µþ¾±²õ³ó¨­Âá´Ç (beautiful young girls) are familiar characters of contemporary Japanese pop culture, featured widely in manga and anime, such as ¡°Sailor Moon¡± and the more recent ¡°Pretty Cure¡± series. But Japan¡¯s fascination with illustrating cute girls has a longer history than you may imagine.

From traditional Edo Period (1603-1868) ukiyo-e prints to Showa Era (1926-1989) Kirin beer ads and Osamu Tezuka¡¯s Takarazuka-theater-influenced ¡°Ribbon Knight¡± manga, the Iwami Art Museum has brought together more than 300 works of bish¨­jo by nearly 100 artists. A special animated adaptation of writer Osamu Dazai¡¯s 1939 novel ¡°Joseito¡± (¡°Schoolgirl¡°), directed by Shigeyoshi Tsukahara, is also being screened exclusively for this exhibition; Dec. 13- Feb. 16.

Iwami Art Museum; 5-15 Ariake-cho, Masuda, Shimane. Masuda Stn. 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. ?1,000. Closed Tue. 0856-31-1860;