Shigeru Mizuki
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese manga author
, most known for his Japanese horror
manga GeGeGe no Kitaro (which was originally titled "Hakaba Kitaro"; see the article in question for details). A specialist in stories of yōkai
, he is considered a master of the genre. To a lesser but still notable degree, he is also known for his World War II
memoirs, as well as a writer and biographer.
, Mizuki was originally named Shigeru Mura (武良 茂 Mura Shigeru), the second of three sons. Described as a drifting, curious child, his earliest pursuits included copious amounts of drawing and hearing ghost stories from a local woman he nicknamed "Nononba".
However, in 1942, he was drafted into the Imperial Japanese Army
and sent to New Britain
Island in Papua New Guinea
. His wartime experiences affected him greatly, as he contracted malaria
, watched friends die from battle wounds and disease, and dealt with other horrors of war. Finally, in an Allied
air raid
, he was caught in an explosion and lost his left arm. While a prisoner of war
on Rabaul
, he was befriended by the local Tolai
tribespeople, who offered him land, a home, and citizenship via marriage to one of the local women. Mizuki acknowledged he considered remaining behind, but was shamed by a military doctor into returning home to Japan first to face his parents, which he did reluctantly.
Upon arriving home, Mizuki had initially planned to return to New Guinea; however, the Occupation of Japan
changed that. His injuries did little to help, nor did the fact that his older brother, an artillery officer, was convicted as a war criminal
for having prisoners of war executed. From his return until 1956 he worked as a movie theater operator until his break as a cartoonist.
In 1957, Mizuki released his debut work, Rocketman. Since then, he has published numerous works, both on yōkai and military works. He has also written many books on both subjects, including an autobiography about his time on New Britain Island and a manga biography on Adolf Hitler
. In 1991, he released a short work titled War and Japan published in The Sixth Grader, a popular edutainment
magazine for young people, detailing the atrocities committed by the Japanese Army during their rampage in China and Korea
and is narrated by Nezumi Otoko. The work serves as a powerful counterpoint to revisionist manga like the works of Yoshinori Kobayashi
and by extension a way for Mizuki to express his anger at those responsible for all of Japan's victims. When not working in either field, he paints a number of subjects, though these works are not as well-known as his literary ones which have made him a household name
.
In 2003, he returned to Rabaul to rekindle his friendship with the natives, who had named a road after him in his honor.
In 2005, Shigeru Mizuki appeared in a cameo role in Yōkai Daisenso ("The Great Yokai War") directed by Takashi Miike, a film about yōkai inspired by his work; several of his characters make cameo appearances. A brief explanation about his works also is mentioned in the film.
In 2010 NHK
broadcasted an asadora about his married life, Gegege no Nyobo
, based on his wife's autobiography
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese manga author
Mangaka
is the Japanese word for a comic artist or cartoonist. Outside of Japan, manga usually refers to a Japanese comic book and mangaka refers to the author of the manga, who is usually Japanese...
, most known for his Japanese horror
J-Horror
Japanese horror, or J-Horror, is Japanese horror fiction in popular culture, noted for its unique thematic and conventional treatment of the horror genre in light of western treatments...
manga GeGeGe no Kitaro (which was originally titled "Hakaba Kitaro"; see the article in question for details). A specialist in stories of yōkai
Yōkai
are a class of supernatural monsters in Japanese folklore. The word yōkai is made up of the kanji for "otherworldly" and "weird". Yōkai range eclectically from the malevolent to the mischievous, or occasionally bring good fortune to those who encounter them...
, he is considered a master of the genre. To a lesser but still notable degree, he is also known for his World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
memoirs, as well as a writer and biographer.
Life
Born in the coastal town of SakaiminatoSakaiminato, Tottori
is a city in the northern Tottori Prefecture, Japan. At the northern end of Yumigahama Peninsula, it faces the Sea of Japan, another sea Nakaumi and Sakai channel.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 35,710 and the density of 1,240 persons per km²...
, Mizuki was originally named Shigeru Mura (武良 茂 Mura Shigeru), the second of three sons. Described as a drifting, curious child, his earliest pursuits included copious amounts of drawing and hearing ghost stories from a local woman he nicknamed "Nononba".
However, in 1942, he was drafted into the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
and sent to New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
Island in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. His wartime experiences affected him greatly, as he contracted malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, watched friends die from battle wounds and disease, and dealt with other horrors of war. Finally, in an Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
air raid
Airstrike
An air strike is an attack on a specific objective by military aircraft during an offensive mission. Air strikes are commonly delivered from aircraft such as fighters, bombers, ground attack aircraft, attack helicopters, and others...
, he was caught in an explosion and lost his left arm. While a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
on Rabaul
Rabaul
Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air and the...
, he was befriended by the local Tolai
Tolai
The Tolai are the indigenous people of the Gazelle Peninsula and the Duke of York Islands of East New Britain in the New Guinea Islands region of Papua New Guinea...
tribespeople, who offered him land, a home, and citizenship via marriage to one of the local women. Mizuki acknowledged he considered remaining behind, but was shamed by a military doctor into returning home to Japan first to face his parents, which he did reluctantly.
Upon arriving home, Mizuki had initially planned to return to New Guinea; however, the Occupation of Japan
Occupied Japan
At the end of World War II, Japan was occupied by the Allied Powers, led by the United States with contributions also from Australia, India, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. This foreign presence marked the first time in its history that the island nation had been occupied by a foreign power...
changed that. His injuries did little to help, nor did the fact that his older brother, an artillery officer, was convicted as a war criminal
War crime
War crimes are serious violations of the laws applicable in armed conflict giving rise to individual criminal responsibility...
for having prisoners of war executed. From his return until 1956 he worked as a movie theater operator until his break as a cartoonist.
In 1957, Mizuki released his debut work, Rocketman. Since then, he has published numerous works, both on yōkai and military works. He has also written many books on both subjects, including an autobiography about his time on New Britain Island and a manga biography on Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. In 1991, he released a short work titled War and Japan published in The Sixth Grader, a popular edutainment
Edutainment
Edutainment is a form of entertainment designed to educate as well as to amuse.-Overview:...
magazine for young people, detailing the atrocities committed by the Japanese Army during their rampage in China and Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
and is narrated by Nezumi Otoko. The work serves as a powerful counterpoint to revisionist manga like the works of Yoshinori Kobayashi
Yoshinori Kobayashi
Yoshinori Kobayashi is a bestselling Japanese author and manga artist...
and by extension a way for Mizuki to express his anger at those responsible for all of Japan's victims. When not working in either field, he paints a number of subjects, though these works are not as well-known as his literary ones which have made him a household name
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
.
In 2003, he returned to Rabaul to rekindle his friendship with the natives, who had named a road after him in his honor.
In 2005, Shigeru Mizuki appeared in a cameo role in Yōkai Daisenso ("The Great Yokai War") directed by Takashi Miike, a film about yōkai inspired by his work; several of his characters make cameo appearances. A brief explanation about his works also is mentioned in the film.
In 2010 NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
broadcasted an asadora about his married life, Gegege no Nyobo
GeGeGe no Nyōbō
is a 2008 novel by Nunoe Mura, a wife of Shigeru Mizuki. It has been adapted into a film and a television series in 2010.-Cast:*Nao Matsushita *Osamu Mukai *Takumi Saito *Kazue Fukiishi *Kankurō Kudō -External links:...
, based on his wife's autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
.
Sakaiminato
Sakaiminato, the birthplace of Mizuki, has a street dedicated to the ghosts and monsters that appear in his stories. One hundred bronze statues of the story's characters line both sides of the road. There is also a museum.Awards
Mizuki has won numerous awards and accolades for his works, especially Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro. Among these are:- 1990 Received Kodansha Manga AwardKodansha Manga Awardis an annual award for serialized manga published in the previous year, sponsored by the publisher Kodansha. It is currently awarded in four categories: children's, shōnen, shōjo, and general. The awards began in 1977, initially with categories for shōnen and shōjo. The first award for the...
for Komikku Shōwa-ShiKomikku Shōwa-Shiis a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Shigeru Mizuki. Komikku Shōwa-shi received the 1989 Kodansha Manga Award for the general category....
. - 1991 Received Shiju Hōshō Decoration.
- 1995 For the 6th Annual Tokyo Peace Day, he was awarded with an exhibition of his paintings, entitled "Prayer for Peace: Shigeru Mizuki War Experience Painting Exhibition"
- 1996 Received Minister of Education Award.
- 1996 His hometown of Sakaiminato honored him with the Shigeru Mizuki Road, a street decorated with bronze statues of his Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro characters and other designs relating to his works.
- 2003 Received Kyokujitsu ShōOrder of the Rising SunThe is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
Decoration. - 2003 Sakaiminato honored him again with the Shigeru Mizuki International Cultural Center.
- 2003 Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Special Award for his works.
- 2007 Received the Best AlbumAngoulême International Comics Festival Prize for Best Comic BookThe Prize for Best Album , also known as the Golden Wildcat , is awarded to comics authors at the Angoulême International Comics Festival....
award for NonNonBā at the Angoulême International Comics FestivalAngoulême International Comics FestivalThe Angoulême International Comics Festival is the largest comics festival in Europe. It has occurred every year since 1974 in Angoulême, France, in the month of January.The four-day festival is notable for awarding several prestigious prizes in cartooning...
. - 2010 Received the Person of Cultural MeritPerson of Cultural Meritis an official Japanese recognition-honor which is awarded annually to select people who have made outstanding cultural contributions. This distinction is intended to play a role as a part of a system of support measures for the promotion of creative activities in Japan...
award.
Manga
- Hakaba Kitaro (later republished as Ge Ge Ge no KitaroGe Ge Ge no Kitarois a manga series created in 1959 by manga artist Shigeru Mizuki. It is best known for its popularization of the folklore creatures known as yōkai, a class of spirit-monster to which all of the main characters belong. It has been adapted for the screen several times, as anime, live action and video...
after the anime) - Akuma-kunAkuma-kunis a manga series written and illustrated by Shigeru Mizuki. Several versions of the manga exist, one of which was adapted into a live-action TV show, and another into a TV anime.All media pretaining to the series was never released outside of Japan....
- Yamato
- Hitler: A Biography
- Kappa no Sanpei
- The Miraculous Notebook (1973) A oneshot published in the magazine Comic Mystery about a notebook that killed whoever's name was written in it. Although rejected, the same idea was used in the smashhit manga Death NoteDeath Noteis a manga created by writer Tsugumi Ohba and manga artist Takeshi Obata. The main character is Light Yagami, a high school student who discovers a supernatural notebook, the "Death Note", dropped on Earth by a god of death, or a shinigami, named Ryuk...
by Tsugumi OhbaTsugumi Ohbais a writer best known for the manga Death Note. His real identity is a closely guarded secret. As stated by the profile placed at the beginning of each Death Note manga, Ohba collects teacups and develops manga plots while holding his knees on a chair, similar to a habit of L, one of the main...
and Takeshi ObataTakeshi Obatais a Japanese manga artist. He works as the artist in collaboration with a writer. He has also mentored several manga artists, including Kentaro Yabuki of Black Cat fame, Nobuhiro Watsuki of Rurouni Kenshin and Busou Renkin, and Yusuke Murata of Eyeshield 21.He originally became noticed in 1985...
. Although this fact was a coincidence, Ohba and Obata went on to refer to the oneshot in the Death Note pilot chapter, which can be found in volume 13.
Books
- Mizuki, Shigeru. "Mizuki Shigeru no Nihon Yōkai Meguri 水木茂るしげるの日本妖怪めぐり trans. Shigeru Mizuki's Ghosts and Demons.
- Rabauru Senki (Memories of Rabaul)
- Mizuki, Shigeru. "Graphic World of Japanese Phantoms". 講談社, 1985. ISBN 978-4-06-202381-8 (4-06-202381-4)