‘OMOCHA: Japanese Toys Today’ Exhibition is Coming to Iloilo this June 2026!

Iloilo, hampang ta!

The Japan Foundation, Manila is bringing its traveling exhibition, “OMOCHA: Japanese toys today,” to Iloilo for the young and young at heart.

The exhibition will run from June 27 to July 26, 2026, at the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art, after its run at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila in Bonifacio Global City from May 6 to 31, 2026.

“Omocha,” the Japanese word for toys, presents a wide-ranging introduction to Japanese toys, from those cherished across generations to newer creations shaped by modern technology and design.

Toys emerged in the context of popular culture during Japan’s Edo period and were originally created as objects used to pray for children’s healthy growth.

Over time, toys evolved into tools not only for children and adults to play together but also for learning, development, and creative expression.

As toys became a source of play for adults, they also became multifaceted objects that now hold a place in different settings across people’s lives.

The exhibition will feature beloved toy icons such as Gundam, Transformers, Pokémon, Chiikawa, Sylvanian Families, Hello Kitty, and more, offering visitors across generations a chance to reconnect with nostalgia and play.

Guests can also look forward to interactive areas and public programs.

Admission to the exhibition and side events is free.

The exhibition will be held at 2F Galleries 1 and 2 of the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art at Casa de Emperador, Festive Walk Parade, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

The museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For full exhibition schedules, admission guidelines, and event details, visit the social media pages of the Japan Foundation, Manila and the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art.

The Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art, or ILOMOCA, is the first museum in the Visayas dedicated to modern and contemporary art.

It aims to enrich community life in Iloilo through exhibitions and outreach programs.

ILOMOCA is envisioned as a site where ideas are constructed and engaged through art.

Through exhibitions and public programs, the museum presents art as a means of opening dialogue about social life.

ILOMOCA is located at the Casa Emperador Building in Iloilo Business Park.

The museum spans about 3,000 square meters across three floors and includes five exhibition rooms, a theater facility, and a souvenir shop.

The museum was developed by Megaworld Corp. through Megaworld Foundation.

ILOMOCA seeks to serve as a regional venue for the inclusive experience and study of art.

The event is part of the 2026 Japan-Philippines Friendship Year, which carries the theme “Weaving the Future Together: Peace, Prosperity, and Possibilities.”

Organizers said the project hopes to deepen affinity toward Japan among a wide range of generations in the Philippines.

The project will be implemented under the Next Generation Co-Creation Partnership-WA 2.0, a people-to-people exchange initiative that promotes exchanges and fosters the next generation of leaders between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.