We Appreciate Manga

Takeshi Obata of Death Note fame does his take on 'All You Need is Kill', which spawned the Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt Hollywood movie 'The Edge of Tomorrow' a.k.a. 'Live, Die, Repeat'. On this episode James and Steve talk about the characters, themes and more! Skip synopsis @ 9:14

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086: All You Need is Kill vol .1

Original Story by Hiroshi Sakurazaka

Art by Takeshi Obata

With Storyboards by Ryosuke Takeuchi

And additional illustrations by Yoshitoshi Abe

Translation by Tetsuichiro Miyaki

Lettering and touch up art by Evan Walldinger

The story begins with Keiji Kiriya, a soldier whom wakes from a dream upon experiencing his own death in battle, the dream ends with a young female soldier staying by Keiji as he dies and asking him something that only he would know the answer to, on waking Keiji finds out that his battle is to begin tomorrow, and it will be his first whilst participating in a war against alien invaders; monstrous beings called Mimics.

As Keiji goes to retake the Boso Peninsula from the Mimics, he is joined by US special forces, which include Rita Vratski. A young woman of remarkable combat skill. Keiji is familiar with this woman, not because he dreamt about her but because he is experiencing a time loop, where upon his death triggers back to the day before the battle. As Keiji becomes conscious of this situation he goes through a gamut of emotions, from cowardice to suicide, it all results in him repeating the same day. Keiji has no choice but to fight and survive so that he can see it to the day after. He learns that his actions have a butterfly effect depending on what he does after each reset. And so, he vows to use as much time loops as he can in order to improve his combat skills. He does this by having Shasta Rayle craft him a weapon similar to Rita's Battle-axe and by training with Bartolome Ferrell. He is so resolute in his actions that he avoids the temptation of a date with the beautiful cook Rachel. But this is not the only woman whose attention he captures. On the battlefield Rita asks Keiji one simple question. "How many loops is this for you?"

….and the answer to that is 158!

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Fans of Astro Boy, Buddha and Blackjack will be happy to know that today's episode is all about the manga god that is Osamu Tezuka! After reading his manga biography we talk about the precedent he set for the industry and detail the process of how the artist makes manga. Besides discussing the all-important issue of him being a furry or not. Skip synopsis @ 8:20

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084: The Osamu Tezuka Story

By Toshio Ban and Tezuka Productions

Translation by Frederic L. Schott

Dr. Osamu Tezuka was born the eldest of three children on November 3rd, 1928. Having grown up in a liberal family he was exposed to cartoons from an early age. His father was an avid photographer who would give him comic books upon returning from his travels in America, as well as let him read Akahon, illustrated children's literature printed with a distinctive red ink.

Tezuka was a pioneer due to popularising cartoons as stories "story cartoons", thus paving the way for the modern manga industry as it stands today. It is why some refer to him as the 'god of manga'. It was during this post war time and across the world that many cartoonists were looking towards cinema as inspiration for their story telling. Osamu Tezuka himself was a fan of cinema, especially the works of Walt Disney. And by his 30's he would forego his work as a practicing physician entirely and be the highest paid manga artist in Japan.

At the age of 35, using his funds acquired from licensing his intellectual property, earning money from radio drama adaptations and by publishing his manga he was also able to pioneer the first televised anime show within Japan. This being an adaptation of his Manga, 'Astro Boy' otherwise known as 'Mighty Atom' as well as the first coloured anime show in Japan, 'Jungle Emperor Leo'. The same studio that produced those shows, Mushi Pro or "Bug Productions", would challenge their audiences with experimental releases such as the anime movies Belladonna of Sadness, Cleopatra and an adaptation of Arabian Nights before Mushi productions went bankrupt. This however would be just a minor setback in what would be a prolific career, he would continue to make experimental anime and manga throughout the entirety of his life. Having the chance to remake Astro Boy as a coloured TV show and making many successful manga for old and new fans, such as 'BlackJack', 'Message to Adolf' and what would be considered his longest running manga and life's work, 'Phoenix'.

Tezuka would die of stomach cancer on February 9th 1989. He was 60 years old. He would leave behind a wife, Etsuko Okada and (according to my sources he had 3 children) Makoto, Rumiko and Chii. As of 2014 Rumiko stated that she unlocked one of her father's draws and found a half-eaten chocolate, an essay praising Katsuhiro Otomo for the work he did on Akira and some drawings of erotic anthropomorphic animals, including a very sexy white mouse. It's fair to say that Rumiko was happy her dad didn't publish those.

For further reading you can check out the following website links:

• The official website of Osamu Tezuka.
• Daughter of Osamu Tezuka, God of Manga, discovers his stash of hand-drawn sexy mouse artwork | SoraNews24 -Japan News-
• Ryan Holmberg has a good article in the comics journal on the Eiichi Fukui controversy.
• You can find the NHK documentary about Osamu Tezuka on Youtube, uploaded by the user "Mangaka Art".

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Today's episode is about Yoshihiro Tatsumi. The man who coined the term "Gekiga" and deliberately chose to make a new type of sequential art. One that explores the darkness and hardship of an adult, working class world. Thus continuing our season where we cover manga about being a manga artist. skip summary @ 5:14

084: A Drifting Life

By Yoshiro Tatsumi

Translation by Adrian Tomine

Yoshihiro Tatsumi was born 1935 and lived to the age of 79, having died of cancer on a Saturday in March 2015,

Tatsumi started doing 4 panel cartoons before doing more long form works with Hinomaru Bunko of the Shadow Magazine. In 1956 a studio was formed and named the Manga Camp, this would become the base of operations for Shadow and mangaka specialising in the genre of Gekiga, or Komaga as one of his peers called it, what they were working towards wasn't clear yet, but Shadow magazine made Manga for adults with emphasis on gritty drama inspired by hardboiled detective novels, film noir and the films of the French new wave.

Gekiga would truly find its purpose in 1959 when Tatsumi made stories for the Magazines City and Skyscraper alongside his group known as the Gekiga workshop. Whom together created a Gekiga manifesto. By the early 60's even Garo magazine, whom Tatsumi turned down due to lack of pay would become successful with its own Gekiga artists such as Sanpei Shirato. This proved that there was a need for long form storytelling, aimed at adults during a time when America's occupation of Japanese land was being challenged. And at the same time an economic boom was in full bloom.

Tatsumi's last Japanese published works was 'Fallen Words' a collection of Rakugo shorts, a sort of comedic folk tales known for ending on a punch line but done in the manga medium. This was followed by his award-winning manga memoirs in 2009 which will be the topic of our episode. According to the American publishing house Drawn and Quarterly, it is unclear if his memoirs, 'A drifting Life', was ever finished but in the edition that we've read there was a final epilogue chapter that ends with the funeral of Osamu Tezuka. Sadly, there is no mention of his marriage in his memoirs.

If Tezuka is seen as the god of Manga, then Tatsumi is undoubtedly the one who helped Manga mature, scholars now recognise Tatsumi's influence more so than ever now that we live in a world where adults need manga. And in a roundabout way Tatsumi did inspire Tezuka.

Topics:

• Risk of defamation is the reason why the names are changed in the manga. The word used for defamation in Japanese literally translates to "Damaged Honour", with one's honour and reputation holding an incredible amount of significance in Japanese culture.

• AX manga was James' first introduction to Tatsumi's work. Itself a book of alternative manga, and AX is a predecessor to Garo Magazine.

• Tatsumi shines a light on the business tensions of making manga. Specifically knowing when to jump ship of a failing company. You can't work for everyone and like the old saying when it rains it pours; Or you wait a long time for one bus then three come at once. This can happen. It's wise to keep your cards close to your chest when you go out drinking with the boss, being sure not to let them know all your plans regarding the future.
• What stops 'A Drifting Life' from being an entertaining read is that sensational titles and chapters rarely have a sense of tension, Tatsumi fails to convey the challenges of making manga during the 50's, oddly it makes sense that his most prolific work came out at the time that would make for boring memoirs. Because he would have met least resistance.
• Since the transition between magazine to Tankobon started there was a lucrative business that involved renting manga books that occurred in the late 1950's

• Still Life Classes are incredibly valuable to manga artists, but as James mentioned, action figures are also good too, recommending the brands Max Factory and Figma. More so because of the control one has over poses and lighting, however there is limits to using this as a learning instrument.

• The environment that Gekiga was made in is important to consider, especially when you realise that in the west, Frederic Wertham's 'Seduction of the Innocence' grew in popularity. Note that Wertham himself was not a bad guy, He treated black kids in 1946, a time of racial segregation, opening the Lafargue Clinic within Harlem, Manhattan.
• After leaving the Gekiga workshop Tatsumi wrote a 120-page long form story in 20 days. The manga was Black Blizzard. Cartoonist kayfabe has an interesting video about it.
• A 2011 Film adaptation directed by Eric Khoo, simply called 'Tatsumi' uses 'A Drifting Life' as a connective frame so to tell an anthology of Tatsumi stories.
• The writer to 'The Boys' is Garth Ennis, who has been very clear on his thoughts towards fantasy writing and the superhero genre. His contemporaries, Warren Ellis and Grant Morrison have their own opinions on the superhero genre also. Although their stories are very much fantasy and have subject matter about superheroes, their tonally dark stories and further exploration of more adult themes is antithetical to what we see in most manga aimed at young boys.

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James and Will talk about the concluding volume of Shunju Aono's adult slice of life manga. Although the manga itself has some upsetting themes, and the genre isn't as popular compared to shonen stories, it however proves to be a genuinely heart-warming experience that deserves to be read and talked about. Skip synopsis @ 4:35

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083: I'll Give It My All Tomorrow… vol. 5

Chapters 23 and 28, 'Goodbye for Today' and 'Suzuko'

By Shunju Aono

Translation by Akemi Wegmuller

Lettering by Steven Rhyse

The final volume begins by recapping previous events. Where Shizuo Oguro, a middle-aged man who makes the decision to devote himself to making manga, his daughter is nonplussed by the decision but his father is the one who berates him for it. His editor would butter him up with compliments on his manga despite the rejections. When his editor leaves, he gets a new one, Aya Unami, and she is more brutal with her criticism. Shizuo becomes friends with a young man, Ichinosawa and his best friend, Osamu Miyata sets up a bakery with Ichinosawa's help. Through his days of playing videogames, playing football in the park with kids and working part time at a burger joint he still pushes through towards making manga. Hoping to get published.

Aya Unami tells Shizuo that because of his age, the stakes are too high for him to get published. He lacks the hope and future growth that an 18-year-old may bring, yet she also tells him that he has potential to tell better stories because of his age and that life experience can be a benefit for him. She suggests to him that in order to write better stories he should think as if he was writing a letter to someone, to treat his manga making process with the same respect and consideration as if he was saying something to someone special.

Soon afterwards Ichinosawa arrives to the bakery to find that Miyata has disappeared, leaving letters addressed to both his friends and the business within Ichinosawa's hands.

This adds an incredible amount of stress on Shizuo now that he has to help Ichinosawa with the bakery, but he does so with determination and grace in the hopes that he will see Miyata return. Shizuo also manages to make a manga for Miyata, one that not only tells Miyata's story but gives it hope and a happy ending that both Shizuo and Miyata so desperately need.

In the final chapter, we see an epilogue that takes place from Suzuko's point of view, where we ultimately find out what she thinks of her dad, Shizuo Oguro.

Topics:

• Why 'I'll Give It My All… Tomorrow!' is a great manga despite its genre as a slice of life adult manga being an acquired taste.
• We find out the name of Suzuko's mother is Akari, which means that Eriko is not the mother and Shizuo didn't have a chance in hell with Eriko.
• A Hostess/Host club is a bar where people pay for the company of the opposite sex. The type of establishment that Susuzko's mother worked in is similar to what Ichinosawa worked in too. Read here for more information on host clubs.
• Suzuko as a character and her relationship with her father Shizuo.

• 'I'll Give It My All… Tomorrow' is not Shunju Aono's autobiography, the closest thing he has to one is the later manga 'Slapstick' which portrays his childhood experiences. Not to be confused with the Marvel character that shares the same name.

• 'I'll Give It My All… Tomorrow' has a sequel roughly translated by name as 'I'm Not Serious… Yet', Not too be confused with Nazuna Miki's manga which has a similar name. Aono's companion piece comprises of one single Tankobon volume and acts more as an anthology based on the characters from 'I'll Give It My All… Tomorrow', with individual stories set before and after Shizuo becoming a mangaka.

• Million Yen Women… a 4 volume manga, which has been made into a Netflix show, 12 episodes to be precise.
• A live-action film adaptation of I'll Give It My All... Tomorrow was announced in June 2012. The film is directed by Yūichi Fukuda, starring Shinichi Tsutsumi as Shizuo Ōguro and Renji Ishibashi plays his father. Going against expectation, Aiko does not perform any songs for the movie, instead the girl group Scandal fulfils that role, whilst Gontiti is responsible for the score.

Other references:

• Shizuo's T-shirts: Homerun (a baseball reference), Semi-sparkling, Maradonna (The Argentinian footballer, known by the nicknames The Golden Boy, the Artful Dodger and The Hand of God, because of an incident in the 1986 FIFA world cup), Gum, Team Leader, Baby (Because Shizuo behaves as such), Mi Yata, HP-5 (An unusual one, that may refer to a series of Hewlett Packard's Laser Jet Printers), Organic, Oguro Union, Bunt (another baseball reference), Non Sugar, Dobu, Papa, Figure.
• Konowata a.k.a Sea Cucumbers is referenced once again.

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Today's episode makes an argument that villains in slice of life manga could be better than Shounen manga villains, and how high school toilets can be quite trepidatious! Skip the plot summary @ 4:36 and feel free to join in on the conversation by emailing to [email protected]

082 – I'll Give It My All… Tomorrow vol. 4

Chapters 17 to 22, '19 Years Younger' and 'Midlife Crisis' with bonus chapter 'All about Aya Unami'

By Shunju Aono

Translation by Akemi Wegmuller

Lettering by Steven Ryhse

Struggling Manga artist Shizuo Oguro gets a new editor, Aya Unami,

she proves to be critical of Shizuo to the point that she is able to send him in a slump. Shizuo even gets a neck hernia due to the stress of dealing with her. However, Unami isn't just critical of Shizuo but she has also lost respect for her father too. For years her father has failed to write a bestselling novel as her mother is forced to be the breadwinner of the household.

But things turn around for the better when Shizuo meets his childhood friend, Osamu Miyata, who opened a bakery to be closer to his own son. He reminds Shizuo of the promise that was made, many years ago, reminding Shizuo that he should become the father that his daughter would be proud of. This gives Shizuo enough energy not to quit making manga.

Not long afterwards Miyata gets a visit from his ex-wife, claiming that she is to be married once again but this time she is taking herself and her son to live in America with her new husband. She asks Miyata to end his relationship with their son. Miyata becomes hopeless and devastated, and shows no will to fight her on this matter.

Meanwhile Unami's father dies of a heart attack, he dies at his desk with a pen in his hand, Unami never spoke to her father in his last days but she realizes why she resented him. It was because Aya Unami was her father's number one fan. She hated her father for not giving her stories to read and now she cries knowing he will never have anything for her to read.

Days pass by and Shizuo burns his rejected manuscripts. His meetings with Unami are seemingly non-existent until both Unami and Shizuo run in to each other on the street. Shizuo pleads for Unami's help. And Unami, reminded of her dead father, agrees to help him.

Topics:

• The Akira Nakanishi character looks a lot like the main character of 'Angel Densetsu', Seiichiro Kitano. For more information on this great OVA you can't go wrong than by starting at Anime News Network.
• The Antagonists Aya Unami and Miyata's ex-wife. And how most antagonists in slice of life manga compare to the one's in Shonen manga.
• The trepidation of being inside a High School toilet.
• James compares Shunju Aono's illustration style to that of the BBC Cartoon 'Monkey Dust', although the show itself was a series of sketches that used a variety of cartoon styles and studios, it shows a crudeness that is most common in independently funded and cult works. Dan Wilkinson of Vice also made a retrospective piece on the show.

Other references:

• Shizuo's classmate Eriko Osaki reads 'The Setting Sun' by Osamu Dazai.
• Shizuo's Shirts: Semi-pro, Italy, Empty, Mie, New and Max.
• In the chapter 'Aiko Comes to H burgers' Shizuo offers her Kinako shakes, Kinako itself is a protein powder made from roasted and grounded soybeans. To find out more about Kinako and the many varieties that exist of it just go here.
• Aiko is a Japanese singer/songwriter, the bonus "omake" chapter Aiko Comes to H Burgers' was created for her tour pamphlet, specifically 'Love Like Pop Vol. 12'. Do you think Shunju Aono captured her likeness very well?

The boys continue reading Aono's slice of life manga, as the story explores the main character's impact on those around him. And after 80 episodes and reading 18 manga, we finally see our first instance of a trans-female character. Here's hoping many more surprises and new stories are told and read! Skip synopsis @ 3:06

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081: I'll Give It My All… Tomorrow vol. 3

Chapters 11 to 16 'The Times' and 'The Guy's Melody'

With Bonus Chapters 'Mister Murakami, Manga Editor 'and 'Life of Tanaka'

By Shunju Aono

Translation by Akemi Wegmuller

Lettering by Steven Rhyse

Shizuo's journey to become a mangaka is tested by his father, who refuses to believe that his son has any talent, alongside a job slinging burgers that takes a spiritual toll he struggles. At first Shizuo escapes into a fantasy of what his life may ideally be like in the next five years, only for it to end with an honest conversation with himself and God.

To increase his luck of getting published Shizuo gives himself the pen name "Person Nakamura" and works as an assistant for a successful mangaka. Albeit he does the assistant job only as a favour to his crush, the editor Mayumi Meguro.

When Shizuo meets his friends Miyata and Ichinozawa, they tell him that they have decided to start a bakery business together, having been somewhat inspired by Shizuo's tenacity and willingness to chase his dreams. Shizuo himself is asked to give a unique name for the bakery shop, but his two friends are not the only ones to take inspiration, Shizuo's editor, Mr. Yu Murakami, leaves Ekke productions to live as their honest self, a woman hostess. Leaving Shizuo stuck to find a new editor.

Topics:

• Discussion on how the main character influences the other characters, and after 80 episodes and 18 manga we finally have the first appearance of a trans female character.
• Dialog bubbles from characters who are not visible in panel. And whom we never actually see make an appearance. James and Will are not to keen on this type of jarring storytelling in manga form.
• James talks about his favourite chapter, 'The Dignity of Middle Age'; where Shunju works with the assistants Yamada and Sakamoto, and often punctuates the chapter with his words…

"I'm middle aged and… (I'm very conciliatory, I totally get it, I speak my mind)

• James and Will take the time to reflect on the themes of the story and use it to talk about their relationship with their fathers as they pursued their own kind of dreams at one time in their lives.
• The good use of a pen name, in fact the famous singer Freddy Mercury's real name is Farrokh Bulsara, born in Zanzibar. Interestingly the famous horror author Stephen King has used the pen name Richard Bachman, who is also a fictional character created and played by Stephen King himself.

Other references:

• Kojima Yoshio is a japanese comedian.
• "Beta Nuri" a.k.a. "Spotting the blacks", this is one of the Jobs Shizuo has as an assistant whilst making Manga.
• Manju, one of the greatest inventions known to man, a vegan confection that goes well with tea. James highly recommends Matcha Manju.
• John Lennon, Imagine Chapter "Live to be 300"
• Errata (Japanese word for Error, meaning typo, spelling mistake)
• Shizuo's T-Shirts: God, Dobu, Rage (seen on teenage Shizuo), Festa (Possibly misspelling of Fiesta), Bravo, Publication, Revamp, Figure, Semi Pro

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James and will continue reading Shunju Aono's slice of life manga, reflecting on their own attitudes around women and their fathers. At the end of the episode, they review the conclusion to the Evangelion Rebuild movies 'Evangelion 3.0 +1.0: Thrice Upon a Time'. Beware of spoilers and sensitive subject matter! Skip the manga's plot synopsis @ 5:53

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080: I'll Give It My All… Tomorrow vol. 2

Chapters: 5 to 10 'Miracle' and 'Master'

with Bonus Chapters 'Back Then' parts 1 and 2

By Shunju Aono

Translation by Akemi Wegmuller

Lettering by Steven Rhyse

42-year-old Shizuo Oguro surmises that to become a successful manga he must make a cry from the heart; or as the French say a 'Cri De Coeur' and less of materialistic desire in his work. A manga that only he could draw. So, he makes an autobiography. And he gets rejected. He is also rejected again, when he makes a pass at a female editor.

Shizuo makes himself feel better by drinking with his long-time friend Miyata, but Miyata will not let Shizuo stay at his place following a disagreement with his father, deeming it inappropriate for two middle aged friends living together. Instead, the 26-year-old Shuichi Ichinosawa is the one who tolerates Shizuo as a house buddy.

Meanwhile, Ichinosawa dyes his hair, possibly due to peer pressure from his workplace peers. He witnesses one of his work colleagues bully the new guy, he punches the bully in the face then loses his job and speaks to Shizuo's dad who tells him that to fail is normal, and it is what everyone does. Because at the age of 45, Shizuo's dad set up an Izakaya and seemingly he was able to only make ends meet with it until it went bust after 20 years. Throughout these years Shizuo's dad would have been a widow, Shizuo was only 15 when she, Sakiko Oguro passed.

Later that night, the mention of Shizuo's mother is enough to make him return home to his dad.

In the bonus chapters, we see that Ichinosawa is paid a visit by his sister Yukako and we learn that the two of them have lost a father to suicide as teenagers.

Topics:

• Things we liked (kicked out of home humour)
• Things we did not like (Hard to tell who is speaking due to the layout of speech bubbles)
• Real Talk (Women rejecting creepy men and father troubles)
• Shizuo's list of shirts as they appear in order of this volume:

Homerun, Curse, Hawaii, Hijiki (edible seaweed), Rejected, Oguro Productions, 4649, 42, Ekke (possibly slang for daydreamer), Paris, Zico (Brazillian football coach), Pele (Brazillian footballer)

Other references:

Izakaya, a bar or tavern. Most common are the types where a red lantern is outside.

Yakitori Shiro, Yakitori is grilled chicken, the "Shiro", could stand for Shizuo's dad's name, as the food Shiro is really Ethiopian cuisine and not traditionally Japanese.

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Continuing with our season of manga about being a manga artist, we talk about the first volume of Shunju Aono's fictional story 'I'll Give It My All.. Tomorrow', (Orewamada Honkidashitenaidake). Where a 42 year-old Salaryman quits his job to become a successful manga artist. How delusional is such a man is something we will find out. Skip synopsis @ 5:08

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079: I'll Give It My all… Tomorrow vol. 1

By Shunju Aono

Translation by Akemi Wegmuller

Lettering by Steven Rhyse

Synopsis:

The middle aged Shizuo Oguro quits his fulltime job as a salary man to become a manga artist, or colloquially speaking a mangaka. Much to the malaise of his father and his teenage daughter, Suzuko, who he lives with. In between drawing manga and meeting publishers he works part time slinging burgers and serving fries.

Shizuo is an easily distracted man, he likes spending time drinking with his long-time friend Miyata and playing videogames at home, during one of his distractions he discovers that Suzuko is a sex worker, as a favour he asks her to leave and instead to focus on her exams. He is also quickly swayed by the influence of others, he'll do stunts on his bike when he sees kids are off school, simply to gain some semblance of glory. Shizuo will also project his insecurities onto Miyata and when he sleeps, he dreams of a person, presumably the voice of God if not Shizuo's subconscious, confronting Shizuo on his laziness.

When Shizuo meets the 26-year-old Shuichi Ichinosawa he finds inspiration to draw up a hard-boiled delinquent manga. In a bonus chapter we are also introduced to Yukiko, a young woman who struggles to find purpose and meaning in her life. And it seems that by befriending Shizuo it has in some ways saved her life.

Topics:

• Shunju Aono's humour, particularly Shizuo's dad crying when told his son wants to be mangaka. And walking in on Shizuo as he sees him dressed in school uniform.
• Shizuo's beliefs and tenants, how they are formed by the people around him. We see characters have fully formed beliefs in fiction all the time but it is a sign of a good writer when you can see how the character develops them and reflects the views of other characters if not project their views on to others. James compares the Shizuo character to Alita in Yukito Kishiro's Gunnm series; both characters have strong beliefs yet one is amnesiac.
• People who have found success later in life and the stakes of attempting to do so.
• Purpose and Meaning of Life.
• What the Shizuo character and the story tells us on a personal level and how it speaks to our own fears of growing old.

Other references:

• Aika – At the time of the manga's original published run she was a very popular real life Japanese singer and saxophone player that Suzuko listens to. Her music tends to be categorized under the pop genre with rock and jazz influence. Furthermore, in 2011, Aika released "Dancing Arrows" that was used as the official theme song/promotion song of the Hollywood movie "Ironclad" featuring Academy Award nominee and golden globe winner Paul Giamatti (Barney's Version, 12 years a slave), Brian Cox (Troy, X-men), Kate Mara (House of Cards), James Purefoy (The following). Aika also sings the theme song for the award-winning movie "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" featuring Tina Fey. Furthermore, Aika co-wrote the song "Save Your Life" for platinum artist Daniel Powter, featuring Ayaka Hirahara. Her latest release "Heard and Angel" debuted at Spotify "Best of Indie" playlist.

• Konowata, despite the name "Sea Cucumber", this is not a vegan food and is basically salty seafood.
• Apparently, Suzuko reads "Dazai", most likely a reference to the Japanese writer/author Osamu Dazai. His most famous work outside of Japan is 'No Longer Human', which has been adapted to manga form twice now by Usamaru Furuya and Junji Ito. Its fair to say that this has been an influence on Shunju Aono.­­­­

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James and Steven talk about Inio Asano's Downfall, a manga about a manga artist who is miserable with how their life has turned out. Can you be happy making a hit manga? Or is their a wrong way to do it? Throughout the episode we speak of mindfulness, sex work, artist block and depression, listener discretion is advised.

Skip synopsis @ 6:00

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078: Downfall

By Inio Asano

Translation by Jocelyne Allen

Lettering by Joanna Estep

Synopsis:

Ten years after breaking off a relationship, the Mangaka Kaoru Fukuzawa experiences his series coming to an end. On the night of celebration his wife and fellow manga editor Nozomi Machida, messages him that their home is occupied by a drunken friend. She advises him to kill time elsewhere so Kaoru spends the night crying into the lap of a sex worker. He is disenfranchised with his work; he dislikes manga that sells well, even if it is his own, and is saddened that his wife spends more time with what he deems to be inferior mangaka than himself. Struggling to find meaning in creating manga that sells well.

Soon he meets another sex worker, one with cat like eyes similar to his first love, ten years ago. She calls herself Chifuyu but when she is off the clock, he finds out that her name is really Yui. And Yui finds out that Kaoru is a Mangaka. On his way back home after spending the night as a legitimate couple he has a vision of being a family man, having a kid with Yui. But that night would end up being the last time He would see Yui. She doesn't respond to his messages and it's not long that he sees her listed as a sex worker again, trying to make some money. Kaoru is basically ghosted!

Battling loneliness by messaging fans on social media and paying for women's time is when tensions reach boiling point. Nozomi's cat gets cancer, Kaoru's ex-assistant, the young lady Tomita, confronts kaoru on his behaviour and Kaoru forces himself on Nozomi. Months go by when the divorced Kaoru is at his new book signing, he meets a young woman called Akari who confesses her gratitude for his manga and admits that it saved her life. The story ends with the lonely Kaoru still haunted by memories of that cat eyed girl.

Topics:

• How Kaoru's beliefs are formed? E.g. the superiority complex as a mangaka
• Inio Asano's depiction of women and his commendable nature of not sticking to the usual moe inspired glamour.
• Kaoru's sexuality, what is he doing wrong in his relationships?
• Depression and the love of Manga (How we relate to it, our thoughts and the idea of artist's block being a form of depression)

Other references:

• Golden Week is a set of Japanese public holidays that run through the first week of May. It is considered the peak of travel season for the Japanese. Hence why Yui spends it by visiting Italy.
• You maybe mistaken in believing that Kaoru is attending brothels but in reality, this is not possible. As with most places around the world, selling your body for sex is illegal. The legal loophole in Japan is that you can pay for an escort, which is a contract for the time spent with someone, sex is done consensually between two adults as a by-product of escort services. Japan does have the very common practice of "Love Hotels". Rooms that are rented out for "rest" between one-to-three-hour time periods. These rooms are specially designed for lovers, one nights stands and sadly extra-marital affairs. Privacy is also a thing that Love Hotels sell, so you may never see the staff at such places or you may only see one member of staff through your time there.
• How Japan's Secretive 'Soapland' Brothels Operate (vice.com)
• Guide to Stay Safe in Tokyo's Red Light District- Shinjuku Kabukicho | Japan Info (jpninfo.com)

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Not for the light hearted. You ever felt like you don't know how to grow up or that you just don't want to? This maybe a manga for you, a cautionary tale about the pride of youth and the depression of letting your dreams be your master, instead of mastering them! Inio Asano's Solanin.

077: Solanin

By Inio Asano

Translation by JN Productions

Lettering by Analiese Christman

English publication by Viz Media

Solanin tells the story of the unsatisfied Tokyoite Meiko Inoue, unhappy with her office job as a post-grad 20-year-old she quits, and with her savings spends a year so to find her passion. She lives with her boyfriend, Naruo Taneda. A part time graphic designer/illustrator who is also disillusioned by the adult working life and so quits his job to chase his dream of being in a successful rock band. Spurred on by Meiko he gathers his old band mates. His friends Rip and Kato. Rip works as a drugstore clerk who often helps an old man with Dementia find his way to the post box.

Kato is the boyfriend of Meiko's closest female friend Ai, Kato flirts with the ambitious rock chic Ayukawa, and this doesn't go unnoticed from Ai. In fact, Ai allows such behaviour from Kato, letting him have his fun whilst he is still young. Ai is confident that Kato will eventually settle down to mundanity and she'll be the one who is there for him.

When it comes to getting a contract, Taneda and friends are asked to be the band for a manufactured pop idol. Meiko speaks out for the group and refuses the offer. A crisis looms when Taneda realises, he is not going to be a successful rock musician any time soon, struggling to live up to his own pride, he walks out on Meiko. In his absence she listens to the band's CD, his song 'Solanin' makes an impression on her and she comes to terms that Taneda was singing about breaking up.

Luckily Meiko has the support of her friends and after sometime Taneda tries to make amends with her, he tells her that he got his old job back and is now working full time. One has to wonder Wherever Taneda is truly happy with his lot in life since on his way back to Meiko he runs through a red light. Looking at the clear blue sky, his last thoughts are of getting home to Meiko and singing her a love song.

Weeks eventually go by and Meiko gets a job at a flower shop, she can no longer live vicariously through Taneda or project her unsatisfied feelings onto him now that he has gone. But thanks to a visit from Taneda's father, Meiko is told that in order to have any meaningful role in such traumatic events, that it is best she takes the personal calling of proving that Taneda existed. Meiko then picks up Taneda's guitar and makes the decision to take Taneda's place in the band as the new lead. Through her practice she learns how to play Solanin and rediscovers that the song isn't about breaking up with someone, it's instead a song about the grief of transcendence and parting ways with your old self. Meiko performs Solanin to a live audience and she rocks it. Through the precious moments of peace, knowing that such times may not last, Meiko learns to forever cherish her friends. Knowing that there is true satisfaction in having them in her life.

Topics:

• The choice between chasing your dreams or settling down to a mundane life. The silver guitar and the golden guitar? Is there really such a choice or a deadline to making such a choice?
• Taneda's death.
• James mentions a line from Rudyard Kipling's "If…" a poem written for the author's son. The poem itself simultaneously takes inspiration from and gives tribute to the politician Leander Starr Jameson. The second verse reads as:

"If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim, If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same: If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;"

The Climax and final line of the Poem reads:

"Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, ⁠And—which is more—you'll be a Man, my son!"

• The Disney/Pixar movie 'Soul' was released in 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic it had a limited theatrical release and was released on Disney+ during the Christmas holidays of that year. The film deals with themes of determinism and the belief in having a calling or a specific purpose to one's life.
• Comparisons to the live action movie adaptation of Solanin.

If anyone feels that they or a friend/loved one needs counselling services there is always help. English speakers in the US can go here, there are also services within the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan. Alternatively you can listen at the end of this episode for some helplines that you can call. All information herein is accurate as of the time the episode was published.

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