Manga museum draws derision

A plan by the Agency for Cultural Affairs to spend 11.7 billion yen to build a new national media arts center, dubbed a manga museum or an "anime hall of fame," is drawing a torrent of controversy.

Critics call it a huge drain of money symbolizing unprincipled handouts, while supporters hail the idea as a way to keep a record of pop culture that might otherwise be lost to the ravages of time.

Construction of the facility was approved in the government's fiscal 2009 supplementary budget aimed at shoring up the economy.

What is certain is that the plan will fuel attacks by the opposition camp on Prime Minister Taro Aso and his ruling coalition in the next Lower House election.

Less certain is just what the "national comprehensive media arts center" will exactly do and whether it will be able to operate without subsidies.

Approval for the center, to be a base for animation, manga, video games and other media arts, came so quickly that a surprised agency official said, "A kamikaze (divine wind) had blown."

The agency started discussing the idea with specialists only last July. It was suddenly included when Aso hurriedly put together his record economic stimulus package.

Opposition parties pounced on the program in Diet debate, arguing that funds should be more wisely spent on welfare, among other purposes.

Yukio Hatoyama, then secretary-general of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), in April mocked the plan by referring to Aso's love of manga and anime.

"We know you are a great fan of anime," he said, "but why should such a huge state-run manga cafe be built at a cost of 11.7 billion yen?"

Even a Liberal Democratic Party group of young lawmakers urged that the center's budget be frozen.

Japan's animation and manga industries have gained fame internationally, starting with works by Osamu Tezuka such as "Tetsuwan Atom" (Astro Boy).

Akira Toriyama's "Dragon Ball" has been broadcast in more than 40 nations and animated films by Hayao Miyazaki, such as "Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi" (Spirited Away), have won awards at international film festivals.

According to the agency's plan, the four- to five-story center will collect and exhibit works, do research and promote the arts internationally.

For manga and animation, original cels and paintings will be included in presentations on how ideas take shape.

Media displays employing advanced computer technologies will also be used. Visitors will employ all "five senses" to enjoy them, the plan says.

Manga artist Machiko Satonaka called for the creation of such a facility at a meeting in Tokyo on June 4.

"Original drawings of old manga works have deteriorated to the point that without concerted efforts to collect and preserve them properly, people in the future will find it impossible to study Japan's manga culture," she said.

Although education minister Ryu Shionoya said its "correct" image must be widely publicized, much about the center is yet to be decided, including its location and operator. Whether its operation will be financially viable remains to be seen.

Aso has said the center will be managed by a private-sector entity and that it should be funded through its own revenues alone.

But no national museums have ever been able to fully finance their operations; they rely on grants and subsidies.

According to agency estimates, annual operations of the center will cost 350 million yen. It expects 600,000 visitors a year, who will each pay 250 yen in admission, reaping some 150 million yen in fees.

The agency says additional money can be made through sales of souvenirs at the museum and by other means, but the estimates are not based on any surveys.

Anime director Toyoo Ashida, who heads the Japan Animation Creators Association, says the government's attention to animation is welcome, but the money would be better spent to help the industry, which is struggling amid low budgets.(IHT/Asahi: June 16,2009)