Naohisa Inoue, the Artist Behind Ghibli’s Whisper of the Heart, Opens a Solo Exhibition in Sendai

Does anyone else remember that dreamlike fantasy world from Ghibli’s Whisper of the Heart…? 🎨

The artist behind it, Naohisa Inoue, is holding a solo exhibition at Sendai Mitsukoshi starting July 15, 2026!

In this article, we’re not just covering the exhibition — we’re diving into who Naohisa Inoue really is, and how he came to create such a mysterious, magical world.

The world of the Baron’s story in Whisper of the Heart honestly blew my mind the first time I saw it!

Finding out that it came straight from the imagination of a real artist, Naohisa Inoue, made me want to rewatch the whole movie.

Getting to see the original artwork in person in Sendai feels almost too good to be true 😭

📖 What’s in this article 📖
☝️Who is artist Naohisa Inoue? His career and signature works
✌️The Iblard universe and its connection to Studio Ghibli
🤟Exhibition details and signing event dates at Sendai Mitsukoshi

Who Is Artist Naohisa Inoue? 🎨

Naohisa Inoue is a painter and illustrator born in Osaka Prefecture in 1948.

After graduating from Kanazawa College of Art in 1971, he worked at the advertising agency Daiko before spending many years as an art teacher at Osaka Prefectural Kasugaoka High School, all while continuing to create his own work.

In 1983, he published the picture book A Journey through Iblard, which went on to win the Kodansha Award for New Picture Book Artists in 1996. He’s been painting his own original world ever since.

Career Highlights: Born in Osaka, Graduate of Kanazawa College of Art

What really put Naohisa Inoue’s name on the map was his connection to Studio Ghibli.

For the 1995 film Whisper of the Heart (directed by Yoshifumi Kondō, screenplay by Hayao Miyazaki), he created the art for the story-within-the-story featuring the character Baron.

So many people fell in love with that dreamlike background art 😳

[Product prices may have changed since this link was created.]

Whisper of the Heart [Blu-ray] [Director: Yoshifumi Kondō]
Price: ¥5,984 (tax included, free shipping) (as of July 8, 2026)

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👉 Find Whisper of the Heart on Amazon 🔍

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What Is Iblard? Its Connection to Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli 🌈

Iblard is an original fantasy world whose name is a play on Ibaraki City, Osaka, where Inoue lives.

Much like how the writer Kenji Miyazawa based his imaginary utopia “Ihatov” on his hometown, Inoue has continued to paint Iblard as a landscape drawn from his own inner imagination.

It’s a world where wizards live, floating islands and Laputa-like planets drift across the sky, and all four seasons exist at once across a many-layered sea — a strange, dreamlike universe unlike any other.

His relationship with Ghibli didn’t end there — in 2002, he painted the mural “Upward Current II” for the hall of the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka.

In 2006, the short film The Day I Bought a Star (based on his work, directed by Hayao Miyazaki) was released, and it’s still screened today at the Ghibli Museum’s Saturn Theater and Ghibli Park’s Orion-za theater.

In 2007, Studio Ghibli also released the DVD/Blu-ray art film Iblard Time, directed by Inoue himself.

Iblard Time [Blu-ray] [Director: Naohisa Inoue]
Price: ¥4,202 (tax included, free shipping) (as of July 8, 2026)

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The World of Iblard: Naohisa Inoue Exhibition, Now at Sendai Mitsukoshi 🖊️

Exhibition Details: July 15 (Wed) – 21 (Tue), 2026, at Sendai Mitsukoshi Main Building 7F Art Gallery

This exhibition marks the 30th anniversary of the release of Studio Ghibli’s Whisper of the Heart.

It’s organized by Art Space Co., Ltd. and held at the Art Gallery on the 7th floor of Sendai Mitsukoshi’s main building, featuring around 50 pieces centered on original artworks and new prints.

One highlight is the new print “Glowing Evening” (26 x 41cm), created to commemorate his 77th birthday — a milestone celebrated in Japan as kiju.

It’ll be shown for the first time ever at Sendai Mitsukoshi ✨

Also on display is the same-size print “An Evening Awaited with a Friend” (26 x 41cm).

Other new prints packed with the Iblard universe include “Tanimachi” (55 x 66.4cm), “Mountain Garden” (50 x 72.7cm), and “Hill with a Fine View” (28.5 x 45.5cm).

Item	Details
Organizer	Art Space Co., Ltd.
Venue	Art Gallery, 7F Main Building, Sendai Mitsukoshi (4-8-15 Ichibancho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi)
Dates	Wednesday, July 15 – Tuesday, July 21, 2026 (closes at 4:00 PM on the final day)
Number of works	Around 50 pieces, mainly original artworks and new prints

A large-scale acrylic piece, “An Unexpected Reunion” (10M canvas), will also be on display!

Signing Event with Naohisa Inoue: July 18 (Sat) – 20 (Mon, holiday)

During the exhibition, there are scheduled days when Naohisa Inoue himself will be present at the gallery.

The signing event is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, Sunday, July 19, and Monday (holiday), July 20, each from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (limited to those who purchase a print or art book).

It’s a rare chance to meet the person who created the entire Iblard universe, so if you’re in or near Sendai, it’s well worth planning your visit around it 📅

You can find more details on the venue at Sendai Mitsukoshi’s official website.

The signing event is limited to those who purchase a piece, so if you’re planning to go, it’s worth checking the details ahead of time!

Seeing the Iblard world in person is bound to be moving — if you’re nearby, definitely go check it out 🎨

🌈 Recap 🌈
✅ Artist Naohisa Inoue created the art for Whisper of the Heart and is the mind behind the Iblard universe
✅ “The World of Iblard: Naohisa Inoue Exhibition” runs July 15–21, 2026, at Sendai Mitsukoshi
✅ A signing event with Inoue himself takes place July 18–20

🔗 Source:PR TIMES「スタジオジブリアニメ「耳をすませば」公開から３０年。その幻想的な背景画で注目を浴びた画家・井上直久の個展を7/15(水)より仙台三越で開催。」