★★★★★ 5.0
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Hasegawa Machiko Memorial Museum of Art
That unassuming white building ahead holds 60 million secrets... literally. By the mid-1990s, Machiko Hasegawa's comic empire had sold over 60 million copies across Japan, making her one of the most successful female artists in history. You've just walked down "Sazae-san Street" to reach this memorial museum, named after her legendary housewife character who's been making Japanese families laugh since 1946. Here's something wild - when Hasegawa died in 1992, her death was kept completely secret for 35 days, exactly as she requested in her will. She was intensely private, never married, and lived here in Sakurashinmachi with her art-collecting sister Mariko until the end. Step inside and you'll discover this isn't just about comics. The sisters amassed over 800 artworks - Japanese paintings, Western masterpieces, ceramics, and glass sculptures - all displayed according to their personal taste rather than any academic scheme. But the real treasure? Hasegawa's original Sazae-san drawings, including clay dolls she sculpted by hand. Her four-panel comic format became the industry standard, and her animated series holds a Guinness World Record as the longest-running cartoon ever. Not bad for a girl from Saga Prefecture who started doodling to escape grief after her father's death.
Did You Know?
- The Hasegawa Machiko Memorial Museum of Art is actually two distinct but connected museums: the Hasegawa Machiko Art Museum (opened in 1985), which showcases nearly 800 Japanese and Western artworks collected by Machiko Hasegawa and her sister Mariko, and the Hasegawa Machiko Memorial Museum (opened in 2020), directly across the street, which focuses on Machiko’s life and original manga creations—a rare dual-museum setup in Tokyo that offers a comprehensive look at both a beloved artist’s work and her personal artistic passions.
- Visitors are greeted by life-size bronze statues of Sazae-san and Granny Mischief (Ijiwaru Basan) at the entrance to the Memorial Museum, instantly immersing guests in the whimsical world of Hasegawa’s iconic characters—a fun photo spot for families and a playful nod to the cultural impact of her manga, which remains a beloved part of Japanese daily life much like 'Peanuts' in the United States.
- Machiko Hasegawa was not only a pioneering female manga artist but also an avid art collector; the Art Museum’s rotating exhibitions feature everything from traditional Japanese paintings to Western-style works and crafts, reflecting her eclectic tastes—plus, a special corner displays ceramics, clay dolls, and watercolors she created herself, offering a rare glimpse into her personal artistic experimentation beyond manga.