In January and February 2012, Japanese character subculture is showcased through a traveling exhibition at the Muzium & Galeri Tuanku Fauziah, Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang and the National Visual Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur. In recent years, interest in Japanese subculture, particularly in anime and manga, has dramatically increased around the world. What exactly are “characters”? Why do characters appear and become popular? What kind of social reality do they reflect? Focusing on the theme “Japan Kingdom of Characters” this exhibition showcases, through visual images, 3D models, and panels, a number of characters commonly known to various generations of Japanese and Malaysian people. The purpose of this exhibition is to introduce the world of characters in a broader sense and examine their social and cultural impact on Japanese society and beyond. February 20-March 20, 2012 National Visual Art Gallery, Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) January 6, 2011 - February 4, 2012 Muzium & Galeri Tuanku Fauziah, Universiti Sains Malaysia (Penang, Malaysia) Source: Japan Foundation