Manga is not just about manga. So says the Kyoto International Manga Museum, which — not surprisingly, I guess — thinks the genre's sphere of influence extends way beyond the printed page to encompass everything from music and cooking to calligraphy and theater. To prove their point, the museum is presenting the third annual Kyoto Manga Festa from March 20 till May 24.

Among the dozens of events planned is a lecture and cooking demonstration by Tochi Ueyama, the manga artist behind the long-running title "Cooking Papa," in which food dishes serve as important narrative elements. Ueyama, who always includes in his manga the full recipes for his "star dishes," will appear at the museum for two hours from 2 p.m. on April 26.

Meanwhile, on May 4, DJ collective Archives will turn the museum into a dance club, performing a set featuring music inspired by manga alongside a live painting event.

Perhaps the highlight of the Festa is an exhibition of work by famed author of children's manga Shigeru Sugiura. Sugiura, who died in 2000, was well known for his boys adventure titles, such as "Sarutobi Sasuke," "Shonen Saiyuki" and "Shonen Jiraiya," from the 1930s, '40s and '50s. In addition to exhibits about his manga, its characters and its legacy, there will also be rare examples of "phantom" works, which were not published in book form after their original magazine releases. Such works include "Ninjutsu Kassen" (1954) and "Dangan Tommy" (1958).

Admission to the museum is ¥500, admission to the Sugiura exhibition is an extra ¥500. The museum is open 10 a.m. till 6 p.m. (last admission at 5:30 p.m.) See www.kyotomm.jp for details.