On December 20, 2024,

on the basement of Taigeki Hall,

a brand-new venue has opened…

A manga gallery and a merchandise store have opened, along with a new theater to serve as the home for the 096k Kumamoto Opera Company!

This new facility is named “Kumamoto Manga Arts.”

A lot of things here are amazing!

So here we are.

 The entrance is easy to spot, thanks to its clear signage.

A variety of flowers were sent by various people and organizations to commemorate the opening.

 Among them were messages from two absolute legends:

Tetsuo Hara, the creator of Fist of the North Star, and

Tsukasa Hojo, the creator of City Hunter.

How many places in Japan—let alone the world—get to say they were celebrated by both Fist of the North Star and City Hunter?!

It is on the basement floor, so I’ll go down the stairs.

On the staircase, you can find the names of individuals who personally supported “Kumamoto Manga Arts.”

 Now, let’s start with the theater!

First of all, the performers are incredibly close to the audience! The seating capacity has been intentionally limited to around 150 seats, and everyone can even hear the performers’ breathing. The 096k Kumamoto Opera Company is famous for its live shows based on manga, and they’ve unveiled an amazing new video technology that truly pulls you into the manga world. I won’t go into specifics, as I don’t want to ruin the surprise, but all I can say is, “Wow!” You really need to watch it for yourself.

Rare Merchandise You Can’t Get Anywhere Else in Kyushu

 Right next to the theater, the “Kumamoto Coamix Manga Festival” is taking place from December 20, 2024, to February 24, 2025.

Admission is free and anyone is welcome to stop by.

The gallery features an extensive selection of items, including unique stickers for your phone case, acrylic stands in a size you won’t find elsewhere, exclusive face towels, oversized knee pads, and cozy T-shirts perfect for chilly days. Plus, there are plenty of other products available for you to explore and purchase!

I initially believed this was only for display, but

I was surprised to find out that it’s actually for sale, with prices set at 770,000 yen and 550,000 yen, respectively. When you look at it up close, it appears uneven like an oil painting, yet this represents the pinnacle of printmaking.

Why O’Clock and cartoons in the first place? Well, the 096k Kumamoto Opera Company is actually a theater group operated by Coamix, a publishing company known for its comic books. This means you’ll find original artwork and merchandise created by Coamix’s manga artists. The performances of the 096k Kumamoto Opera Company are inspired by the manga.

They even have a brand-new acrylic keychains featuring their new Hosokawa Gracia production!

Multilingual Support at the Reception Desk

 This figurine, though it was tucked away in the corner, stood out with an incredible presence.

With its recent opening in town,  it opens up exciting new ways to enjoy your time—

whether it’s dropping by after doing some shopping or watching a show while waiting to meet someone.

At the reception, you’ll find an AI that can assist you in various languages, so feel free to ask questions even if you’re not fluent in Japanese. They’re also looking to provide English translations for performances soon. So why not take this opportunity to visit and see it for yourself?