Festivals - Japan Expo 2026: Baki Celebrates 35 Years of a Martial Arts Manga Legend

By Mulder, Villepinte, Parc des expositions, 09 july 2026

As Japan Expo celebrates its landmark 25th anniversary, the festival is paying tribute to one of the most influential martial arts manga ever created. The event hosts an extensive retrospective dedicated to the 35th anniversary of Baki, while welcoming its creator, Keisuke Itagaki, as the festival's Manga Guest of Honor. Installed at the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center, the exhibition retraces more than three decades of a franchise that has become one of the defining works of combat manga, with over 100 million copies sold worldwide.

Visitors are immediately greeted by a towering illustration of Baki Hanma, whose iconic fighting stance perfectly introduces the exhibition's central theme. Every exaggerated muscle, tense expression and dramatic pose reflects the unmistakable artistic style that has defined Keisuke Itagaki's work since Baki the Grappler first appeared in Weekly Shōnen Champion in 1991. Set against striking crimson walls, the exhibition space evokes the brutal atmosphere of the underground fighting arena that became synonymous with the series. Rather than simply presenting original artwork, the exhibition immerses visitors in a universe where physical strength, determination and relentless self-improvement become a visual language of their own.

The exhibition follows the chronological evolution of the franchise, beginning with Baki the Grappler before progressing through Baki, Baki Hanma, Baki-Dou, Bakidou, and finally the ongoing Baki Rahen. Throughout the galleries, visitors discover oversized reproductions of some of the manga's most memorable pages, alternating between vibrant color illustrations and dramatic black-and-white artwork. Displayed at an impressive scale, the panels reveal the extraordinary precision of Keisuke Itagaki's draftsmanship, allowing fans to appreciate every anatomical detail, every explosive impact, and every impossible pose that helped establish Baki as one of manga's most visually distinctive series. The enlarged format highlights the artist's mastery of movement, with each punch, throw and clash seemingly bursting beyond the page.

The retrospective also illustrates the remarkable scope of the franchise. Since its debut in 1991, Baki has expanded into six interconnected manga series spanning more than 150 collected volumes. What initially began as the story of Baki Hanma, a young fighter determined to surpass his seemingly invincible father Yujiro Hanma, gradually evolved into an ever-expanding universe populated by unforgettable opponents and larger-than-life personalities. Over the years, readers have witnessed legendary confrontations involving historical figures such as Miyamoto Musashi, prehistoric warrior Pickle, and the modern descendant of legendary sumo wrestler Nomi no Sukune, each pushing the concept of human strength into increasingly surreal territory.

Beyond its spectacular action sequences, the exhibition emphasizes the philosophical questions that have always driven Keisuke Itagaki's storytelling. Strength in Baki is never defined solely by physical power. Every battle becomes a clash of ideologies, personal convictions and individual philosophies. This fascination with martial prowess is deeply rooted in the author's own life. Before becoming a professional manga artist, Keisuke Itagaki served for five years in the 1st Airborne Brigade of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. He also competed in amateur boxing at the national level and earned a second-degree black belt in Shorinji Kempo. These experiences provided the foundation for the astonishing anatomical realism that underpins even the series' most exaggerated moments.

One of the exhibition's highlights is a carefully assembled display showcasing the vast legacy of the franchise beyond the manga itself. Visitors can admire Japanese editions from across the various series, collectible figures depicting Baki Hanma, Yujiro Hanma and several fan-favorite fighters, promotional artwork, commemorative badges and a variety of rare merchandise seldom exhibited outside Japan. Together, these items illustrate how Baki has grown into a cultural phenomenon whose influence extends far beyond manga publishing.

The exhibition also features numerous large-format reproductions of some of the franchise's most memorable moments. Visitors revisit legendary battles through dramatic compositions that showcase Keisuke Itagaki's mastery of contrast, speed lines and dynamic framing. Enlarged almost to life size, these illustrations reveal the extraordinary visual rhythm of his storytelling, where each impact feels both impossibly exaggerated and strangely believable.

The final section brings visitors up to date with the franchise's ongoing success. Storyboards and production materials highlight the recent anime adaptation of Baki-Dou, reinforcing how the series continues to evolve more than thirty-five years after its debut. While the manga remains the heart of the franchise, its continued expansion into animation demonstrates its enduring appeal to new generations of fans around the world.

The presence of Keisuke Itagaki himself undoubtedly elevates the exhibition into one of the defining attractions of Japan Expo 2026. For many European fans, it represents a rare opportunity to meet an artist whose influence reaches far beyond martial arts manga. His unmistakable visual style, unconventional storytelling and uncompromising vision have inspired countless creators over the past three decades. By dedicating an entire exhibition to the 35th anniversary of Baki, Japan Expo celebrates not only one of manga's greatest fighting series, but also the extraordinary career of an author whose work continues to redefine the limits of action storytelling and visual intensity.

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