Kinnikuman Museum

The Kinnikuman Museum, Japan’s first permanent facility dedicated to the Kinnikuman series, opened on April 29, 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, approximately 840 m² museum celebrates the themes of friendship and the achievements depicted in the manga. The first floor features a merchandise area with Kinnikuman goods and a free space for browsing manga and related books. The second floor showcases 45 replica original drawings, life-size figures of superhuman characters, and exhibits documenting the careers of the series’ creators, Yudetamago (Takashi Shimada and Yoshinori Nakai).

Designed to entertain and engage visitors of all ages, the museum provides an immersive experience, aiming to become a new pilgrimage site for Kinnikuman fans.

The Work

Since its debut in 1979 in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump, Kinnikuman has become one of Japan’s most beloved manga series and marked the debut of the creative duo Yudetamago. 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 remains in active serialisation in Weekly Playboy and Weekly Playboy News.

The anime adaptation, Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc, premiered in July 2024, and the third season was officially announced in August 2025.

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 intricate story settings, skillfully incorporating reader feedback into the narrative while also designing the original characters. Nakai enjoyed drawing, though he had limited exposure to manga before collaborating with Shimada. Known for his legendary four-year residency in Shueisha’s studio while maintaining the weekly serialisation, Nakai studies human anatomy and art anatomy extensively and uses 3D modelling software to refine his artwork, demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement and precision in his illustrations.

Exhibition Highlights

The Kinnikuman Museum features a variety of immersive exhibits that bring the world of Kinnikuman to life. Among the highlights:

A life-size figure of Ataru Version Muscle Spark “Ten” represents one of the Kinniku Clan’s three greatest techniques. The exhibit displays the airborne “Ten” clutch move, known as the most difficult of the three techniques. Visitors can experience the figure as if caught in the move, and photography is permitted.

A giant comic presents a special edition of Chapter 205, “Makoto’s True Technique!!” from Volume 60. This story depicts the climactic battle between the Akuma Shogun (Goldman) and the merciful god, superhuman Enma, The Man, highlighting their clash of philosophies. Visitors can flip through the pages like a real comic and take photos.

Life-size figures of iconic superhumans — including Kinnikuman, Terryman, Robin Mask, Warsman, and Ashuraman — allow visitors to fully appreciate the scale and presence of the characters. Each figure is accompanied by signature lines and profiles, set against a cosmic, otherworldly backdrop.

These exhibits represent just a few of the experiences available at the museum, offering both longtime fans and newcomers a chance to engage directly with the world of Kinnikuman.

Minowaman D.Z – Director of the Kinnikuman Museum

Minowaman D.Z, real name Ikuhisa Minowa, is a well-known Japanese professional wrestler and lifelong fan of the Kinnikuman series. Serving as the director of the Kinnikuman Museum in Numazu, he has long expressed his admiration for Kinnikuman, even adopting red trunks like Kinnikuman Suguru as his trademark. Inspired by the idea of “wanting to become a superhuman” and believing that adding “-man” would make him sound stronger, he changed his ring name to Minowaman.