July 23rd (Wed) – September 7th (Sun) 2025 *The "BIG CAT BANG" exhibit in the open-ceiling space will end on September 6th (Sat)
GINZA SIX, the largest commercial facility in the Ginza area, will be holding a special event titled "BIG CAT BANG: THE FINAL" from Wednesday, July 23, 2025 to Sunday, September 7, 2025, to mark the final chapter of "BIG CAT BANG," a large-scale installation in the central atrium space that began its exhibition in April 2024.
[GINZA SIX Retail Management Co., Ltd.] Press release
"BIG CAT BANG" by contemporary artist Kenji Yanobe is the first large-scale work in the "SHIP'S CAT" series, a mythical "space cat" that brought life from outer space. This work at GINZA SIX, which has been exhibited in various ways both inside and outside the building, centered around the central atrium space, will reach its finale with a new exhibition at the entrance, a pop-up shop, and a giveaway of art pieces after the exhibition. In addition, the epic story of "BIG CAT BANG" will unfold a new tale by sending the "space cat" into actual space (the stratosphere) and "landing" it on the grounds of Osaka.
An installation by a new artist is scheduled to appear in the central atrium space in autumn 2025. Look forward to the art and culture at GINZA SIX, which offers an art program that stimulates the senses and is full of creative energy and surprising elements.
<BIG CAT BANG: THE FINAL Overview>
1. Exhibit of the atrium art piece "BIG CAT BANG" – Saturday, September 6, 2025
2. The latest work appears at the entrance
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 – Sunday, September 7, 2025
3. POP UP SHOP held
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 – Sunday, September 7, 2025
4. Receive a "SHIP'S CAT" art piece
5. Post-exhibition developments
Central atrium space *Photographer: Yasuyuki Takaki
■The latest work in conjunction with "BIG CAT BANG" has been released
Kenji Yanobe's latest work, "SHIP'S CAT Cosmo Red," appears at the entrance. This new sculpture, reminiscent of an astronaut, is a symbolic presence in the form of a space cat about to depart into space.
[Title of work] SHIP'S CAT Cosmo Red
[Artist name] Kenji Yanobe [Exhibition location] 1F Entrance (Chuo Dori main street, 4th street side)
[Exhibition period] Wednesday, July 23, 2025 – Sunday, September 7, 2025
1F Entrance (Chuo-dori main street, 4th chome side)
■"BIG CAT BANG: THE FINAL" POP UP SHOP will also be hosting a signing session with Kenji Yanobe and an art piece giveaway.
"SHIP'S CAT" figure mascots, capsule toys, and new SHIP'S CAT items will be available. A signing session with Kenji Yanobe will also be held during the event.
[Period] Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025 to Sunday, September 7th, 2025
[Location] GINZA SIX 4F POP UP space
＜Items to be released (planned)＞
SHIP'S CAT (MUSE) figure mascot / 49,500 yen (tax included)
AIP Yanobe Kenji SHIP'S CAT Ⅱ Capsule Toy / 500 yen each (tax included) *Sold in blind capsules.
BIG CAT BANG: THE FINAL Original T-shirt / Price: TBD *Image is for illustrative purposes only.
*The capsule toy lineup consists of three types: "SHIP'S CAT (Flying)", "SHIP'S CAT (Mofumofu22)", and "Giant Torayan".
*This is a limited quantity sale. It will end when it is gone.
<Autograph session>
To commemorate the holding of "BIG CAT BANG: THE FINAL", contemporary artist Kenji Yanobe will be holding a signing session.
[Date and time] Saturday, September 6, 2025
[Venue] GINZA SIX 4F POP UP space
<Free art piece>
After the atrium art "BIG CAT BANG" exhibition has ended, we will be giving away the art piece "SHIP'S CAT (Flying)" that was actually exhibited in the central atrium space in a lottery.
*Details about the autograph session and art piece giveaway will be announced on the GINZA SIX website at a later date.
Profile of Kenji Yanobe Contemporary artist / Professor at Kyoto University of the Arts
Born in Osaka in 1965. Since the early 1990s, he has been creating large, functional mechanical sculptures with the theme of "Survival in Modern Society." His humorous forms and social messages have been highly praised both in Japan and overseas. In 2017, he began creating the "SHIP'S CAT" series, which uses the motif of a sailor cat as a guardian deity of travel. "SHIP'S CAT (Muse)" (2021) will be permanently installed as the symbol of the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka, which opens in 2022.
The history of "BIG CAT BANG"
Kenji Yanobe, who inherited the creative genes of Taro Okamoto, wove a magnificent tale of the dynamism of the universe from the Big Bang to the present into a tale of new life, which was well received both inside and outside the museum.
●April 2024
The large atrium space in the center of GINZA SIX is treated as a galaxy including the Earth, and a spaceship that pays homage to Taro Okamoto's "Tower of the Sun" and countless space cats fly through the air. Sculptures from the "SHIP'S CAT" series are on display inside the building.
Photo by Yasuyuki Takaki
●In July 2024, the Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum will hold a special exhibition in conjunction with "BIG CAT BANG", entitled "Yanobe Kenji: Taro, Cats and the Sun."
●A pop-up shop will be held with limited edition goods available in September 2024. There will also be an autograph session with Kenji Yanobe and products in collaboration with food stores.
● November 2024 to January 2025 "SHIP'S CAT (Ultra Muse / Red)" with angelic wings will appear at the ROOFTOP Star Skating Rink, held on the rooftop only for the holiday season. Also, at the entrance, an installation titled "BIG CAT GIFT" will be exhibited, in which cats who have jumped out to bring peace to the world dressed as Santa and reindeer.
Photo by Yasuyuki Takaki
Photo by Yasuyuki Takaki
BIG CAT BANG: THE FINAL Future Developments
● Flying Cat Project to depart for space in August 2025 / Organizer: Yumemi Co., Ltd. A project is underway to launch one of the "Flying Cats" from the cats floating in the atrium space of the "BIG CAT BANG" installation into actual space. A pop-up shop will be held with limited edition goods. There will also be an autograph session with Kenji Yanobe and products in collaboration with food stores will be on sale.
●Autumn 2025
LUCA: THE LANDING / Organizer: Osaka Creative Chishima Foundation The spaceship "LUCA" floating in the central atrium space is planning to "land" in Osaka after the exhibition ends. Crowdfunding for the landing is scheduled to start in August.
Message from Kenji Yanobe
"Life comes from space and returns to space. It then resides on Earth." This is an experimental art project that connects the fictional myth of "BIG CAT BANG" with multi-layered reality.
"THE FINAL" marks the end of the story, but also the beginning of its "realization."
The spaceships and space cats that were floating around GINZA SIX have now departed for their own dimensions, and this new story that is woven together with all of you is the real-life embodiment of a "delusional myth" that will continue into the future.
Interview with Kenji Yanobe will be published in early August
URL: https://ginza6.tokyo/gsix2025/bigcatbang_final/interview
■ New opening
<FOOD>
▼BEER BOULEVARD GINZA [B2F]
The more you savour it, the better the taste of Japanese beer becomes. A beer bar serving carefully selected domestic beers is now available in Ginza.
This beer bar offers a selection of carefully selected Japanese beers. At the bar, which has eight seats at the counter, our skilled pouring techniques and thoroughly managed equipment are used to serve carefully crafted beer. Please enjoy the charm of Japanese beer to your heart's content in the heart of Ginza.
[Category] Beer bar [Opening status] New store, new business format [Opening date] July 18th (Friday)
▼HOSHINOBUTTER [B2F]
A Japanese and Western confectionery shop using butter, created by a Michelin-star chef, has reopened after renovation.
Limited release of "Sesame Walnut" flavored Dorayaki and Monaka.
This is a Japanese and Western sweets shop that uses butter as the main ingredient, and is overseen by Teruzo Matsuyama, the owner of the highly rated restaurant Matsuyama. To commemorate the reopening, GINZA SIX is now selling "Sesame Walnut" flavored dorayaki and monaka, which are only available at GINZA SIX. The popular "Sesame Walnut" flavor has finally been released. There is a limit of 100 per day, and sales will continue until Thursday, July 31, 2025, so please take this opportunity to try it.
[Category] Japanese and Western sweets [Store opening status] Reopening [Opening date] Thursday, July 3rd
■ Limited-time shop
<FASHION>
▼BIRKENSTOCK POP-UP STORE/BIRKENSTOCK POP-UP STORE [4F]
BIRKENSTOCK's shoemaking tradition dates back to 1774. Their footwear, which supports people's natural walking based on anatomy, is loved by people all over the world. Their signature sandals, starting with MADRID, released in 1963, have a wide range of items from numerous iconic styles to popular classics, including the ever-popular ARIZONA and the hugely popular clog style BOSTON. This pop-up will feature BIRKENSTOCK's most popular footwear styles and new must-have items, allowing you to choose the perfect pair for this summer from a wide variety of options.
[Display period] Friday, July 25, 2025 to Tuesday, August 19, 2025
<Past interview articles>
Mr. CHEESECAKE will open a flagship store at GINZA SIX on Friday, April 4th! The store will have a cafe and a space where you can enjoy a dessert course, based on the concept of "creating delicious food"
