An essay revealing Osamu Tezuka's thoughts on "Manga Shonen" (Gakudosha)
I have written on my blog before about
Osamu Tezuka's feelings toward "Manga Shonen" and
its founder, Kenichi Kato.
This time, I would like to introduce a piece written by Tezuka.
It is the "Inaugural Message" written for the monthly magazine "COM,"
which was published by Mushi Pro Shoji,
the publishing division of Osamu Tezuka's company, Mushi Production.
The magazine was launched in December 1966 (Showa 41).
Now, I will introduce the inaugural message.
COM—it is an abbreviation for COMICS (manga).
COM—it is an abbreviation for COMPANION (friends/peers).
And it is an abbreviation for COMMUNICATION (conveying/reporting).
In other words, for friends who love manga,
to convey the true hearts of manga artists,
a new comic magazine
—with that in mind, we
decided on the title "COM" for this magazine.
It is said that we are now in the golden age of manga.
But, in terms of quality, how many truly excellent
works are actually being published?
Is it not the reality that many manga artists
are buried in their work, yielding, following,
and compromising before the demands of
harsh commercialism?
In this magazine, I would like to
demonstrate in my own way what
true story manga is really like.
I intend to show this.
At the same time, 'COM', which I hope to
use as a gateway for new talent, just like
'Manga Shonen' once was, is a magazine
for friends who love manga.
In that sense, I would like to ask all of you
readers to cherish the monthly magazine
'COM'.
December 1, 1966 - Osamu Tezuka
The term 'Manga Shonen' appears in the text.
And, just as Fujiko Fujio and Shotaro Ishinomori grew up
from the submission corner of 'Manga Shonen',
I hope this magazine will serve the same purpose.
They established a corner to solicit
submitted works called "Gura-Kon".
Since the bankruptcy of Gakudosha, the publisher of "Manga Shonen," occurred in 1955,
it was 11 years later.
Hiroo Terada paid tribute to "Manga Shonen" by
self-publishing "A History of 'Manga Shonen'"
in 1981.
Hiroo Terada's affection for "Manga Shonen"
is often discussed,
but Osamu Tezuka also expressed his own feelings in his magazine.