Mandarake was established by manga artist . A member of the Garo Trio (ガロ三羽烏) along with and , Furukawa and the group became known in the 1970s for their work in the alternative manga magazine "Garo". Initially established as a used manga store, Mandarake opened its first location at a seven-square meter storefront in the Nakano Broadway shopping complex in Nakano, Tokyo in 1980. Furukawa developed a public profile and promoted Mandarake through his appearances on "", a variety series on TV Tokyo in which he appeared as an appraiser for rare and vintage manga.