An apartment building known as the “holy land of manga” due to its famous former tenants is to be rebuilt and opened as a museum of manga and anime in Tokyo’s Toshima Ward.

Tokiwaso, which was demolished more than 30 years ago, will be reconstructed in a park about 200 meters from the original site, Toshima Ward officials announced July 7.

“The museum will teach younger generations about Tokiwaso, where today’s manga culture originated," said Yukio Takano, mayor of Toshima Ward. "We also aim to draw tourists who come for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.”

The facility’s opening is planned for March 2020, ahead of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

For decades, many emerging manga artists lived in the small rooms at the old-style apartment building. Past occupants included “God of manga” Osamu Tezuka, the author of “Astro Boy,” who lived there in the 1950s; Fujiko Fujio of “Doraemon” fame; “Cyborg 009” creator Shotaro Ishinomori; and “Osomatsukun” artist Fujio Akatsuka.

“Many manga artists who inspired me to become one lived here,” said Machiko Satonaka, a member of the project’s study group.

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According to ward officials, Tokiwaso was a two-story, wood-frame structure with a mortared exterior. It had a communal kitchen and toilets, but no bath.
According to ward officials, Tokiwaso was a two-story, wood-frame structure with a mortared exterior. It had a communal kitchen and toilets, but no bath. - The exterior will be reconstructed in almost the same size as the original, which was demolished in 1982 due to deterioration, and the galleries will be set up inside.The museum will have a total floor space of about 420 square meters--also almost equal to the original building.