, Maebashi) and Ceysson & Bénétière (Tokyo, Saint- Étienne, Paris, New York, Wandhaff, Lyon, Geneva, Panéry, La Chaulme).

Fair highlights include Almine Rech’s (Paris, Brussels, London, New York, Shanghai, Monaco) presentation of artists offering dialogue between poetry, abstraction, and conceptual form, with work by Larry Poons, Medhi Ghadynaloo, Dylan Kraus, and John Giorno; Johyun Gallery’s (Dalmaji, Haeundae, Seoul) group exhibition exploring the boundaries and potential of painting at the intersections of matter, narrative, movement, and place, with work by Ahn Jisan, Kim Chong Hak, Kim Taek Sang, Kishio Suga and Lee Bae; A Lighthouse called Kanata’s (Tokyo) curated showcase of works by leading contemporary sculptors and painters working with forms and visual languages rooted in Japanese artistic traditions, notably Kan Yasuda; ShugoArts’ (Tokyo) group presentation of leading Japanese women artists, including Leiko Ikemura, Aki Kondo and Ritsue Mishima, whose work will also be part of this year’s Tsubomi ‘Flower Bud’ showcase; Galerie EIGEN+ART’s (Leipzig, Berlin) curation of works by Carsten Nicolai and Stefan Guggisberg. Exhibiting at Tokyo Gendai for the first time this year, Galerie Eva Presenhuber (Zurich, Vienna) presents a curated group showcase with works by Joe Bradley, Sam Falls, Chase Hall, Shara Hughes, Ugo Rondinone, Tschabalala Self and Steven Shearer.

Hana ‘Flower’

The Hana ‘Flower’ sector offers an in-depth look at the practices and works of significant emerging and mid-career artists. Highlights include Tomio Koyama Gallery’s (Tokyo) solo presentation of Satoshi Ohno, drawing upon the artist’s personal experiences and memories of club culture, and the deep sensory stimulation of music and raves; Parcel’s (Tokyo) solo presentation of Masamitsu Shigeta’s quietly evocative oil on canvas landscapes, reconstructing the artist’s observations and impressions; Keteleer Gallery’s (Brussels) curated showcase of three emerging artists bridging personal experience with broader universal themes, addressing relationships between self, society, and the natural world; Nanzuka’s (Tokyo) group exhibition of Ryuichi Ohira, Yoshiki Muramatsu, and Pex Pitakpong; Each Modern’s (Taipei) debut of new boundary-pushing sculptural work from the Copenhagen-based collective A Kassen exploring transformation, process, and materiality.

Eda ‘Branch’

In the Eda ‘Branch’ sector, established artists of historic and cultural significance are on view. Among this year’s highlights, Ippodo gallery Tokyo (Tokyo, New York) presents the first public unveiling of a new work by Terumasa Ikeda, which marks a significant milestone in his ongoing exploration of form and meaning; The Page Gallery (Seoul) curates a solo presentation of Vio Choe, focussing on Choe’s unique language and universe influenced by science and game design.

Program highlights

Presented for the first time this year, Tokyo Gendai’s inaugural curatorial symposium is a dedicated space for the discussion and exploration of contemporary curatorial practices and concepts. Through its program of in-depth conversations, the symposium brings together a diversity of perspectives from across Japan and internationally, offering the curators the opportunity to connect and engage with the fair’s international exhibitors, artists and collectors. Taking place on 11 September, the symposium is held in partnership with The 5th Floor, an alternative space in East Tokyo dedicated to supporting the emergence of the next generation of artists and curators through exhibitions, workshops, and residencies.

Also new to the 2025 Tokyo Gendai program is the Hana Artist Award, which is awarded to an outstanding artist participating in the Hana ‘Flower’ sector of Tokyo Gendai, with the support of ArtSticker. With a mission to foster emerging creative talent, the Award consists of a cash prize of USD 10,000 and special recognition at the fair. An international jury of leading curators and thinkers selects the winning artist who will be announced at a ceremony on Saturday 13 September 2025.

An annual highlight in Tokyo Gendai’s programming, this year’s Tsubomi ‘Flower Bud’ presents the work of a selection of Japanese women artists exploring traditional craft techniques in their practices, and the emergence and increasing influence of artisanal practices in the contemporary art scene. Working with a range of materials and approaches, these artists closely consider the methods and processes of making and working with material objects. Artworks in ceramic by Namika Nakai (Taro Nasu) are on view, glass work by Ritsue Mishima (ShugoArts) and lacquer sculptures by Chie Aoki (Sokyo Gallery).

Returning to this year’s edition, Art Talks, Tokyo Gendai’s annual talks program, gathers thought leaders from across the industry to discuss the trends shaping today’s art world. Across panel format conversations, speakers share their insights and expertise, giving fair visitors the opportunity to expand their understanding and deepen their engagement with current topics impacting the industry. This year’s Art Talks is supported by Cozuchi.

Through the Sato ‘Meadow’ program, a curated selection of large-scale, site-specific installations and performances activate the fair space, allowing visitors to engage with exhibitors beyond their booth spaces. Highlights of the Sato ‘Meadow’ program include The Steel Bar and the Pictorial Memory of the Gesture by renowned French conceptual artist Bernar Venet (Ceysson & Bénétière), and a dual presentation of works by Takuro Kuwata and Dan McCarthy (Kosaku Kaechika), offering an intimate dialogue between the two artists working in ceramics, articulating their distinct yet connected approaches. Meanwhile, the Ne ‘Root’ program presents leading Japanese foundations hosting special showcases of their work, including the Obayashi Foundation, Fukutake Foundation, Odawara Foundation and Cadan: Contemporary Art Dealers Association Nippon.

Beyond the fairgrounds, for the first time this year, Tokyo Gendai coincides with the Aichi Triennale 2025, one of Japan’s premier art festivals, which transcends genre boundaries in the performing arts, learning programs, and other fields, conveying the spirit of artistic diversity from the Aichi region. These shared opening dates offer the fair’s visitors and VIPs the opportunity to engage with the Aichi region’s dynamic cultural scene as part of their travel to Japan with priority access to the festival venues, and likewise the ideal occasion for Triennale visitors to connect with the fair’s exhibitors and programming.

Tokyo Gendai additionally announces a new regional partnership with Art Busan. As part of this collaboration, Art Busan will present up to 10 Korean galleries at the third edition of Tokyo Gendai, alongside further collaborative programming elements within and beyond the fairgrounds that will promote the galleries’ engagement with Japan-based and international audiences. This collaboration between the two fairs marks a new chapter in cross-border institutional and curatorial exchange across the region. Supported by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Arts Management Service, the partnership aims to foster a sustainable market and cultivate cultural exchanges throughout East Asia.