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I’m not a big fan of manga or comic book, but I’ve wondered for a long time why there’s no library for it. Actually there are some public libraries that have small collection of manga, but variety is very limited to educational themes. Manga cafe is another option, but I don’t like its atmosphere: Each private room is so small it can even make us claustrophobia after all. That’s the standard manga cafe in Japan.

It’s interesting however that Meiji University is planning to open a manga library in 2014. In 2008, the university opened a new department, “Global Japanese Studies” where students study manga culture. The other day “Yoshihiro Yonezawa’s memorial library of manga and subcultures” is just opened. Yoshihiro Yonezawa, alumnus of Meiji University, is one of the top reviewers of manga and is well-known as someone who established Comiket, or comic market. He has collected all these manga (140,000 books) by himself alone!! The video below introduces it.

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“Manga has occupied over 50% of publications sold in Japan. Thus, it has influenced our lifestyles for a long time. This means that manga plays an important role on our history and social science. Besides, nowadays manga, as well as anime, catches the world’s attention.” says the associate professor of Meiji University.

How interesting! Manga is not just an amusement, it’s considered as a part of Japanese culture today! The president of Meiji University remarks in this page that it’s high time to preserve tons of collections of manga officially, since such attempt has never been implemented ever before because manga is considered just as a part of subculture.

BTW manga museum is already available in Kyoto for over 3 years by now. :p

According to this page, it looks like 1st floor is open for free, which is like an exhibition of manga as you watched in the above video. You must be over 18-year-old, either students or teachers of Meiji University or members of the library (6000 yen/annually, 2000 yen/monthly, 300 yen/daily) to be authorized to access the book shelves on the 2nd floor and book storeroom. You are however charged extra from prepaid card that you have to buy to borrow and read manga at the reading room. 100 points per book, and is equal to 100 yen. 10 books at maximum, but you are not allowed to bring them out of the library.

It is not my ideal way that reading is only allowed inside the premises, and moreover it’s charged besides admission. But I like their attempt and am curious how the entire library will be like in 2014. How would you like this?