On September 22 and 23, 2026, “The Tenth Mosaic” was held at the Tokyo Franco-Japanese Institute.
This event, centered on the theme of video games—which have come to be known as the “tenth art” in Europe and the United States—features a variety of creators showcasing their work.
Here is our on-site report.
The Tokyo Franco-Japanese Institute is a French language school located in Iidabashi.
In addition to offering French language classes, it serves as a cultural hub where visitors can experience contemporary French culture through exhibitions and events.
Next to the entrance, a live drawing session was taking place. The artist was world-renowned illustrator Katsuya Terada. Without any fanfare, it was incredibly cool to see this master artist drawing illustrations with such fluid ease.
The illustration completed on the first day was on display inside the venue. A lion-like creature surrounds a young girl. Lines resembling code were drawn here and there, giving the impression that video game-inspired imagery was incorporated into the piece.
A DJ booth was set up in the courtyard, playing a mix of video game music. When I visited, Haruhisa “hally” Tanaka, a researcher of video game music history, was spinning the turntables. He was getting the crowd pumped up by mixing tracks from *Shantae* and other games.
Now, let’s take a look at the exhibition.
On the first floor, you can view the profiles of the game creators participating in the panel discussions at this event.
Panels displayed the biographies of Eric Shai from *The Outer Worlds* and Frédéric Raynal from *Alone in the Dark*, among others.
Some of their personal items were also on display, including valuable materials such as production documents from *The Outer Worlds*.
In the next room, visitors could try out indie games.
A lineup of acclaimed Japanese indie titles—including *Öoo*, *Urban Legend Deconstruction Center*, *Downwell*, and *Palworld*—was on display, allowing visitors to play to their heart’s content.
Next, let’s check out the second floor.
The first thing that caught my eye was the board game corner, “URABAKO.” One of the great things about this event is that you can get a behind-the-scenes look not only at digital games but also at the creation of analog games. You could also purchase any games that caught your interest at the shop area.
There was also an exhibit by itten, a Japanese board game creator known for titles like “TOKYO HIGHWAY.”
Right next to that was an exhibition corner dedicated to legendary game creator Kenji Iino, marking the 55th anniversary of his birth.
The display was packed with rare materials—such as magazines and posters from that era—that fans would find irresistible. Of course, you could also play *Enemy Zero* on an actual Sega Saturn console.
And believe it or not, the “Special Box” edition of *Enemy Zero*—reportedly produced in a limited run of just 20 units at the time of release and delivered directly to purchasers—was also on display. It’s incredibly rare!
In another room, there was a section where visitors could experience *Rez Infinite* on PSVR in a room filled with thunderous sound.
At the entrance, there was also a “Synesthesia Suit” that lets you experience synesthesia through 22 vibrators.
On the third floor, an ARG-style experience titled “The Secrets of the Institute” was underway, where participants traveled between the real world and the world of *Minecraft* to solve mysteries related to the Tokyo French Institute. It was a fun opportunity to engage with the French language through gaming.
Now, on to the main venue.
The first things that catch your eye are retro game consoles—such as the Dreamcast, Super Famicom, Sega Saturn, and Mega Drive—connected to CRT televisions.
Visitors were free to play these consoles as they pleased, and I was able to enjoy titles like *Rez*, *The Outer Worlds*, and *Sol Dees*.
It was especially heartwarming to see parents letting their children play.
Behind them was the “SF1,” a system that combined a TV and a Super Famicom into one unit!
Many visitors were enjoying *Ganbare Goemon 2: The Bizarre General Maginess*.
But that wasn’t all the retro gaming corner had to offer.
In the section titled “DREAM MACHINES,” a variety of rare and ambitious hardware was on display.
From major systems like the SATTELA VIEW to the Nintendo GameCube Hanshin Tigers Edition and an ultra-rare Game Boy—which was only given to passengers on ANA domestic flights who won a lottery—a truly unique lineup of hardware was on display!
And displayed in the center of the venue was a statue of *Trico, the Man-Eating Eagle*. This exquisitely crafted sculpture by Akihito Ueda—so lifelike you could almost feel its breath—sat majestically, illuminated by soft light.
Of course, there was also a great selection of food and drinks. It was a real treat to wander around the event while enjoying wine and cream puffs.
Held in the spacious setting of a French language school, it was a wonderful event where we could enjoy games, music, and art to our heart’s content.
For details on the panel discussion with the game creators, please see the article below.
