TOKYOPOP and Kinokuniya USA have announced a special summer art exhibition to celebrate the ongoing success of Lullaby of the Dawn, the acclaimed BL fantasy manga by creator Ichika Yuno. Titled Scenes from Lullaby of the Dawn: Celebrating 1.7 Million Copies Sold, the activation will take place at eight Kinokuniya store locations across five U.S. states from July through August 2025.
The limited-run in-store exhibits will showcase official artwork from the series and offer fans a chance to purchase manga volumes and exclusive licensed merchandise, including art prints, postcards, and sticker sets. Each exhibit will run for 10 days, with select dates aligning with major anime conventions such as Anime Expo, Anime Matsuri, and Anime NYC.
Exhibit Schedule and Locations
- July 3–13: Kinokuniya Katy (TX) – during Anime Matsuri
- July 3–13: Kinokuniya Los Angeles (CA) – during Anime Expo
- July 18–27: Kinokuniya Austin (TX) and Kinokuniya Santa Anita (CA)
- August 1–10: Kinokuniya Atlanta (GA) and Kinokuniya San Francisco (CA)
- August 21–31: Kinokuniya New York (NY) – during Anime NYC
- August 21–31: Kinokuniya Seattle (WA)
The exhibit celebrates the growing global fanbase of Lullaby of the Dawn, which won first place in the 2022 Chill Chill BL Awards’ Best Comic category. The story follows Elva, a kannagi warrior priest corrupted by the power of the black sea, and Alto, a devoted young villager who vows to serve him and help free him from his curse. Set in a rich fantasy world, the series explores themes of fate, loneliness, devotion, and healing.
“We’re very proud to partner with Kinokuniya USA to present this special exhibit for manga fans,” said Owais Farooqui, Director of Marketing and Sales at TOKYOPOP. “Several dates also coincide with some of North America’s biggest summer anime conventions, and we invite fans to add it as a must-see highlight on their con schedules.”
Kinokuniya also emphasized the collaboration’s significance, with East Coast Regional Manager Shigekazu Watanabe stating, “We are excited to present Scenes from Lullaby of the Dawn with TOKYOPOP and mark an important sales milestone for the series.”
The English edition of Lullaby of the Dawn is published under TOKYOPOP’s LoveLove imprint. The original Japanese edition is released by ShuCream, Inc. Explore the titles here.
About Lullaby of the Dawn
Elva, an immortal shaman with snow-white hair and cursed blackened limbs, battles nightmarish sea creatures to protect his island. Feared and isolated, his world changes when he meets Alto, a brave and loyal boy who pledges to serve him. As the years pass, Alto matures into a skilled warrior whose presence begins to undo the corruption within Elva’s body—and perhaps his heart.
For readers 16 and up. For more information on Lullaby of the Dawn and related merchandise, visit: TOKYOPOP Official Website. Follow TOKYOPOP on X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
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