Ahwal Al-Ma’rifa: Special

Kyoto is the first tourist city in Japan, due to its residents retaining the old Japanese architectural heritage and ancient heritage traditions, which has made it an important destination for all those interested in Japanese history and heritage.

The city is located south of Honshu Island near the city of Osaka in a valley among three magnificent mountain ranges known as Higashiyama, Kitayama and Nishiyama, while the Kamo and Katsura rivers cross it. Kyoto is considered one of the oldest and most ancient Japanese cities that remained the headquarters of the imperial rule for more than a thousand years from 794 AD until 1868 AD, then it moved after that to the city of (Edo) which is currently called Tokyo, and it was called at that time (Heian-kyo) which means: the City of Peace.

The city of Kyoto contains more than 2000 historical landmarks including palaces, temples and castles. It alone contains 20% of the Japanese historical treasures. UNESCO has listed 17 important antiquities in the city within the World Heritage list, which truly made it the most important tourist city in Japan.

Manga is a Japanese phenomenon:

Manga is a social phenomenon in Japan that covers almost all topics: (romance, adventure, science fiction). It addresses all segments of society equally, and is considered one of the most successful experiences in the field of comics on a global level, as weekly manga revenues in Japan are equivalent to the annual revenues of the American comic book industry (Comics), due to the large demand for it.

Japan is the first country in the world for the industry of comics and anime films. The Japanese use them to express their daily lives and the circumstances they through, such as the film (Barefoot Gen) whose story revolves around the tragedy of Hiroshima and (June on the Edge by the Sea). One of the most famous anime directors is Hayao Miyazaki, who won an Oscar for his film (Spirited Away).

Manga invaded Western societies at the beginning of the eighties with the wave of anime (Japanese animation) invading European television screens, and this became very popular among youth in particular.

Kyoto International Manga Museum:

Hence comes the importance of the Kyoto International Manga Museum, which the historical city of Kyoto, famous for its old temples, palaces and lush gardens, has hosted for about fifteen years. Manga is the living symbol of modern Japan's vibrant culture. This facility includes a library and a museum, and plays a role as a resource full of scientific research and as an oasis for hobbyists.

The Manga Museum has a spirit and atmosphere of the old style that dominates its external appearance as it is located inside a building dating back more than 100 years, and was originally an elementary school. In od weather, visitors can stretch out and relax outside on the lawns, enjoying reading their favorite manga in the open air.

The Kyoto International Manga Museum, which opened in November 2006, is jointly managed by the city of Kyoto and Kyoto Seika University, which has been a leader in the academic study of manga for nearly 40 years. The university opened the first department dedicated to manga in the world in the same year that the museum was opened.

It is the first comprehensive cultural center for manga culture in Japan with a collection of manga-related materials consisting of more than 300,000 items including modern Japanese manga as well as historical materials related to manga from the Meiji period (1868-1912) as well as comic strips from all over the world. The entrance fee is 800 Japanese Yen for adults, 300 Yen for high school students (ages 12-15) and 100 Yen for children under 12.

Undoubtedly, reviewing the massive collection of manga is one of the main attractions in the museum. There is also a small section of books dedicated to foreign and translated manga, but the vast majority is in Japanese. In addition to its huge collection of original manga, the museum also focuses on adopting and developing manga internationally, where the works of international manga artists are displayed, and relevant manga events are held in the museum, which often feature foreign artists. In addition to its permanent exhibitions, the Manga Museum also includes temporary exhibitions.