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Articles by Kanta Ishida
Animation Legend Rintaro’s Autobiographical Manga, a Reverse Import from France
1-byo 24-koma no Boku no Jinsei (Ma Vie en 24 Images par Seconde) by Rintaro (Kawade Shobo Shinsha) “Ginga Tetsudo 999” (“Galaxy Express 999”) in 1979, “Genma Taisen” (“Harmagedon”) in 1983 and “Metropolis” (2001) are all landmark works in the history of Japanese animated films.
2 Stories Beautifully Merge in ‘Heavenly Delusion’
Tengoku-Daimakyo (Heavenly Delusion) by Masakazu Ishiguro (Kodansha) For a long time, I have been interested in Masakazu Ishiguro, a manga creator with a cult following. His latest tour de force, “Tengoku-Daimakyo” (“Heavenly Delusion”), has been serialized in the monthly manga magazine Afternoon since 2018, but so far I have neglected to introduce it to you. So I have decided to take this occasion to write about it. I will explain later what the occasion is.
Even During His Final Days, Mangaka Umezu Had New Work in Mind
Horror and gag manga artist Kazuo Umezu passed away peacefully late last month. Umezu, who is known for numerous works including “Hyoryu Kyoshitsu” (The Drifting Classroom), collapsed at his home in Tokyo’s Kichijoji area in July. He was hospitalized and was found to have terminal stomach cancer. He did not have surgery but received end-of-life care at a Tokyo hospice since September. His enthusiasm for his work did not wane even when sick. During a visit he told me, “Humans cannot lose to machines.
‘Kagurabachi’ Manga is Future of Weekly Shonen Jump after Completion of ‘My Hero Academia,’ ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’
Kagurabachi by Takeru Hokazono (Shueisha) Two mega-hits serialized in the manga magazine Shukan Shonen Jump (Weekly Shonen Jump), “My Hero Academia” and “Jujutsu Kaisen,” recently concluded. I have no doubt that the empire of Jump and its mountain of intellectual property won’t be seriously shaken by this. But, at the same time, the circulation of print copies of Weekly Shonen Jump, which peaked at 6.53 million at the end of 1994, is now at the brink of dropping below 1 million.
Manga on Siberian Intervention Sheds New Light on Modern Japanese History; Brutality in Senseless War
Inui to Tatsumi — Zabaikal Senki (Inui and Tatsumi — The Record of Transbaikal) by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko (Kodansha) The Siberian intervention, a conflict in which Japan participated alongside other countries, certainly appears in history textbooks. However, I suspect not many people really think about how it was a war of intervention by the Allies to counter the Russian Revolution. Although it lasted only four years, it is very difficult to understand how it started and ended.
‘When the Dokudami Flowers Bloom’ Entertainingly Depicts the Art of Discovering an Artist
Dokudami no Hana Saku Koro (When the Dokudami Flowers Bloom.) by Shiho Kido (Kodansha) Yayoi Kusama, Kiyoshi Yamashita, Vincent van Gogh and so on — there are quite a few world-class artists who have been diagnosed with a mental disorder or intellectual disability. Why does the art and beauty created by these artists, who may be “ill” in the eyes of society, impress and touch the hearts of so many people? This must be one of the mysteries of what art is.
Israeli Graphic Novel Tactfully Draws Israel-Palestine Divide; New Japanese Translation Worth Reading at This Moment
by Rutu Modan, translated into Japanese by Bavuah (Thousands of Books, Inc.) Israel began its offensive in the Palestinian territory of Gaza last autumn. Despite worldwide calls for a ceasefire, neither the Israeli military nor the Islamist organization Hamas, which attacked Israel first, show any signs of backing down. It seems civilians are the ones suffering for this. “Tunnels” is the latest work by a female Israeli graphic novel artist Rutu Modan.
Documentary-Style, Autobiographical Manga Remembers 2 Gekiga Gods of the 1970s; Iga Depicts Fierce Competition Between Saito, Koike
Gekiga no Kamisama (The gods of gekiga) by Kazuhiro Iga (Saizusha) The late Takao Saito, the author and artist of “Golgo 13,” told people he had decided exactly how he would end the popular hard-boiled manga, but he never told anyone what that would actually look like. The famous gekiga — a type of manga for adults, which became popular in the late 20th century — continues to be published but is now drawn by Saito’s staff.
Remembering Akira Toriyama and the Manga He Really Wanted to Draw
Cowa! by Akira Toriyama (Shueisha) On March 8, I learned that Akira Toriyama had passed away, and my mind went blank. He was only four years older than I am. I never expected to hear of his passing while I worked as a newspaper reporter. No, let me be honest. I did not even want to expect it. It was the situation I had feared the most. An obituary for a famous person on newspapers is customarily accompanied by a side story called hyoden, a short biography.
Cosmopolitan Yakuza Manga ‘Ryuko’ Makes Belated Debut in Japan
Ryuko by Eldo Yoshimizu (Leed Publishing Co.) “Ryuko” is Eldo Yoshimizu’s debut manga. Before its release in Japan last autumn, it was already published in more than 10 countries abroad, including France, Germany and Italy. Even though the author is Japanese, Japan trailed those countries to publish “Ryuko.” What an unconventional and extraordinary newcomer Yoshimizu is! The story begins in Forossyah Kingdom, a Middle Eastern country located on the coast of the Black Sea.
Ex-combat Agent Strives To Find A Peaceful Life
Heiwa no Kuni no Shimazaki e (Shimazaki in the Land of Peace) by Gouten Hamada, story, and Takeshi Seshimo, art (Kodansha) All over the world, particularly in Africa, there are cases of armed terrorist organizations kidnapping children to turn them into child soldiers. According to a survey conducted by a non-profit organization, as many as 250,000 child soldiers were confirmed between 2004 and 2007.
Friendship Tethers 2 Struggling High School Students Together
Kimi to Uchu o Aruku tameni (Walking to Space Together) by Inuhiko Doronoda (Kodansha) A book called “Keki no kirenai hikoshonen-tachi” (Delinquent boys who can’t cut the cake) became a hot topic of conversation a few years ago. The book’s author, Koji Miyaguchi, is a child psychiatrist and has worked at a mental health facility for juvenile offenders. Miyaguchi said that most juvenile offenders have weaknesses in the areas of their brains that help with cognitive functions.
‘The Days of Diamond’ Sheds Light on Issues Surrounding Baseball Prodigy
Diamond no Kozai (The days of diamond) by Ohashi Hirai (Shueisha) Major League Baseball star Shohei Ohtani made headlines in December when he signed a 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers worth a total of $700 million (¥101.5 billion). The deal, hailed as the highest in sports history, is beyond astonishing and even awe-inspiring in a way. Talented young athletes are often described as “diamonds in the rough,” and that is only becoming more and more true.
‘Berserk’ Continues After Author’s Untimely Death
Berserk By Kentaro Miura, Studio Gaga (Hakusensha) The year 2023 is coming to an end. Amid my encounters with various manga this year, I had forgotten an important one: the 42nd volume of “Berserk” published in October. “Berserk” began its serialization in 1989 and is a masterpiece of heroic fantasy manga beyond compare. The protagonist, Guts, is a swordsman clad in black plate armor and his nemesis is his former best friend Griffith.
‘The Ramparts of Ice’ Is a Game Changer of Webtoon-Origin Manga
Kori no Joheki (The Ramparts of Ice) by Kocha Agasawa (Shueisha) I like to read all kinds of manga, but I’ve never really gotten into webtoons. Originating in South Korea, webtoons are basically synonymous with “vertically scrolling manga” that are read on smartphones.
Plain-Looking Heroine is Radiant Star of High School Comedy
Skip to Loafer (Skip and Loafer) by Misaki Takamatsu (Kodansha) “Paying pilgrimage to sacred places” is a hobby of one of my otaku acquaintances. He recently published a doujinshi (manga and anime fanzine) titled “Skip to Loafer Junreibon” (“Skip and Loafer pilgrimage book”), so I got a copy from him. Needless to say, “pilgrimage to sacred places” in this context means traveling to places that have been used as settings for manga and anime.
Manga ‘Manchuria Opium Squad’ Depicts Unconventional Hero in War-Torn Manchuria
Manshu Ahensquad (Manchuria Opium Squad) Manga by Shikako, story by Tsukasa Monma (Kodansha) Germany recently approved a plan to legalize the possession and cultivation of recreational marijuana. This is a major shift in the country’s policy. As the crackdown on illegal marijuana cannot keep pace with the expansion of the underground market, the German government is trying to eradicate the market by legalizing and controlling cannabis.
‘Nippon Sangoku’ Depicts Revolutionary Who Uses Words, not Violence
Nippon Sangoku (Japan’s three nations) by Ikka Matsuki (Shogakukan) The renowned Chinese historical novel “Romance of The Three Kingdoms” has influenced Japanese entertainment in many ways, and “Nippon Sangoku” (Japan’s three nations) is no exception. The manga by Ikka Matsuki, which borrows the novel’s story structure to depict a dystopian future where Japan has been divided into three warring countries, is not the first of its kind.
‘Umi ga Hashiru Endroll’ Depicts Life of Filmmaker More Than Elderly Person
Umi ga Hashiru Endroll by John Tarachine (Akita Publishing Co.) By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer With society growing older and graying, “Umi ga Hashiru Endroll” (End credits roll showing the ocean) starts like a manga cheering on and supporting the elderly population. The protagonist, 65-year-old Umiko Chino, has recently become a widow, and for the first time in a long time, she goes to a movie theater she used to go to with her husband when they were younger.
Taiyo Matsumoto’s Realistic and Poetic Touches Shine in ‘Tokyo Higoro’
Tokyo Higoro by Taiyo Matsumoto (Shogakukan) By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer In the previous installment of this column, I introduced Fujiko F. Fujio’s “Mirai no Omoide” (“Remembrance of the Future”) as the original “manga-ka manga,” or manga about a mangaka. There is a scene where Nando, the protagonist, receives a warning from his editor after boasting that he has acquired a knack for drawing manga.
‘Mirai no Omoide’ offers rare glimpse into life of Fujiko F. Fujio
Mirai no Omoide (Remembrance of the Future) by Fujiko F. Fujio(Shogakukan) By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer For today’s article, I was preparing to introduce the latest “mangaka manga,” which is to say a manga that depicts a mangaka, or else the drawing of manga. But then I changed my mind and decided instead to introduce another manga, “Mirai no Omoide” (“Remembrance of the Future”) by Fujiko F. Fujio, published in 1992.
Mongol Empire Becomes Stage for Epic Revenge Story
Tenmaku no Jaadoogar(A Witch’s Life in Mongol) by Tomato Soup(Akita Publishing Co.) By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer In this column last September, I introduced the manga “Cecil’s Queen” by Ai Kozaki, which is about Britain’s Queen Elizabeth I and her mother. At that time, it briefly crossed my mind that we might be entering a boom for historical manga with women as protagonists. It now seems like this trend is becoming a reality.
‘Wadachi’: Leiji Matsumoto’s lesser known work still resonates
“Wadachi” by Leiji Matsumoto (Shogakukan) By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer Every winter seems to bring the death of a master of postwar manga. Just last month, we heard the sad news of Leiji Matsumoto passing away. I have loved reading his works since I was a teenager, and I feel as if I lost another part of my youth. Reading his obituary in a number of newspapers left me with mixed feelings.
Profound Tale of Being Mangaka with Deceptively Cute Drawing
Yako to Poko (Yako & Poko) By Etsuko Mizusawa (Akita Publishing Co.) By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer “Yako to Poko” (Yako & Poko) concluded in seven volumes last August. I let time pass since then, but seeing that none of the various manga rankings at the end of 2022 gave it much attention, I decided to introduce it since letting such an interesting manga go unnoticed would be a shame. Poko, a cat-shaped robot, is an assistant to mangaka Yako, who specializes in girls’ manga.
No. 1 manga of 2022 is both creepy and emotionally captivating
Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu (The Summer Hikaru Died) by Mokumokuren (Kadokawa) By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer Despite being an unknown newcomer’s first online serialization, “Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu” (“The Summer Hikaru died”) came in No. 1 as the most popular among manga for men in the 2023 edition of the periodical “Kono Manga ga Sugoi!” (This manga is amazing), published by Takarajimasha Inc. After only reading the first two volumes available in print, I was completely hooked.
Balanced portrayal of religion unexpectedly well-timed
‘Kamisama’ no Iru Ie de Sodachimashita(We grew up in a house where god dwells) by Mariko Kikuchi (Bungeishunju) By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer The biggest news stories in Japan this year will undoubtedly be topped by the shooting in July of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The suspect’s confession that his motive was hatred of a religious organization of which his mother was a believer has had complex repercussions both socially and politically.
New mangaka releases 1st collection at 67 years young
67-sai no Shinjin Han Kakusai Tampenshu (A collection of short works by 67-year-old newcomer Kakusai Han) by Ai Kozaki (Shogakukan) By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer It is not uncommon these days to find mangaka in their 70s and 80s still creating manga. Postwar manga culture developed mainly among and around artists in the baby boomer generation who were born from 1947 to 1949 in Japan. A natural consequence of this is that there are now many elderly mangaka.
Young Taiwan mangaka evokes nostalgia for ’70s Japanese pop music
Midori no Uta: Shushu Gunpu (The Song About Green: Gather the Wind) by Gao Yan (Kadokawa) By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer Taiwan manga artists possess an amazing ability to draw. Japan became aware of this fact first through Chen Uen, whose “Toshu Eiyuden” (“Heroes of the East Chou Dynasty”) became a big hit here in the 1990s.
‘Cecil no Jo-o’ depicts intriguing lives of Elizabeth I, William Cecil
Cecil no Jo-o (Cecil’s Queen) by Ai Kozaki (Shogakukan) By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer Queen Elizabeth II has passed away at 96. We tend to think of Britain as a country ruled by a queen today largely because of Queen Elizabeth II who was on the throne for 70 years, not to mention the Victorian era in the 19th century. Elizabeth I reigned from 1558 to 1603. Prior to the 16th century, all monarchs in England were male.
Manga brings young rebel samurai leader to life
By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer In 1335, two years after the fall of the Kamakura shogunate government, a rebellion was staged by remnants of the Hojo family, which had produced a succession of the shogunate’s regents, and their followers. The central figure of the rebellion was Hojo Tokiyuki, a young samurai lord who was just 10 years old at the time. Mangaka Yusei Matsui has turned Tokiyuki’s life story into a manga called “Nigejozu no Wakagimi” (“The Elusive Samurai”).
Female-police-officer-turned-mangaka successfully delivers inside story
By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer Hakozume: Koban Joshi no Gyakushu(Police in a Pod) by Miko Yasu (Kodansha) For a long time, I didn’t rate this popular manga very highly — “Hakozume: Koban Joshi no Gyakushu.” I found the drawings bland — only the eyes showed emotion. I also found the placement of the text problematic, so it slowed down the flow of the story.
Popular Japanese manga series ‘Golden Kamuy’ shines at special exhibition
By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer Fans of “Golden Kamuy” are likely feeling a little down after the popular manga series recently ended following an eight-year run. All is not lost, however. The recently opened “Golden Kamuy Special Exhibition” — featuring the characters, history, adventures, cuisine and comedy elements of the series — could help put a smile back on followers’ faces. Satoru Noda’s “Golden Kamuy” revolves around Ainu culture.
‘Kotoba no Kemono’ is a gripping modern variation on classic short novel
By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer Kotoba no Kemono(Beasts of Words) by Kujiraba (Leed Publishing Co.) When I heard of a manga about a person transforming into a tiger, I was immediately reminded of Shotaro Ishinomori’s “Henshin Ninja Arashi” (1972). A period manga version of his classic, “Kamen Rider,” it is a dark and mature masterpiece. One of its characters is a ninja with a tragic fate who transforms into a tiger and loses his human heart.
‘Darwin’s Incident’ ponders right to life in unique setting
By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer Darwin Jihen (Darwin’s Incident) By Shun Umezawa(Kodansha) The right to live as a human being is a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution of Japan. I am keenly aware, however, as we can see from the current war in Ukraine, that this basic right can be easily taken away at any time. If people have the right to life, what about other animals? What if those animals acquired intelligence superior to that of human beings?
Racy dialogue doesnât mean anime is not fit for literature
By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior WriterâAraburu Kisetsu no Otomedomo yoâ (O Maidens in Your Savage Season) has been on TV since July in the late Friday night anime slot called Animeism on the TBS network. The anime is based on the manga of the same title that has been serialized since January 2017 in Bessatsu Shonen Magazine, a manga monthly published by Kodansha.
DISCOVER ANIME / ‘revisions’ transports Shibuya into dangerous future
By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior WriterThe Shibuya crossing in Tokyo and surrounding area about 2 kilometers wide are seemingly carved out and teleported to a ruinous wasteland, and grotesque mecha monsters attack stunned people caught up in the incident. Unbeknownst to them, the people have traveled 300 years into the future.
KANTA ON MANGA / Medieval magic manga gives long-sought twist
By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior WriterThe manga this week Tongari Boshi no Atelier (Atelier of Witch Hat) By Kamome Shirahama (Kodansha) I’ve recently learned that I’m quite demanding when it comes to evaluating so-called Western-style fantasy manga.
DISCOVER ANIME / ‘Yagate Kimi ni Naru’ finely depicts girls’ feelings
By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior WriterYu Koito, a high school freshman, tells a second-year student, Toko Nanami, about distress that she’s never been able to tell anyone before. “Girls’ manga and love songs are filled with romantic love, but I’ve never seen someone as a special person,” Yu tells Toko. Yu has an expectation that Toko may be the same kind of person as herself because the beautiful girl, a member of the student council, refuses to receive a favor from anyone.
Manga artist completes fact-based trilogy on United Red Army
By Kanta Ishida / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer“Red,” a manga trilogy about the most horrific incident caused by Rengo Sekigun (the United Red Army), has been completed. The author, Naoki Yamamoto, did his best to avoid including anything that wasn’t real in the 13-volume epic published by Kodansha Ltd. It took him 12 years to conclude the series. At age 58, Yamamoto belongs to a generation free of student protests. What did he feel about the case that happened 46 years ago?
DISCOVER ANIME / Reverse phenomenon of ‘Radiant’
For a person who thought they were up-to-date with current trends, the discovery surprised him. The fact that it was a translation of a comic by a French mangaka, 34-year-old Tony Valente, was also a shock. NHK Enterprise producer Yusuke Fujita first learned about “Radiant” when he stumbled across the first volume of the manga, published by Asuka Shinsha, in a bookstore in 2015.
KANTA ON MANGA / A rejuvenating tale of love
Subaru to Suu-san (The Strange Life of Subaru) It’s a challenge to tell a simple love story in an appealing way these days. Convincing yet original obstacles for couples to overcome are necessary for all good romance dramas. Such hardships as incurable diseases, differing backgrounds or status, and adultery have become overused. Under such circumstances, the creator of this week’s manga has gone to the extreme to set up a completely fantastical scenario.
DISCOVER ANIME / Joint Japan-China production transcends cultural barriers
Baileu Ton, a student from China who wanders into the cafe, learns that these members are engaged in solving mysterious cases caused by beings called Umbra. Ton’s great-grandmother had hunted down Umbras in London a century before. The “Phantom” story takes place in a backstreet London cafe called Cafe Forbidden. While the place looks like any ordinary coffee shop, the people working there are most unusual: There is a vampire, a werewolf, a ghost, a Chinese hopping vampire and the like.
KANTA ON MANGA / Misguided young people embraced violent ideology
Even when class should have been in session, the TV set in the classroom was left on. On that winter day of the year when I was a sixth grader in elementary school, the live TV broadcast was focusing on the siege of a mountain lodge in the snow, where several youths who had taken the lodge keeper’s wife hostage were exchanging gunfire with riot police. One after the other, riot police officers were shot.
KANTA ON MANGA / A look at the divide and conquer world of cells
Yasutaka Tsutsui’s short story “Saigo no Denrei” (The last messenger) is about a city where a chaotic disaster is looming. A young intelligence officer dashes off to report this danger to the headquarters. He takes a subway from the Liver to the Spleen and then transfers to a monorail to the Gastric Cardia. On the way, he witnesses the Abdominal Wall that is about to burst open. “The end of the world” is just around the corner.
KANTA ON MANGA / Meals from wartime carry on in present-day dining
Late last year, the history book “Nihongun Heishi” (Japanese soldiers) was published by Chuokoron-Shinsha, Inc. and became a best seller. Written by Yutaka Yoshida, the book attempts to draw an accurate picture of World War II as fought in the Asia-Pacific region. The war ended 73 years ago with Japan’s surrender. The book mentions the shocking fact that many of the 2.3 million deaths among Japanese military personnel and civilians employed by the military were caused by starvation or malnutrition.
Through the eyes of children: Director Mamoru Hosoda explores kids’ inner world with ‘Mirai no Mirai’
The main character is Kun. On a winter day, Kun first meets his sister when she is brought home after being born in the hospital. The baby’s name is Mirai, and she is held by Kun’s mother on her return home. Kun is jealous because the baby now gets most of his parents’ love and attention. When he is out weeping in their garden, he finds that his surroundings look somewhat different. He then encounters a mysterious-looking man who introduces himself as a prince.
KANTA ON MANGA / Why 1968 was the start of something special for manga
I’m interested in the year 1968, and not only because it was exactly 50 years ago. It was a critical year in which a number of significant events occurred in manga that expanded the possibilities of the genre. For example, 1968 is when the serialization of “Ashita no Joe” (Tomorrow’s Joe) began. (It was first released at the end of 1967, but the official date is recorded as 1968).
DISCOVER ANIME / Serious Sunday-morning drama delights kids
Harunoya is haunted by the ghost of a boy called Uri-Bo who is visible only to Okko. At Uri-Bo’s urging, Okko starts training to become the successor of the inn and she works hard politely serving the various strange guests that visit. The central character is Oriko, nicknamed Okko, an elementary school student in the sixth grade who loses her parents in a traffic accident. She is sent to live with her grandmother, who runs a ryokan inn called Harunoya at an onsen hot spa resort.
KANTA ON MANGA / A wandering samurai’s search for gourmet food
The slang term “meshi-tero” (literally, “food terrorism”) has yet to be listed in Kojien or any other major Japanese dictionaries. It could be defined as the criminal act of indiscriminately stimulating ordinary citizens’ appetite, causing such health hazards as an increase in body weight and body fat. Based on this definition, Shigeru Tsuchiyama, who died in May at the age of 68, would be the most bewitching meshi-tero manga artist.
DISCOVER ANIME / ‘Hiso Maso’ brings together 2 hot talents
When the dragon flies, it is concealed by a costume so that it resembles a fighter jet participating in ordinary flying drills. Hisone names the dragon Masotan and is ordered to execute a bizarre state-level mission with three other dragons and dragon pilots from other bases. In “Hiso Maso,” a dragon that has lived in Japan since ancient times is kept secretly in a hangar on the periphery of the Air Self-Defense Force’s Gifu Air Base.
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