Why Japan’s Oldest Manga Is Stored in Tokyo and Kyoto

Designated a national treasure in 1905, the work consists of four scrolls with a total length of about 44 meters, making it one of the most famous cultural properties associated with the temple, while the dynamic movements of animals drawn without dialogue are often described as a prototype of modern comics. Today, the four scrolls are stored separately at two institutions, with the A and D scrolls held by the Tokyo National Museum and the B and C scrolls by the Kyoto National Museum, a measure widely believed to be aimed at reducing the risk of losing the entire work in the event of earthquakes or other disasters. Strict environmental controls are also in place, with the scrolls kept in secure storage where temperature, humidity and exposure to light are carefully managed, and exhibition opportunities are rare, limited to once or twice every decade due to the fragility of the work, with the most recent public display dating back to 2014 and no future exhibitions currently scheduled.