📍 JAPAN PILGRIMAGE TRAIL
Osamu Tezuka
Osamu Tezuka was a Japanese manga artist known as the “God of Manga,” a legendary creator who had a profound impact on the development of Japanese manga and anime. Born in 1928, he produced many masterpieces that shaped the industry.
Notable works include:
Astro Boy: The first Japanese work to be adapted into a TV anime. It features the boy robot Atom and his sister Uran, exploring themes of coexistence between humans and robots, as well as social issues.
Kimba the White Lion: Centers on Leo, a white lion cub raised by humans, and deals with themes about animals and nature.
Black Jack: A masterpiece of medical drama, focusing on the brilliant surgeon Black Jack and his assistant Pinoko, depicting deep human stories.
Princess Knight: A fantasy work featuring Princess Sapphire, who disguises herself as a boy. It is known for its complex portrayal of a character who possesses both a boy’s and a girl’s heart.
Phoenix: A grand, time-spanning narrative centered on the immortal Phoenix, connecting multiple eras and stories in a highly literary style.
Notable works include:
Astro Boy: The first Japanese work to be adapted into a TV anime. It features the boy robot Atom and his sister Uran, exploring themes of coexistence between humans and robots, as well as social issues.
Kimba the White Lion: Centers on Leo, a white lion cub raised by humans, and deals with themes about animals and nature.
Black Jack: A masterpiece of medical drama, focusing on the brilliant surgeon Black Jack and his assistant Pinoko, depicting deep human stories.
Princess Knight: A fantasy work featuring Princess Sapphire, who disguises herself as a boy. It is known for its complex portrayal of a character who possesses both a boy’s and a girl’s heart.
Phoenix: A grand, time-spanning narrative centered on the immortal Phoenix, connecting multiple eras and stories in a highly literary style.
📍 Spot Locations (3 spots)
1
Takarazuka City Tezuka Osamu Museum
The Takarazuka City Tezuka Osamu Museum is a manga and anime museum operated by Takarazuka City to honor the achievements of Osamu Tezuka, a legendary manga and animation creator. With the theme of “love for nature and the preciousness of life,” the museum opened in 1994 in Takarazuka, the city where Tezuka spent about 20 years of his youth, from ages 5 to 24.
■ Overview & Highlights
The museum features permanent exhibits including Tezuka’s original manuscripts, personal items, and photographs, and also houses a monument of Phoenix.
The interior reproduces the atmosphere of a Tezuka manga page, with spaces such as the Princess Knight palace-style entrance hall that allow visitors to immerse themselves in his story worlds.
“Atom Vision,” a video corner, screens original films produced by the museum.
A library with about 2,000 related books allows visitors to freely read many of Tezuka’s works.
There are hands-on areas for children, including the “Anime Workshop,” where visitors can experience animation production.
■ Overview & Highlights
The museum features permanent exhibits including Tezuka’s original manuscripts, personal items, and photographs, and also houses a monument of Phoenix.
The interior reproduces the atmosphere of a Tezuka manga page, with spaces such as the Princess Knight palace-style entrance hall that allow visitors to immerse themselves in his story worlds.
“Atom Vision,” a video corner, screens original films produced by the museum.
A library with about 2,000 related books allows visitors to freely read many of Tezuka’s works.
There are hands-on areas for children, including the “Anime Workshop,” where visitors can experience animation production.
2
Tokiwa-so Manga Museum
The Toshima City Tokiwa-so Manga Museum is a public museum in Minami-Nagasaki, Toshima Ward, faithfully reproducing Tokiwa-so, the wooden apartment where many leading manga artists of the Showa era once lived.
Opened on July 7, 2020, the museum recreates the exterior and interior of the original building, allowing visitors to experience the atmosphere of the period, including the artists’ rooms, the shared kitchen, and other communal spaces.
Famous manga artists such as Osamu Tezuka and the Fujiko Fujio duo lived and worked in Tokiwa-so, making it a historically significant place in manga culture.
Opened on July 7, 2020, the museum recreates the exterior and interior of the original building, allowing visitors to experience the atmosphere of the period, including the artists’ rooms, the shared kitchen, and other communal spaces.
Famous manga artists such as Osamu Tezuka and the Fujiko Fujio duo lived and worked in Tokiwa-so, making it a historically significant place in manga culture.
3
Aoyagi
There used to be Professor Tezuka’s office in Takadanobaba, and right across from it stood a long-established Japanese restaurant.
It is said that Professor Tezuka often visited the place.
Today, they sell sweet buns themed after Astro Boy, making it truly a sacred spot for fans.
It is said that Professor Tezuka often visited the place.
Today, they sell sweet buns themed after Astro Boy, making it truly a sacred spot for fans.