Kyoto is the mecca of cartoon? All manga fans must go to the great manga museum!: Kyoto International Manga Museum

Many people enjoy a huge number of comics freely, and see autographs and original drawings of famous cartoon artists in the museum. It must be a heaven for all manga fans, isn’t it?

There are many autographs of famous comic artists in the museum cafe.

Kyoto International Manga Museum was established 3 years ago. Since then, it has played an important role in the research of manga. Kyoto city and Kyoto Seika university, which is the leading authority of manga research, run the museum together. Hundreds of people visit the museum everyday.

Rows of tall bookshelves of comics line the building which is a renovated elementary school. These bookshelves are called the “Wall of Manga”. Visitors can read 50,000 comics freely.
Once you enter the first basement, you will feel overwhelmed by a large stock room. Many important comics and magazines are archived in it. A small exhibition which shows the history of manga is at the side of the room. It starts with Hokusai Manga, you will learn all about the history of manga. A day is not enough to enjoy this great museum.

The museum collects 300,000 items for manga research. The collection contains comics from countries outside of Japan. Some Kyoto Seika university researchers work in the museum. They study energetically with other agencies in the world, visitors can see their research achievements in exhibitions. They have several exhibitions everyday. You can check them on the museum website.

You can not only enjoy comics, but learn a lot about manga and cartoon culture. It is certainly a bastion of manga.
The spokesperson, Ms.NAKAMURA said “Japanese manga have various themes, so all generations can enjoy them. Some visitors enjoy the museum with family. You can enjoy the various aspects of manga. Please learn about manga and culture in your own way”.

A special exhibition “DNA of “SUNDAY” & “MAGAZINE” :50 Years of Weekly Shonen Manga” is held until 20. Dec, 2009. You can learn about many popular cartoons serialized for these magazines such as “Urusei Yatsura”, “Love Hina” and “Case Closed”. If you are a fan of these manga, you have to go and check it!

URL: http://www.kyotomm.jp/english/
Admission fee: Adults 500 JPY

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