Ashita no Joe and Tetsuya Chiba: God of Sports Comics.
Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 5:02 amIn March of 1970, over 700 people gathered at a somber funeral for a beloved personality. Held in the center of a boxing ring, in a ceremony overseen by a Buddhist priest, the mourners solemnly offered his spirit to the Heavens. But the funeral was not held for a beloved Japanese athlete, or even a real person. It was, in fact, being held for a recently deceased character for a popular boxing manga.....
Tetsuya Chiba, like many mangaka of his generation, began his career creating both flowery girls' comics (Leiji Matsumoto himself had to do this for almost 20 years), and creating pay-library manga books. These latter manga were graphic novels that were published specifically for the pay-libraries that sprung up around Japan. Tetsuya-san's usually revolved around ghost stories or period adventures. This changed however in the early sixties when he switched to boys' comics. He drew a baseball story, Chikaino Makyu, with scripter Kazuya Fukumoto. He also created war stories, such as Shidenkai no Taka , which was often anti-Nationalist in nature.
Then, in 1968, he co-created (with scribe Asa Takamori) the series that would seal his reputation as a legend in not just Japanese comics, but Japanese pop culture. That comic was the boxing manga, Ashita no Joe (translated in English as Tomorrow's Joe). It told the multi-layered story of Joe Yabuki, an impoverished Japanese youth who tries to make something of himself by becoming a boxer. After many trials and tribulations, and with the help of his trainer Danpei, he becomes a champion. This comic became a commercial and social phenomenon in Japan. Serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine until 1972, it was the most popular title of that magazine for it's entire run. An entire generation of Japanese young people closely followed the storyline of this comic, much in the same way we Americans follow Gray's Anatomy. When the popular character Rikiishi (who was Joe's rival) was accidentally killed during a match with Joe, the aforementioned funeral was held in his honor. This was a great example of just how important the story had become, as it symbolized to many the struggle of the new generation of Japanese youth.
However, it was absolutely DESPISED by both the establishment and right-wing, as they believed it attacked tradtional Japanese family values. This same protest would eventually be the death of the series, as Kodansha was eventually forced to end series. But Joe still managed to die an honourable and glorious death.
Since then, Tetsuya Chiba has done numerous other populer (though not as influential) sports manga for both boys and girls. These range in subjects from Baseball, to Tennis, to Football, to Golf, and even Sumo Wrestling. He's also done humurous comic strips, and stories in other genres. His entire ouvre, including his early shojo and pay-library comics, have been republished numerous times and are perennial best sellers.
Now, the reason I make this thread (or self-absorbed mini-essay, you be the judge) is for one simple reason. Like Ninja Bugeichou (which I've also mentioned on this forum), Ashita no Joe NEEDS to be translated into English. This manga is not just some vintage boy's comic, it's a historic document. It reflected a time in Japan when a new generation of Japanese youth were trying, come Hell or high water, to throw off the baggage of the old Japanese nation, and embrace a bright new future. Although the forces they opposed ended the series somewhat prematurely, it's influence was already achieved. That generation succeded....and perhaps, Joe's dream (which was the youth's dream), was realized.
In otherwords, I really really really really REALLY wanna read this friggin' comic!!!!
Tetsuya Chiba, like many mangaka of his generation, began his career creating both flowery girls' comics (Leiji Matsumoto himself had to do this for almost 20 years), and creating pay-library manga books. These latter manga were graphic novels that were published specifically for the pay-libraries that sprung up around Japan. Tetsuya-san's usually revolved around ghost stories or period adventures. This changed however in the early sixties when he switched to boys' comics. He drew a baseball story, Chikaino Makyu, with scripter Kazuya Fukumoto. He also created war stories, such as Shidenkai no Taka , which was often anti-Nationalist in nature.
Then, in 1968, he co-created (with scribe Asa Takamori) the series that would seal his reputation as a legend in not just Japanese comics, but Japanese pop culture. That comic was the boxing manga, Ashita no Joe (translated in English as Tomorrow's Joe). It told the multi-layered story of Joe Yabuki, an impoverished Japanese youth who tries to make something of himself by becoming a boxer. After many trials and tribulations, and with the help of his trainer Danpei, he becomes a champion. This comic became a commercial and social phenomenon in Japan. Serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine until 1972, it was the most popular title of that magazine for it's entire run. An entire generation of Japanese young people closely followed the storyline of this comic, much in the same way we Americans follow Gray's Anatomy. When the popular character Rikiishi (who was Joe's rival) was accidentally killed during a match with Joe, the aforementioned funeral was held in his honor. This was a great example of just how important the story had become, as it symbolized to many the struggle of the new generation of Japanese youth.
However, it was absolutely DESPISED by both the establishment and right-wing, as they believed it attacked tradtional Japanese family values. This same protest would eventually be the death of the series, as Kodansha was eventually forced to end series. But Joe still managed to die an honourable and glorious death.
Since then, Tetsuya Chiba has done numerous other populer (though not as influential) sports manga for both boys and girls. These range in subjects from Baseball, to Tennis, to Football, to Golf, and even Sumo Wrestling. He's also done humurous comic strips, and stories in other genres. His entire ouvre, including his early shojo and pay-library comics, have been republished numerous times and are perennial best sellers.
Now, the reason I make this thread (or self-absorbed mini-essay, you be the judge) is for one simple reason. Like Ninja Bugeichou (which I've also mentioned on this forum), Ashita no Joe NEEDS to be translated into English. This manga is not just some vintage boy's comic, it's a historic document. It reflected a time in Japan when a new generation of Japanese youth were trying, come Hell or high water, to throw off the baggage of the old Japanese nation, and embrace a bright new future. Although the forces they opposed ended the series somewhat prematurely, it's influence was already achieved. That generation succeded....and perhaps, Joe's dream (which was the youth's dream), was realized.
In otherwords, I really really really really REALLY wanna read this friggin' comic!!!!