Jump to Japan exhibit (Tim Hacker, Tribune)

Anime, manga and other facets of Japanese popular culture are taking over this week at The Arizona Museum for Youth in Mesa.

“Jump to Japan: Discovering Culture through Popular Art” is the name of an exhibit running through October. It takes the form of a hands-on re-creation of Japanese culture, including a rural home, a big-city comic book store and stations where visitors can dress up, play traditional Japanese games and even create their own anime and manga.

Fans of Hayao Miyazaki can also visit the Catbus from the animated masterpiece My Neighbor Totoro, as well as a representation of the iconic Totoro character himself (pictured).

Get details and see more photos of the exhibit in Mandy Zajac’s story, also featured in Wednesday’s print edition of the East Valley Tribune. You can even find out how to explore the youth museum for free!