Manga That Shakes Values and the Departing Manga Artists [Showa 100 Project]
The Showa era began in 1926, and this year, 2025, is exactlyShowa 100.
So, this is a project to look back on the theme of Showa 100!
Writers, let's share our articles using tags like #Showa100 #Showa100Project!
Now, the fourth theme is manga.
In the past, some of you might have had your parents forbid you from reading manga. Perhaps they thought it was harmful to your studies. Today, Japanese manga is loved all over the world; times have certainly changed.
By the way, the third theme was sweets.
The manga that shaped my personality
I will introduce long and short stories that symbolize each era.
1. Phoenix (Osamu Tezuka) / 1967–1988 (Showa 42–63)
A series of long-form sci-fi, historical, and mythological works centered on the immortal bird 'Phoenix,' set in various eras from ancient times to the future, exploring themes of life, reincarnation, and ethics.
A masterpiece by Osamu Tezuka that significantly expanded the expression and philosophy of Japanese manga.
Here are some long-form Showa manga.
This was the only manga in my elementary school. Moreover, it wasn't in the library, but apparently, it was a teacher's personal property. I wanted to read it so badly that I begged a teacher who wasn't even my homeroom teacher to let me read it after school. I suppose lending it out was a no-go because it might get lost or damaged.
I especially loved the Future and Space chapters, which helped form the sci-fi love that continues to this day.
For more details on Phoenix, look here.
2. The Cambyses' Lot (Fujiko F. Fujio) / 1977 (Showa 52)
A sci-fi short story by Fujiko F. Fujio set in the era of the ancient Persian King Cambyses II, revolving around a single lot that determines one's fate.
Blending historical background with sci-fi elements, it depicts a profound human drama and fatalism. A masterpiece that showcases a facet of Fujiko F. Fujio's diverse style.
Click here for Showa short-form manga
While "Minotaur's Plate" is more famous to the general public, I definitely prefer this one. The detached way it ends on the final page and the panel with the woman's nudity made a young boy's heart flutter.
3. Hajime no Ippo (George Morikawa) / 1989 (First year of Heisei) – Present
A sports manga that realistically depicts the growth and battles of Ippo Makunouchi, a young man aiming to become a world boxing champion from the back alleys. Highly acclaimed for its meticulous psychological and match depictions.
The drama of friendship, setbacks, and victory has been built up over a long period, gaining support from many generations.
Started in the first year of Heisei, right after the 64th year of Showa ended.
I thought about including it in the Showa long-form manga section, but I'll list it as a Heisei long-form manga.
A friend who was also bullied lent it to me. Since I was more on the bullied side myself, I could empathize with the story of a weak protagonist who becomes strong through effort and defeats his rivals after fierce battles. It's a fond memory of mine that I once injured myself badly by hitting a bookshelf while shadowboxing (practicing punches) in my room.
The peak was around the Mashiba fight in volume 10. I used to follow the Weekly Magazine every week because I wanted to read what happened next. It is a super long-running manga that still continues today with over 100 volumes.
4. Berserk (Kentaro Miura) / 1989 (First year of Heisei) – Present
A masterpiece of dark fantasy. It unfolds the fierce battles of the swordsman Guts, his betrayals, and his fight against mythical evil with dense depictions.
Possessing top-tier artistic skill and philosophical depth, it is highly acclaimed even though it remains unfinished.
This is my pick for a Heisei long-form manga.
The level of detail in every single drawing is so high you could mistake them for paintings. Because of that, the serialization was often on hiatus, new volumes never seemed to come out, and the story didn't progress at all. I was saddened that the author passed away just like that and I would never be able to read the rest.
However, it is a miracle that the staff continued to draw the story, and it is still being serialized today. I wonder if it will conclude while I am still alive.
The Band of the Hawk arc is especially the best.
5. ZNTV Tokyo Branch (Fumizuki Inoue) / Summer 2011 (23rd year of Heisei)
The grand prize winner of Kodansha's 'Monthly Afternoon' Newcomer Award/Four Seasons Award. A hard-boiled story depicting the conflict between society and humanity, set in a fictional news station after the destruction of Tokyo.
The news reporting scene is depicted realistically and with a social perspective based on the author's own experience.
From the short manga of the Heisei era, here is this one.
A blog post I wrote at the time I read this still remains.
18 years ago, Tokyo was reduced to ruins and sealed off due to a meteorite explosion. TV reporter Serizawa is transferred to that Tokyo branch, where he learns the reality of Tokyo, which has become a lawless zone but is still home to one million people...
It didn't win the grand prize because of the Great East Japan Earthquake. It is a rare work that seriously considers and confronts the questions: What is reporting? What is media? What does it mean to convey? I take my hat off to it, especially because it stands at the opposite pole from many manga that are consumed as mere entertainment.
With overwhelming storyboard power, it made me read all 179 pages in one go with great interest. Although there is some clumsiness in the details, the author clearly understands how to present a story. That ability is quite something. The setting itself shows a worldview I have never seen in manga before. I have high expectations for the future.
I cried when I read it for the selection process. And I cried again while doing the typesetting for this booklet. I think this work has that much power to touch the reader's heart. Of course, the manga technique is immature. But that is something that can be acquired from now on. I want to praise the fact that the author drew 179 pages and created such a drama. The desire to 'convey' that Mr. Inoue cultivated in his previous job should be fully demonstrated in the profession of a manga artist as well.
It was highly acclaimed in the editorial department as well. It is my personal number one among the many Four Seasons Grand Prize winners of the Heisei era.
The pity is that the author has not published a single work since then. Perhaps they burned out after writing this.
Thank you very much for this wonderful award. I used to work in the field of television news. The people involved are quite dedicated, but it is a job that is often criticized by the public. One of the reasons for the criticism is likely that we 'do not convey what should be conveyed.' I intended for this work to depict the conflict and pride of those who convey information, with that as the theme. I would be happy if you could stay with them until the end as they work at a TV station in a city of oblivion, facing what they face, fighting what they fight, and conveying what they convey.
Also, since this was a summer 2011 supplement to 'Monthly Afternoon Magazine', it is currently almostimpossible to read. You're lucky if you find it for sale on Mercari.
6. Darwin Incident (Shun Umezawa) / 2020 (Reiwa 2) - Ongoing serialization
A sci-fi work by Shun Umezawa that incorporates social conditions and satire. Based on the theory of evolution, it develops numerous storylines, sharply depicting human ego and the problems of future society.
It highlights the contradictions of modern society with innovative ideas and is currently being serialized.
From the long-form manga of the Reiwa era, here is this one.
There are animals that are kept alive and killed solely to be eaten by humans. I have heard that there are people called 'vegans' who have a belief that eating them is not right. In this story, the 'Animal Liberation Alliance (ALA),' which has even more extreme ideas, appears, advocating the principle that humans who eat meat are not to be forgiven and must be eliminated. That ALA actually causes a bombing terrorist attack in New York. This is the beginning of the story.
At the center of this manga is Charlie, a half-human, half-ape born from a chimpanzee mother and a human father. The art style is cute, but he is smarter than a human and stronger than a chimpanzee.
To the sensitive questions humans ask him, Charlie answers immediately without hesitation. His opinion, which is neither on the human side nor the animal side, teaches us readers a new way of looking at the world. For example, like, 'Why is it that only humans are not allowed to kill and eat?'
It is also good that it is set in the United States, a multi-ethnic nation. If this were in Japan, it would have been treated like Doraemon or a light novel and dismissed as a gag.
A large-scale manga that questions the values of all living things.Anime adaptation decided for 2026!
7. Look Back (Tatsuki Fujimoto) / 2021 (Reiwa 3)
A one-shot manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto of 'Chainsaw Man'. It candidly depicts the friendship and struggles of two girls aspiring to be manga artists, weaving together raw emotions and thoughts on creation.
A profound work reflecting the author's own experiences that became a major topic of conversation.
A representative short manga of the Reiwa era
I also went to see the movie adaptation. The scene where she goes to her friend's house, thinking she is the best at drawing manga, only to see piles of sketchbooks, left a strong impression.
It feels like you can see her inner thoughts: 'There's no way I can win if they've practiced drawing this much.'
Please also check out my reviews (covering 6 years) where I read and write about over 500 manga every year!
Manga artists who passed away after 2000
Last year, the passing of Hinako Ashihara due to the 'Sexy Tanaka-san' issue was major news. It was an incident that highlighted the TV station's system of viewing works only as commodities.
Why is it that anime adaptations of manga are welcomed, but live-action drama adaptations are often harshly criticized?
Yu-Gi-Oh, Dragon Ball, Golgo 13, Dokaben, Yamato—legendary manga artists of the Showa and Heisei eras are passing away one after another.
I want to see Conan and ONE PIECE through to their conclusions.
[Showa 100 Project] Please spread the word!
It doesn't have to be manga; any genre is fine.
Popular phrases, dramas, etc.
Or conversely, things that disappeared in an instant but sold explosively.
#Showa100 or #Showa100Project. Please post using these tags. I will go check them out!
Please also tell me about the manga and manga artists that remain in your heart.
See you later.
いいなと思ったら応援しよう！
よろしければ応援お願いします！ いただいたチップはクリエイターとしての活動費に使わせていただきます！