Go Nagai’s studio, Dynamic Production, has released a statement confirming that the Go Nagai Wonderland Museum’s original paintings and figurines survived the fire caused by the earthquake on New Year’s Day in Ishikawa Prefecture.
These items are currently being removed and stored by Wajima City. The studio attributes the existence of these artifacts to fireproofing measures taken during the museum’s construction and renovation.
While the details are still being investigated, the studio has asked that interviews with city residents be limited. The Go Nagai Wonderland Museum, located in Wajima City, was destroyed after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit Ishikawa Prefecture on January 1. Go Nagai and Dynamic Production released a statement on January 10.
Nagai expressed gratitude for the messages of concern and expressed sadness when seeing images of his hometown after the earthquake. Regarding the museum, Nagai initially thought that many of the artifacts might have been damaged.
However, he reflects that, as an active manga artist, he can redraw what has been lost. Nagai emphasized his desire to assist those affected in Wajima City and other areas to return to normalcy. He gave a personal message of encouragement, expressing that together, they could overcome challenges.
Dynamic Production confirmed the museum’s destruction and stated that exact information about the damage has not yet been collected. The company reiterated that the safety and well-being of its people remains the top priority. Further updates on the situation will be provided as soon as more information becomes available.
Dynamic Production provided further clarification, stating that Go Nagai’s original paintings have been loaned by Wajima City since June 2023 for permanent display at the Go Nagai Wonderland Museum.
Although the extent of damage to the 3D objects and video works is unknown, Dynamic Production claims ownership and management of Nagai’s original manuscripts, drawings and other works. It is worth noting that Wajima City does not own any of Nagai’s works.
Wajima, Nagai’s birthplace, announced plans to build a museum in 2005 and officially opened on the city’s historic Asaichi Street in 2009. The museum displays Nagai’s original works of art from iconic comic series such as Mazinger Z, Cutey Honey, Devilman and Getter Robo, along with a 1/9 scale statue of Mazinger Z’s iconic robot.
The magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the west coast of Japan, specifically the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, on New Year’s Day at 4:10 p.m. (2:00 a.m. EST). The tremors were felt as far away as Tokyo and Osaka on the opposite coast.
As of January 20, NHK reported at least 232 confirmed deaths in Ishikawa Prefecture, with 22 individuals still unidentified. Search efforts continued in Wajima, where a fire sparked by the earthquake burned an estimated 50,000 square meters and destroyed more than 200 buildings.