Mizuki Manga’s birthplace

Mizuki Shigeru, one of Japan’s well-known comic artists, lived in Chofu, Tokyo, for more than 50 years until his death in November 2015. As a result, there are many attractions related to his work GeGeGe no Kitaro in the city. Along the Tenjin-dori Shopping Street from the Keio Line Chofu Station to the Fudaten Shrine are statues of main characters from the title, such as Kitaro and Nezumiotoko (Ratman). And “Kitaro Square,” which came into being in 2019, has objects and playground equipment representing Yokai and other characters including Kitaro that appear in the works of Shigeru Mizuki. Furthermore, just outside the Jindaiji Temple is the Kitaro Cyaya, a building over five decades old and surrounded by beautiful trees. Inside its attractive Japanese period styling is a cafe and gift shop where GeGeGe no Kitaro-related goods can be purchased, and a “Yokai Gallery” featuring drawings of yokai (spirit monster) by Master Mizuki. In May 2019, Chofu City built a park named “Kitaro Hiroba” (GeGeGe no Kitaro Plaza), which features a statue of Kitaro, a rock climbing wall in the form of “Nurikabe,” a spectre character in the anime series, benches in the shape of “Ittanmomen,” another spectre, a slide of Kitaro’s family house, and other equipment and objects.