Photo/Illutration An illustration, right, of a special Doraemon featuring cherry blossoms. It is expected to appear as an original character at the “100% Doraemon and Friends” display slated for Tokyo Dream Park in March 2026. Photo taken on Sept. 25 at the main office of TV Asahi Corp. in Tokyo’s Minato Ward (Ryo Takeda)

What is being billed as a Doraemon exhibition of epic proportions will coincide with the opening of a new entertainment complex in Tokyo’s Ariake waterfront district.

TV Asahi Corp. announced in September that its Tokyo Dream Park will open for business on March 27 next year.

It is expected to feature a massive space for Doraemon statues. A display of the manga character so beloved worldwide recently toured five major cities around the globe, and that is what will go on show at the park.

The broadcaster, headquartered in the capital’s Minato Ward, said the 12,900-square-meter site will feature a nine-story building with a basement.

There will also be a 3,700-seat multi-purpose hall fitted out with an advanced audio system as well as a 1,500-seat theater for musicals and plays. The exhibition hall will be an added attraction.

The “100% Doraemon and Friends” display will have more than 100 life-size Doraemon statues with the protagonist’s noted “secret gadgets.”

Tokyo Dream Park will also feature a digital art corner where visitors can experience world-renowned artworks with the help of light and sound effects. The first show will focus on the works of Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890).