NY Nurie Exhibit Press Release
 
 
 Kiichi’s nurie were extremely popular in Japan from 1945 through 1965 and have continued to be
treasured by the Japanese, even after almost 50 years, as their favorite nurie coloring pictures. Their
popularity can be attributed to the nostalgia for the fashion and lifestyle of that era that is skillfully depicted
in the exquisite contours of the Japanese-style brush strokes and in the distinct sense of balance between the
nurie and the blank space on the paper, as well as the originality of the art that depicts ubiquitous beauty
through the unique faces, expressions and mannerisms of these adorable little girls that transcend time,
making Kiichi’s coloring pictures the most beautiful Nurie in the world.
 
 Tsutaya Kiichi had a wide range of interests, but his nurie were responsible for originating the
concept of kawaii, or cuteness. Kiichi’s Nurie first received worldwide recognition in 2002 at the Nurie
Exhibition held at the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art in Paris under the curation of Japan’s most
famous contemporary artist, Takashi Murakami. 
 
 Takashi Murakami described Tsutaya Kiichi as “an artist that aroused the imagination by
responding to the adoration for the beauty of these adorable little girls that was prevalent during an era of
poverty in Japan”.
 
 At present, it is said that 60% of the world’s anime is produced in Japan and as a result, Japan has
achieved soft power in terms of their production of manga and anime, whose popularity has served to
propagate the appeal of Japan on a worldwide scale. It can be said that Kiichi’s Nurie represents one of
Japan’s soft powers.
 
We are proud to present New York with one of the most beautiful examples of Japanese culture,
Kiichi’s Nurie.
 
 
 
The Kiichi’s Nurie and Original Artwork Exhibit
 
Date:         Mon. September 21 - Sat. October 3, 2009
Location:  Tenri Cultural Institute of New York
                 43A West 13th Street,
                 New York, New York 10011
Time:    10:00am-3:00pm
 
Opening Reception:  Fri. September 25   6:00pm-8:00pm   

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