Pilgrimage to the World of Fujiko F. Fujio: A Journey Through the Life and Legacy of a Manga Legend

1. Introduction: A Pilgrimage in Search of the Footprints of Fujiko F. Fujio

Fujiko F. Fujio (real name: Hiroshi Fujimoto) revolutionized Japanese children’s manga with timeless classics, most notably the beloved Doraemon series. For generations of fans, embarking on a journey to retrace his life and creative roots holds a special meaning. This article takes readers on a comprehensive tour of key locations across Japan that are closely tied to Fujiko F. Fujio — from his formative years and rise as a manga artist to places that continue to honor and preserve his legacy today. Visiting these “sacred sites” offers a deeper appreciation of his life and work, while unveiling new emotions and discoveries along the way.

2. Takaoka: The Origins of a Manga Master

2.1. Childhood and Upbringing in Takaoka

Hiroshi Fujimoto, later known as Fujiko F. Fujio, was born on December 1, 1933, in Jōzukamachi, Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture. As the eldest son of the Fujimoto family—a former samurai household—he spent his childhood in neighborhoods such as Kirikimachi and Nakatōri in Jōzukamachi. In his own recollections, young Fujimoto was an introverted, serious boy with a rather weak constitution. Although he was bullied in elementary school, his drawing talent gained recognition, helping him overcome those struggles. It is said that even at a young age, he was already sketching portraits of famous actors like Bantsuma (Tsumasaburō Bandō). His boyhood in Takaoka left a lasting impression, becoming a wellspring of inspiration for his future manga creations.

2.2. Student Years and Awakening to Manga

During elementary school, he met Motoo Abiko — later known as Fujiko Fujio A — a transfer student from a neighboring town. The two bonded over their shared passion for manga. Although Fujimoto temporarily moved to Ueda City in Nagano Prefecture to attend Ueda Elementary School, he later returned to Takaoka and reunited with Abiko at Jōzuka Elementary School (now Kōryō Elementary School). This school would become the starting point of their respective manga careers. In his third year of junior high, Fujimoto encountered Osamu Tezuka’s “New Treasure Island,” a work that profoundly impacted him and solidified his dream of becoming a manga artist. It’s said that he and Abiko bought nearly all of Tezuka’s early works from local bookstores.

Throughout junior high and high school, the duo began submitting manga to magazines like Manga Shōnen. Initially, they submitted their works individually, but by their second year of high school, they had shifted to a full partnership. They even opened a joint postal savings account to manage their earnings. Fujimoto graduated from the electrical engineering program at Toyama Prefectural Takaoka Industrial High School. Though he briefly worked at a confectionery company after graduation, his desire to become a manga artist was too strong to ignore, prompting him to quit and focus entirely on manga at home.

2.3. Notable Sites in Takaoka Related to Fujiko F. Fujio

Takaoka City offers many places where fans can trace Fujimoto’s footsteps:

• Fujiko F. Fujio Hometown Gallery (Inside Takaoka Art Museum)
  Located on the second floor of the Takaoka Art Museum, this gallery exhibits original drawings and personal items, allowing visitors to explore Fujimoto’s life, his time in Takaoka, and his early years as an artist. The gallery shop also offers exclusive merchandise. Open Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

• Doraemon Promenade (Wing Wing Takaoka Plaza)
  Located near Takaoka Station, this area features 12 bronze statues of Doraemon characters, including a heartwarming message from the artist at the base of Doraemon’s statue.

• Doraemon Tram (Manyo Line)
  A special Doraemon-themed tram runs between Takaoka and Imizu cities. Decorated inside and out with Doraemon motifs, the tram even features “Anywhere Doors” at its entrances and showcases various secret gadgets and characters inside.

• Otogi no Mori Park (Doraemon’s Playground)
  This park recreates the empty lot seen in Doraemon and features statues of Doraemon, Nobita, and friends, as well as faithfully reproduced cement pipes—allowing fans to step directly into the world of the manga.

• Takaoka Municipal Museum (Fuden no Tō – “Brush Tower”)
  The museum’s courtyard features a unique tower decorated with reliefs based on original illustrations by various manga artists, including a Doraemon panel representing Fujimoto’s work.

• Jōzuka Gallery
  Housed in a renovated building where Fujimoto once lived during his childhood, the gallery includes historical photos of Takaoka on the first floor and a reproduction of Fujimoto’s childhood room on the second floor. Admission is limited to members of the “F&A no Kai” fan club.

• Mount Uzurayama
  Located in Takaoka Castle Park near Imizu Shrine, this hill was a favorite spot for young Fujimoto and Abiko to discuss their dreams and future.

• Doraemon Postbox (Takaoka Station)
  Crafted using traditional Takaoka bronze casting techniques, this Doraemon-shaped postbox allows visitors to send letters and postcards stamped with a unique commemorative mark.

3. Tokyo: The Leap into a Professional Manga Career and the Era of Tokiwa-so

3.1. Moving to Tokyo and Early Collaborations

After graduating high school, Fujimoto and his creative partner Abiko moved to Tokyo in 1954 with the shared dream of becoming professional manga artists. In the early days, they lived together in a cramped two-tatami room in the Ryōgoku area, pouring their energy into their work. Initially, they adopted various pen names such as “Tezuka Fujio” and “Ashizuka Fujio” as a nod to their idol Osamu Tezuka. However, by July 1953, they had unified their identity under the name “Fujiko Fujio” and began full-fledged collaborative work under this moniker.

3.2. Youthful Days at Tokiwa-so and Its Significance

After settling in Tokyo, the duo moved into the now-legendary Tokiwa-so apartment complex — a communal residence that became a cradle for manga’s golden generation. They reportedly moved in shortly after Tezuka vacated his unit. Tokiwa-so became a creative hotbed for aspiring manga artists, including future legends like Shōtarō Ishinomori and Fujio Akatsuka. In this environment of mutual inspiration and friendly competition, countless classics were born. Though Tokiwa-so was demolished in 1982 due to aging infrastructure, its legacy as a sacred site for manga culture endures among fans.

3.3. Key Sites in Tokyo Associated with Fujiko F. Fujio

While the original Tokiwa-so building no longer stands, several commemorative facilities in Minami-Nagasaki, Toshima Ward, keep its spirit alive:

• Tokiwa-so Manga Museum
  Located within Hanazono Park in Minami-Nagasaki, not far from the original Tokiwa-so site, this museum faithfully recreates the exterior of the historic apartment. Inside, visitors can explore reconstructed rooms and exhibits featuring the works of the artists who once lived there. Admission is prioritized by reservation.

• Tokiwa-so Site Memorial Stone
  On the grounds of the current building that occupies the original site — now the office of Nihon Kajyo Publishing Co. — a commemorative plaque marks the historical location of Tokiwa-so.

• “Heroes of Tokiwa-so” Monument
  Situated in Hanazono Park, this monument features engraved portraits and signatures drawn by ten artists who once resided in Tokiwa-so, paying homage to their enduring legacy.

• Tokiwa-so Street Rest Spot
  A relaxation and information facility on Tokiwa-so Street offering museum merchandise and exhibits. The second floor replicates the room of Hiroo Terada, one of the former residents.

• Tokiwa-so Manga Station
  A public reading space housing approximately 6,000 manga volumes and books related to Tokiwa-so and its creators.

• Chinese Restaurant “Matsuba”
  A long-time favorite of the Tokiwa-so residents, this Chinese eatery still operates today and was famously featured in Fujiko Fujio A’s autobiographical manga Manga Michi.

• Old Eden Music Café
  A former café near Tokiwa-so where manga artists like Ishinomori and Akatsuka once held creative meetings. Though it has since closed, it remains part of the area’s rich manga history.

• Old Mejiro Cinema
  Another now-closed haunt of the Tokiwa-so artists, this local theater was a popular leisure spot for the budding creators.

4. Kawasaki: A Creative Haven and Final Resting Place

4.1. Life and Work in Kawasaki

In 1961, Fujimoto and Abiko left the Tokiwa-so apartment and settled in adjacent neighborhoods in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. Each built a new home, and for the remainder of his life, Fujimoto would continue to work and create from Kawasaki until his passing in 1996 at the age of 62.

It was in Kawasaki that many of Fujiko F. Fujio’s most iconic works, including Doraemon, were born — stories that would become embedded in Japan’s national consciousness. According to anecdotes, even during his daily train commutes to his studio in Shinjuku, Fujimoto was constantly coming up with new ideas, sketching and plotting stories on the move.

4.2. Fujiko F. Fujio Museum in Kawasaki

To preserve and share the legacy of Fujiko F. Fujio with future generations, the Fujiko F. Fujio Museum was opened on September 3, 2011, in the Tama Ward of Kawasaki — a neighborhood where the artist lived for many years.

• Address: 2-8-1 Nagao, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 214-0023

• Access: Approximately 9 minutes by direct shuttle bus from Noborito Station (served by the Odakyu Line and JR Nambu Line); 15–16 minutes on foot from Mukōgaoka-Yūen or Shukugawara Stations. There is no parking, so public transportation is recommended.

• Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (last admission at 5:30 PM); date-specific tickets must be reserved in advance.

• Closed Days: Tuesdays and year-end holidays (subject to additional closures).

• Admission Fees: Adults & university students: ¥1,000; high school & junior high students: ¥700; children (ages 4+): ¥500; under 3: free.

The museum’s permanent exhibitions focus on Fujimoto’s original artwork, his creative inspirations, and the joy of manga-making. Visitors can view color illustrations used for manga covers, rare materials, and reconstructions of the artist’s personal workspace — including his desk and book-filled study. Other highlights include “Sensei’s Sunday,” a diorama depicting his family life, and the “Animal Room,” based on his papercraft art.

The museum also features a mini theater screening exclusive animated shorts, an open-air space inspired by Doraemon’s playgrounds, a themed café, and a well-stocked gift shop.

4.3. Final Resting Place: The Grave of Fujiko F. Fujio

Fujiko F. Fujio is buried at Midorigaoka Municipal Cemetery in Kawasaki’s Takatsu Ward.

• Address: 1344 Shimosakunobe, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 213-0033

• Access: Approximately 3–5 minutes on foot from JR Nambu Line’s Tsudayama Station

• Details: The grave is marked as “Fujimoto Family Grave” with an inscription to the right of the headstone. Near the entrance and incense holder, visitors will find a statue of Doraemon — a touching tribute to the character that defined Fujimoto’s artistic legacy. The grave is located in Section 103, Row 7.

5. Tracing the Settings of the Stories: Landscapes That Inspired the Worlds of Fujiko F. Fujio

5.1. The Real-Life Inspirations Behind Doraemon’s World

The fictional town in Doraemon — known as “Tsukimidai, Susukigahara, Nerima Ward, Tokyo” — serves as the backdrop for many of the series’ heartwarming and whimsical stories. The town features a large river called “Tonegawa” and a hill behind the school where Nobita and his friends often play, forming the emotional landscape of the series.

Fujimoto once stated that the character of Nobita Nobi was modeled after his own childhood self, and that other characters were inspired by real people from his boyhood days in Takaoka. The settings, too, are thought to be a creative fusion of several locations: his hometown of Takaoka, the area around his long-term residence in Ikuta, Tama Ward of Kawasaki, and places in Nerima Ward, Tokyo.

One park in Nerima, nicknamed “Noisy Square,” is often cited by fans as a possible inspiration for the famous empty lot featured in the manga. However, the iconic cement pipes depicted in the series are not present in the actual park, leaving the true location a subject of imagination and debate.

6. Chronology of Sacred Sites: A Timeline of Places Connected to Fujiko F. Fujio

This section provides a chronological overview of key locations associated with Fujiko F. Fujio’s life and work — from his birthplace to his creative spaces and final resting place.

Other notable places:

• Jōzuka Gallery – Fan-operated gallery built on the site of his childhood home in Takaoka. Features period room models and rare merchandise.

• Doraemon Promenade – Located near Takaoka Station; features character statues.

• Doraemon Tram – Decorated tram running between Takaoka and Imizu on the Manyo Line.

• Otogi no Mori Park – Park recreating Doraemon’s iconic playground, including the cement pipes.

• Takaoka Municipal Museum (Brush Tower) – Tower featuring manga artist reliefs including Doraemon.

• Doraemon Postbox – Functional mailbox shaped like Doraemon with special commemorative stamps.

7. Planning Your Pilgrimage: Tips and Recommended Routes

When embarking on a Fujiko F. Fujio pilgrimage, efficient route planning can help maximize your experience. Here are two recommended approaches:

➤ Takaoka-Focused Route

Takaoka, the artist’s birthplace, is home to numerous related landmarks. Start your journey at Takaoka Station and explore:

• Doraemon Promenade

• Doraemon Tram

• Fujiko F. Fujio Hometown Gallery

• Otogi no Mori Park

• Jōzuka Gallery (for F&A no Kai members)

• Mount Uzurayama

These locations offer a vivid sense of the childhood that inspired much of Fujimoto’s creative world.

➤ Tokyo & Kawasaki Route

In Tokyo, Fujimoto laid the foundation for his career; in Kawasaki, he spent his later years. Suggested route:

• Start with Tokiwa-so Manga Museum in Toshima Ward

• Visit the Tokiwa-so monuments and rest areas nearby

• Head to Kawasaki to visit the Fujiko F. Fujio Museum

• End the journey with a respectful visit to his grave at Midorigaoka Cemetery

Practical Tips for Travelers:

• Fujiko F. Fujio Museum (Kawasaki):

  • Requires advance reservations via the official website

  • Check holiday closures and operating hours beforehand

• Jōzuka Gallery:

  • Not open to the general public; membership in the “F&A no Kai” is required

  • Contact in advance if possible

• Midorigaoka Cemetery:

  • A peaceful site — visitors are advised to remain quiet and respectful during visits

Nearby Attractions:

• Near Fujiko F. Fujio Museum:

  • Mukōgaoka-Yūen site, Ikuta Ryokuchi Park, and rose garden for nature lovers

• Within Takaoka City:

  • Historic sites such as Takaoka Daibutsu and Takaoka Castle Park

8. Conclusion: The Enduring Magic of Fujiko F. Fujio

Embarking on a pilgrimage through the life and works of Fujiko F. Fujio is more than a fan’s tribute — it is a deeply moving experience that offers direct insight into the sources of his creativity, his enduring passion for manga, and the gentle messages embedded in his stories.

From the dreams nurtured during his boyhood in the natural beauty of Takaoka, to the formative years of shared ambition in Tokyo with fellow artists, and finally to the mature creative period in Kawasaki where his greatest works came to life — each location bears the distinct imprint of Fujimoto’s journey.

Visiting these sacred places is not just about retracing his steps, but about rekindling the spirit behind his art. It is a celebration of a man whose imagination transcended time and generation, and whose characters — especially that blue robotic cat from the future — continue to bring joy, hope, and inspiration to millions around the world.

Fujiko F. Fujio’s legacy is not merely preserved in museums, statues, or nostalgic settings. It lives on in every child’s laughter, every page turned, and every quiet moment when a reader realizes: even the impossible can be a little more possible — with a bit of friendship, courage, and a pocket full of dreams.