Kinnikuman Museum

The Kinnikuman Museum, Japan's first permanent facility dedicated to the Kinnikuman series, opened on 29 April 2024, in Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. The city is connected to Mount Fuji, the setting for the Tournament Mountain in the Dream Chojin Tag Arc.

The two-story museum of about 840 m² presents the friendship and achievements depicted in the manga. The first floor has a merchandise area with Kinnikuman goods and a free space for browsing manga and related books. The second floor shows 45 replica original drawings, life-size figures of superhuman characters, and exhibits on the careers of the series' creators, Yudetamago (Takashi Shimada and Yoshinori Nakai).

The museum says its content suits readers new to the series as well as fans, and that it aims to become a new pilgrimage site for Kinnikuman.

The Work

Serialized from 1979 in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump, Kinnikuman was the debut of the creative duo Yudetamago, and the museum calls it one of the manga that represent Japan. The story follows Suguru Kinniku, a superhuman known as Kinnikuman, who, alongside other justice-driven superhumans, confronts increasingly powerful opponents in wrestling and martial arts battles. The series is still being serialized in Weekly Playboy and Weekly Playboy News.

The anime adaptation, Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc, began in July 2024, and a third season has been announced.

The Authors

The series is the collaborative work of Takashi Shimada, who is responsible for the original story, and Yoshinori Nakai, who handles the artwork. Shimada, a lifelong manga enthusiast, began creating characters as a child; Kinnikuman originated from designs he made before meeting Nakai. He develops detailed story settings, works reader feedback into the narrative and designs the original characters. Nakai enjoyed drawing, though he had read little manga before working with Shimada. He is known for living for four years in Shueisha's studio while keeping up the weekly serialisation. He studies human anatomy and art anatomy and uses 3D modelling software for his artwork.

Exhibition Highlights

A life-size figure of Ataru Version Muscle Spark Ten shows one of the Kinniku Clan's three greatest techniques, in two parts: the airborne Ten and the ground impact Chi. The display holds the airborne Ten clutch, known as the most difficult of the three techniques. Visitors can be caught in the move themselves, and photography is permitted.

A giant comic presents a special edition of Chapter 205, Makoto's True Technique!! from Volume 60. This chapter shows the climax of the battle between the Akuma Shogun (Goldman) and the merciful god, superhuman Enma, The Man, and their clash of philosophies. Visitors can turn the pages like a real comic and take photos.

Life-size figures of superhumans, including Kinnikuman, Terryman, Robin Mask, Warsman and Ashuraman, stand against a cosmic backdrop, each with its signature lines and profile.

The director

The museum's director is Minowaman D.Z. The museum posts the days he is at work in its monthly calendar.