Starting Friday August 15th 2025, Jinny Street Gallery (located in Jingumae 2-Chome, Shibuya, Tokyo) will host a solo illustration exhibition by artist KITTYZILLA , titled: “Where are the cats?”
This exhibition is based on real-life stories gathered through interviews with local residents. Through Oren’s distinctive painting style and original cat characters, it attempts to portray the memories of Jingumae 2-Chome—a neighborhood undergoing rapid redevelopment. By visualizing disappearing scenery and the lives once lived there, the exhibition gently draws attention to the “hidden changes of everyday life” and prompts reflection on “the future of our communities.”
From Friday, August 15, 2025, KITTYZILLA will present scenes from Jingumae 2-Chome, based on interviews with local residents. Through her original cat characters, she illustrates the changes in the area and its people from a feline’s perspective.
The stories gathered are reimagined on canvas through her hand-painted signs, nostalgic storefronts, and the lingering atmosphere of the old shopping district—capturing the “traces of life” that once filled this transforming city.
KITTYZILLA shares:
“This exhibition portrays small discoveries about the ‘past’ and ‘present’ of Jingumae 2-Chome. Through interviews with residents, I uncovered stories that made me rediscover the charm of Tokyo’s shopping streets. I hope the show encourages us to rethink what kind of neighborhoods we want to build moving forward.”
Her work goes beyond nostalgia, inviting viewers to think about how to create vibrant, livable cities with and for the people who inhabit them.
Located just steps from Harajuku, Jingumae 2-Chome—affectionately nicknamed “Jin-ni”—is a rare neighborhood where traditional shopping street culture still thrives amid Tokyo’s urban core. Here, old and new independently run shops coexist, and a quiet sense of community remains palpable.
Regularly visiting this area, KITTYZILLA was charmed by everyday conversations and the unique atmosphere of places like old tobacco shops, photo studios, and kissaten cafés. These scenes became the inspiration for her work.
In the past decade, while many new shops have opened and young business owners have been revitalizing the area alongside local merchants, many long-running establishments have also quietly shut their doors.
Oren reflects:
“To me, the disappearance of old shopping streets from the Showa era feels a lot like the way cats are vanishing from the urban landscape. I understand that keeping things ‘just the way they were’ isn’t realistic with earthquake-proofing and energy efficiency needs. TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) programs help protect both cats and the environment. Still, I wonder how much longer we can experience the joy of a stray cat slipping between two storefronts. That quiet joy is similar to the delight of spotting an old shop sign or meeting a shopkeeper who’s been there for decades.”
This exhibition captures the past and present of Jingumae 2-Chome from a cat’s-eye view—inviting viewers to rediscover everyday life and find clues for how we might shape the cities of tomorrow.
Why Not Just Nostalgia—Why “Now” Matters
“Tokyo is rapidly redeveloping, but I’m more interested in how shopping streets were once the heart of local life. People gathered there, and stories were born,” she says.
Whether it was a cat café in Katsushika or a chat at a tobacco shop in Jingumae 2-Chome, she found remnants of human–and feline–connection amidst fading urban scenery.
This exhibition visualizes the “past” and “present” of Jingumae 2-Chome through these stories—seen through the eyes of a cat.
Opening Event and Limited-Edition Jinny Lemon Sour
On Friday, August 15, 2025, the Jinny Street Gallery will host an opening event for the exhibition. Visitors can join a special “Artist Walk” led by KITTYZILLA herself, beginning at NININI·NI, an art space/bar located next to the gallery (2-3-23 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001). There will also be local activities tied to the exhibition theme.
A limited-edition Jinny Lemon Sour will also be released during the exhibition. The label, featuring KITTYZILLA’s cat characters and Jingumae 2-Chome cityscape, captures the essence of the show in a single can. Available in limited quantities at select local restaurants and at NININI·NI during the opening night, the drink offers a unique way to enjoy art through taste.
An evening where art meets the city. Experience the evolving story of Jingumae 2-Chome through both visuals and flavors.
Jinny Street Gallery