"DEATH STRANDING 5th Anniversary Exhibition & Popup" was held at Shibuya PARCO in November 2024. This event is KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS' popular game "DEATH STRANDING" (Death Stranding). The exhibition and pop-up shop commemorating the 5th anniversary of the launch of "Desst"), and the tour to Nagoya PARCO (January 17 to February 3, 2025) and Shinsaibashi PARCO (February 7 to February 17, 2025).
"Desst" is the first original title of his studio, designed by game creator Hideo Kojima. The stage is the American continent where people and cities were torn apart due to the emergence of the mysterious phenomenon of Death Stranding. Sam Porter Bridges, the main character, known as the legendary carryer, connects the network infrastructure "Cairal Communication" to unite the divided world while delivering various supplies to various places upon request.
Norman Reedas plays the role of Sam. Matts Mickelsen, the mysterious man he encounters on the battlefield, Rare Sedo and Hollywood actors are performing well as the president of the delivery company Flagile Express. The film director Gillermo del Toro, who has a close relationship with Hideo Kojima, has also appeared as a deadman.
A magnificent and breathtaking storytelling, an attractive cast in an open world depicted with masterpiece graphics. And one-of-a-kind game. These elements are intertwined, making it a masterpiece boasting a cumulative total of more than 19 million players worldwide, and continues to be loved even today, five years after its release.
In this article, we will report on the exhibition and pop-up shop held at Shibuya PARCO.
- Photo
- Sachiko Saito
- Photo
- Koki Morishima
- Text
- Neo Iida
- Edit
- RIDE Inc.
Index
- P.1 KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS × PARCO “DEATH STRANDING 5th Anniversary Exhibition & Popup”
- P.2 KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS Interview
KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS × PARCO「DEATH STRANDING 5th Anniversary Exhibition」
What should be noted in the DEATH STRANDING 5th Anniversary Exhibition is that it reproduces the space inspired by the "delivery center" that appears during the game. There are "delivery centers" at each location, and small delivery terminals are installed within the center. Sam accesses the terminal to receive orders for missions, deliver deliverables, and rest in a private room. You can relive that inorganic and faint, but somewhere relieved.
In the space inspired by the "delivery center", there is a statue of Sam holding a BB (Bridge Baby) in the pod in the center.
In addition, a number of valuable archive materials such as production materials and contees that have not been open to the public until now are also exhibited.
There are plenty of visuals for concept art such as characters, creatures, and stage, designed by the team led by Yoji Shinkawa, the art director of this work.
The topical games are usually absorbed by many users as soon as they are released and cleared in no time. Of course, many fans should have finished experiencing Sam's story as soon as possible, but the intense experience will not fade even after five years. In addition, it has been developed on various platforms to increase the number of users gradually. Many people have already played the iOS version of "DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT" again. Also, there are always hot topics such as the announcement of the sequel "DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH" (hereinafter "Desst 2") and the production of live-action films with A24, which is one of the reasons why fans are not cooled down.
The DEATH STRANDING 5th Anniversary Exhibition, where you can enjoy the atmosphere of the delivery center and touch the archives of production, is a place where you can meet again with memories of Sam who ran through the wilderness.
Some of the showcases are important items that appear in "Desst" and those that lead to the sequel "Desst 2", which is currently open to the public. For example, Doleman in the photo (left) is a new character that was presented at the Tokyo Game Show 2024 held in September 2024.
The work "Dragon DENS" by Entei Ryu, which was displayed until March along with the statue of Ludens installed at the KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS office after the New Year of the Year of the New Year of 2024, is also exhibited specially.
From the character visuals drawn by Yoji Shinkawa with a brush pen, the personality of the person is oozed through the soft strength of ink.
The replica costumes of Sam and Kriff are framed. The uniform containing "BRIDGES" in the hood was arranged based on Sam's costume design, and was worn by Hideo Kojima when he was on stage at the 2018 Tokyo Game Show. The military jacket was worn for reference at the time of scanning and is marked by Matt Mickelsen.
The baby doll was "Lu No. 1" used during the production of the E3 2016 public teaser trailer. The bill model in the center was used as a lou bill that appeared in the public teaser of E3 in 2016. There is also a 1/1 scale BBPOD (with Hideo Kojima, Norman Reedas, Matts Mickelsensine).
At the entrance, there is a bill that symbolizes 'Desst'. Designed based on the bill of Hideo Kojima himself. There is also a sign from Hideo Kojima who visited the venue before the exhibition.
In one corner of the venue, along with the establishment of the studio in 2015, the symbol character of KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS, "Ludence" is installed. "I want to create something that I can't imagine and expand the world through play. The idea was created by Hideo Kojima and Yoji Shinkawa. The ceiling and floor are finished in a pure white space like the entrance of the studio, and you can enjoy photography with Ludens.
The venue for Shibuya PARCO is B1F “GALLERY X BY PARCO”. The key visual shows Sam heading to the K2 West Distribution Center, where PARCO characters are arranged.
DEATH STRANDING × Kome to circus Collaboration Menu
Shibuya PARCO offers a special collaboration menu inspired by the world view of the game at Kome to circus, an izakaya specializing in game and insect cuisine on the same B1F as GALLERY X BY PARCO. It was an event where you can experience "Desst" from the side of food.
A variety of menus inspired by Sam's orders, such as sweets with the motif of "Crypt Biosis", which appears in the game and recovers Sam's blood gauge, pizza that had to be delivered horizontally, and onion fry sprinkled with gold powder imitating chiral ore.
KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS including Hideo Kojima, Yoji Shinkawa, art director of DEATH STRANDING, and Entei Ryu, concept artist and digital sculptor, also tasted the menu. Not only the taste, but also the molding of Cryptoviosis and the quality of the pizza package were cheered.
KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS × PARCO「DEATH STRANDING 5th Anniversary Popup」
Speaking of KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS's original goods, "Desst" T-shirts and a toy "Ducksidence" with the motifs of symbol characters Ludens and ducks are popular. In the POPUP area on the 5th floor, in addition to these items, exhibition original goods are sold. We also offer T-shirts and hoodies using the 5th anniversary original logo using Hideo Kojima's actual bill prints, stickers and trading pin badges.
In addition, in collaboration with the popular street brand Brain Dead from Los Angeles, he produced T-shirts and hoodies, and other special tricks unique to PARCO. The limited design by <Brain Dead>, which uses graphics such as the BRIDGES logo and BBPOD, is an irresistible item for fans.
