FOCUS

No.70 [FOCUS] Goodbye Heisei…

In a few days time, Japan will enter a new era. This presents an opportunity to look back over the last 30 years. On 11 March 2012, one year after the tsunami that led to the Fukushima power plant disaster, thousands of Japanese demonstrated against nuclear energy.   When, in 1989, the Japanese[...]

No.69 [FOCUS] Kumamoto, land of hope

The Kawaragawas settled in Mizukami after the Fukushima disaster and successfully embarked on indigo dyeing.   For a growing number of city dwellers, the prefecture is central to their discovery of an eco-friendly way of life. The Kato household rises at the crack of dawn. In the icy hours of e[...]

No.68 [INTERVIEW] “I wanted to remain invisible”

Taken from “Numa” (The Swamp), which first appeared in issue no.18 of Garo (February 1966, pp.118-131). Someone who’s considered to be a living manga genius agreed to answer our questions. 2019 will be remembered by manga fans as the “Year of Tsuge Yoshiharu”. For a very long time, and wit[...]

No.68 [EXPERIENCE] In the footsteps of the mangaka

Futomi, a fishing village in decilne, is one of the places that made an impression on the author of “Neji-shiki”.   As a fan of a Japan that has disappeared from the cities, Tsuge has always had a soft spot for Chiba. We went to visit it. Chiba Prefecture is not exactly a popular travel des[...]

No.68 [ENCOUNTER] The tireless traveller

The first issue of Manga shugi (March 1967) was almost wholly devoted to Tsuge Yoshiharu.   The work of Tsuge Yoshiharu was influenced by his experiences as a traveller. Takano Shinzo tells us about them.   The name of Takano Shinzo may not mean much even to hardcore manga fans, but in the[...]

No.68 [DESTINY] A good fairy called Asakawa

A great admirer of Tsuge Yoshiharu, Asakawa Mitsuhiro worked hard to ensure his work was finally published in its entirety in the West.   An expert on mangaka, Asakawa Mitsuhiro talks about his ties to Tsuge and his views on his work. Few people know Tsuge Yoshiharu’s work better than Asakawa[...]

No.68 [FOCUS] Tsuge Yoshiharu’s japan

Taken from “Ri-san ikka” (The Family of Mr Lee), which first appeared in issue no. 34 of Garo (June 1967, pp. 177-188).   For the first time in France, the entire work of this manga genius has been published in translation by Cornelius. The best works of art are those that stay with you for[...]

No.67 [MUSIC] Rock’n’roll attitude

Yoshiki considers himself to be the spokesperson of Turtle Island rather than its leader.   A good example of creativity used to help others, every year Turtle Island organises a unique kind of music festival. Few bands in Japan are as exciting as Turtle Island. Formed in 1999 in Toyota, near N[...]

No.67 [PUBLISHING] First impressions of Tokyo

Hajime is the first work to be published by the ToCo collective, in which artists recall their first impressions of the Japanese capital.   Unity is strength. By embracing this old adage, artists have joined together to produce high-quality zines. Koenji is a nice, quiet place in the Tokyo subu[...]

No.67 [TREND] A new vision of economic exchange

Benjamin Parks for Zoom Japan In West Tokyo, there’s a new kind of market where people come to donate things they no longer need. On a warm Sunday afternoon, I find myself outside Kunitachi Station, in Tokyo’s western suburbs. The streets are still wet, but luckily last night’s rain has been r[...]