A manga museum opened Friday near JR Kokura Station in Kitakyushu with a library boasting some 50,000 titles, with a strong focus on artists from the city.

Kitakyushu is hoping the museum will help attract tourists and manga enthusiasts from other parts of Japan and farther afield. About 50 manga aritists hail from the city, including Leiji Matsumoto of "Galaxy Express 999" fame and Tsukasa Hojo, who wrote "City Hunter."

"We have selected old classics and out-of-print books in addition to currently popular works," said Mitsuji Okada, deputy curator.

The museum fee is ¥400 for adults, ¥200 for junior high and high school students and ¥100 for elementary school students.