Manga Open House

Sugamo prison cartoons - Cartoons by former Class C war-crimes prisoners Fujiki Fumio and Tobita Tokio; the most accomplished draftsmen of a five-person sanctioned art group at the American-run Sugamo Prison (Tokyo), ca 1945-52.

The popular American cartoon Blondie was translated to help Japanese learn English and American culture.

(Red book manga) Early postwar manga - Titles displayed:
• Miyamoto Musashi (Name of famous swordsman)
• Namida no Haha Koiuta (Love song of a crying mother)
• Manga no o-heya (Manga room)
Please contact the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum to access.

Hasegawa is considered to be the first professional female manga artist in Japan. She was mentored by Suihō Tagawa, the creator of the black dog soldier “Norakuro.”

This comic was one of the first published works by Toshiko Ueda. Ueda help shaped the development of Shojo manga and was one of the few female manga artists (mangaka) at a time when the field was dominated by men.

This original drawing by Tezuka Osamu was acquired by the Cartoon Research Library in 2001. Set during the post-World War II American Occupation of Japan (notice the Coca Cola sign in the shop window and the “Off Limits” sign on the fence), it is apparently unfinished. The character Tokichiro’s clothes have not been drawn in the top row.

Jinkō Taiyōkyū no Maki
(The Artificial Sun)

Atomu Taishi no Maki
(Ambassador Atom)

The Birth of Astro Boy

This exhibition catalog includes works by 108 Japanese artists on the theme, “My Favorite Astro Boy.”