SAN FRANCISCO — Manga art is finally reaching a museum in the United States! The first large-scale manga exhibition in the Americas, “Art of Manga” is being held at the de Young Museum in San Francisco through Feb. 1, displaying works by leading Japanese mangaka such as Eiichiro Oda, Rumiko Takahashi and Jiro Taniguchi together as works of art.The event focuses on providing an immersive experience that draws visitors into the world of manga with exhibitions including about 700 original drawings and other items. Rough sketches and tools actually used by creators such as pens and paper are also on display.The exhibition was planned by Nicole Coolidge Rousmaniere, research director of the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom. She said she hopes visitors will recognize the artistic quality and power of manga.Hirohiko Araki and Mari Yamazaki, two of the featured artists, gave exclusive interviews to The Yomiuri Shimbun at the exhibition venue.