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SHOWA: A HISTORY OF JAPAN
1926-1939
SHICERU MIZUKI

TRANSLATION BY
ZACK DAVISSON
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 ALSO BY SHIGERU MIZUKI

Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths (2011)

NonNonBa (2012)

Kitaro (2013)

Story and art © copyright 2013 Shigeru Mizuki/Mizuki Productions. Translation © copyright
2013 Zack Davisson. Forward © copyright 2013 Frederik L. Schodt. Afterword © copyright 2013
Hideki Ozaki. Relevant Facts © copyright 2013 Shigeru Mizuki. This edition © copyright 2013
Drawn & Quarterly. All rights reserved. No part of this book (except small portions for review
purposes) may be reproduced in any form without written permission from Shigeru Mizuki/
Mizuki Productions or Drawn & Quarterly. Production assistance: Malcolm Macrae-Gibson.
Font design: Kevin Huizenga.

Drawn & Quarterly gratefully acknowledges Presspop Inc. and Maki Hakui for their invaluable
assistance with the publication of this book.

www.drawnandquarterly.com

First paperback edition: November 2013. Printed in Canada.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication: Mizuki, Shigeru, 1922—[Komikku

Showa-shi. English]. Showa, 1926-1939: A History of Japan / Shigeru Mizuki; translator, Zack
Davisson. Translation of: Komikku Showa-shi. ISBN 978-1-77046-135-2 (pbk.). 1. Japan—
History—1926—1945—Comic books, strips, etc. 2. Japan—Social life and customs—1912—1945—
Comic books, strips, etc. 3. Graphic novels. |. Davisson, Zack, translator II. Title. Ill. Title:
Komikku Showa-shi. English. DS888.5.M5913 2013. 952.033. C2013-902361-5.

Published in the USA by Drawn & Quarterly, a client publisher of Farrar, Straus and Giroux;
Orders: 888.330.8477. Published in Canada by Drawn & Quarterly, a client publisher of Raincoast
Books; Orders: 800.663.5714. Published in the United Kingdom by Drawn & Quarterly, a client
publisher of Publishers Group UK; Orders: [email protected].
 i

SHIGERU MIZUKI’S SHOWA 1926-1939: 4

A HISTORY OF JAPAN FREDERIK L. SCHODT

Showa may be a new term to some, but not to Japanese citizens. Written with the characters
representing “‘bright” or “clear” and “harmony” or “peace,” it refers to an imperial era—that of
the reign of the late Emperor Hirohito, which lasted from 1926 to 1989. In most official documents
and many publications, dates in Japan are still indicated with era names, not just the year of the
Western, or Christian, calendar. Anyone born in 1988, for example, knows and often refers to
their birth year as the sixty-third year of Showa.
There have been only four eras since the collapse of Japan’s feudal government and the res-
toration of imperial rule in 1867—Meiji, Taisho, Showa, and the current Heisei. Meiji (1868-1912)
saw the remarkable transformation of Japan from an isolated, feudal nation of sword-carrying
samurai, peasants, craftsmen, and merchants, to a rapidly modernizing state with a constitu-
tion. The short-lived Taisho era (1912-1926), presided over by an emperor of diminished mental
faculties, saw a brief flowering of democracy. The current Heisei era has thus far been mainly
characterized by the bursting of an economic bubble and long-term malaise. But the long
Showa era (1926-1989) was arguably the most tumultuous, violent, and tragic of them all, with
only brief moments of optimism.
Like the term Showa, nearly everyone in Japan today has heard of Shigeru Mizuki, but not
because of his writings about history. He is most famous for his manga work (and research)
related to yokai, or Japanese supernatural beings such as ghosts, goblins, and monsters. And
he is especially known for his Kitaro series—a blockbuster multi-edition hit in both manga and
anime form (the manga version published in English in 2013 by Drawn & Quarterly). In fact, one
could even make the argument that Mizuki, more than anyone else in Japan, has helped reintro-
duce modern Japanese culture to their own supernatural heritage, and helped rejigger the entire
national concept of what yokai are—to make them simultaneously weird, odd, creepy, but also
somehow cute. A train line is named after Mizuki’s yokai characters and decorated with their im-
ages. His hometown, in Sakaiminato, has a street named Mizuki Road, lined with over a hundred
bronze statues of his yokai characters, a Mizuki museum, stores selling Mizuki- and yokai-
themed trinkets, and a bronze statue of Mizuki admonishing the world to “Be Lazy.” In recent
years, television viewers in Japan have also been treated to two wildly popular live-action series
about Mizuki—one about him and his wife, another about NonNonBa, the old woman who helped
raise him. Less well known are Mizuki's early war stories, such as Soin Gyokusai Seyo (Onward
Towards Our Noble Deaths in the Drawn & Quarterly English version), but it is here that we can
see his talent for dramatized history. These war stories stand completely apart from Mizuki's
yokai genre of supernatural tales, and are noted for their gut-wrenching realism and brutal
honesty, made all the more powerful by Mizuki’s own experiences.
It might at first seem odd that a manga artist would create what, | believe, is one of the best
histories—of any sort—on Japan's Showa period. But Shigeru Mizuki is a man with an extraordi-
nary background and many mysterious talents. The result is a record of an era that is personal,
broad-based, accurate within its defined scope, and entertaining. At the time of this writing,
Mizuki is ninety-one years old. He was born Shigeru Mura in 1922, or the eleventh year of the
Taisho era, but he reached childhood awareness when the long Showa era began, and he finished
sane
 i)

that it was not first serialized in a magazine, but published as a series of books. For this Drawn &
Quarterly edition, Mizuki’s series is being recompiled as four hefty volumes, so the first volume
takes us from the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 all the way up to 1939.
Most non-Japanese, | suspect, may at first find the unfamiliar place and personal names and
descriptions of unfamiliar events a bit overwhelming. But as a rhythm in reading is established,
the rewards are great. Among younger generations today, World War Il may sometimes be
thought of as something that occurred almost in a vacuum. Young Americans, in particular, may
think that it started with Japanese raids on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and ended with atomic
bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. In either case, in this first volume of Mizuki's
Showa series, we are given a rare Japanese view of the train of events that led up to the war, and
shown what it meant for ordinary citizens—and especially for Shigeru Mizuki—to be dragged
deeper and deeper into a world of no escape. Drawn & Quarterly is to be commended for making
this manga masterpiece finally available, in English, for an international audience.

Frederik L. Schodt is an award-winning author of numerous non-fiction books on japan, and a

well-known translator. In 2009, he received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette,
for his work. His latest book is Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe: How an American
Acrobat Introduced Circus to Japan—and Japan to the West (Stone Bridge Press, 2012).
 the Showa manga series right around the time it ended. As he says in his afterword, he consid-
ers himself a true Showa person. This fact alone gives him an ideal vantage point from which to
author a history of his time, but he is qualified for other reasons, too.
Mizuki is from the port town of Sakaiminato, on the west coast of Japan, directly across from
Korea. In Japan today, nearly a third of the nation’s population lives in greater Tokyo, and this
occasionally tends to create a Tokyo-centric, almost monocultural world-view among Japan's
intellectuals. The western seaboard of Japan is sometimes perceived as a backward and dreary
place, though tourist pamphlets advertise the area as being the “homeland of the gods” for its
rich religious and folk traditions. It is a locale that sparked Mizuki's interest in yokai and contin-
ues to ground his work, but it also provides him with a different view of Japan’s modern history;
it allows him to be more detached, and—even though he was living in greater Tokyo at the time
of this writing—to see things from a non-Tokyo perspective.
The first twenty years of the Showa period were characterized by the long lead-up to World War II
and the disaster that followed. But here, too, Mizuki’s own harrowing war experiences give
him another perspective. In fact, one of the striking things about Mizuki’s view of this period,
and indeed of all humanity, is that he is able to retain a special detachment and objectivity.
He is not afraid to tell how an entire nation became first delirious with war fever, and afterward
disillusioned with not only war, but nationalism itself. He never puts himself on a pedestal for
emulation, or assumes an air of moral superiority. He is, he would probably be the first to admit, _
profoundly human and therefore inherently flawed, just like everyone else.
With this series, Mizuki has created something that is distinguished not only by its content,
but also by its structure: it is really two parallel histories, unfolding simultaneously in utterly
different formats. The first history is that of the Showa era itself. The second is that of Mizuki,
a boy and a man during the Showa era. For Japanese readers, one suspects that the first his-
tory may seem almost like reading a school textbook, for it consists of largely recognized facts
presented in a relatively orthodox fashion. The artwork is dispassionate. Drawings are highly
realistic. Iconic photographs from Japan’s recent past—hand-traced or rendered in super-high
contrast—are frequently used, along with text explanations of events. Important names, places,
battles, and facts are often footnoted, and in the original Japanese edition of the series, each
volume contains a valuable list of reference works. It is a quasi-academic approach, requiring
enormous labor and organizational skills on the part of Mizuki (and his assistants), but in this
case the manga format proves to be a very effective communication tool. Many young Japanese
might find some parts of Mizuki’s history redundant, but they would do well to read it anyway—
either because Japan's education system glosses over critical aspects of it, or because they were
asleep during class.
The second unfolding parallel history is that of Mizuki himself. And this is the part that |
suspect is the most compelling and novel for readers, even though it, too, may take some get-
ting used to. The artwork is loose and “cartoony.” Non-japanese manga otaku fans expecting
something rendered in a more currently popular “cute” style will be disappointed. At times the
contrast between the drawings in the orthodox history and the more personal history, or be-
tween the realistic backgrounds and cartoonish foregrounds, may even seem a bit jarring. And
Mizuki's characters always have a slightly dislocated and disheveled look to them, a weirdness
that is simultaneously compelling and reassuring. Yet it is ultimately the personal nature of the
drawings that pulls us in. We see Mizuki himself, developing as a full human with flaws and all,
sucked into the vortex of a violent history, and we are fascinated.
The artistic bridge between the orthodox and personal histories is an odd-ball interlocutor—
one of Mizuki’s most famous characters from his yokai stories, known as Nezumi Otoko, or “Rat
Man.” Nezumi Otoko is a half-human, half-yokai trickster with a weird grin, perfectly qualified to
lead readers through the chaos, absurdity, and madness of a large part of Showa history.
In Japan, Mizuki's Showa was first published as an eight volume series by Kodansha in 1988,
and it went on to win the thirteenth Kodansha Manga Award for 1989, the year the Showa em-
peror died. It was reissued in bunkoban, or small-size paperback, format in 1994, with a new
addendum anda postscript by Mizuki. For a Japanese manga series of this sort, it was unusual in
 TRUTHFULLY, THE HISTORY OF
THE SHOWA PERIOD BEGINS WITH THE
GREAT KANTO EARTHQUAKE.
 vent
‘\ \ i

} ili
Mil IN
tH

Ail
NinIih
HNN iy
My!
 Yj ve, 6 og viv

Wy —~ : ian
a Ny
My
| ih
: ( Va (iy

wy . Nae
wi 1:58 Am. *' mA,
Cay A

WA sertemeer 1,
1923: A MAGNITUDE ay
79 EARTHQUAKE RENDS 4,
THE KANTO PLAIN.* THe *¥
EPICENTER LIES UNDER
SAGAMI BAY. Age

BUILDINGS COLLAPSE
a ak Eee INTO RUBBLE FROM
Me hee KANAGAWA PREFECTURE
r% ye ato === ~S~«* TO TOKYO, THE CAPITAL
pcan MR OF JAPAN. ANI INFERNO
ji | a A eects BLAZES. THE SCENE
' ey I$ ONE OF UTTER
DEVASTATION.

ths AN
\ wi
*ALL DATES ARE RECORDED BASED ON LOCAL TIME iN TAPAN.

14
 KOGECHA
COMMERCIAL HAS
DEFAULTED.

ALL THESE sia

DEFAULTING {——4
AND AMACHA
LOANS...WELL i |. ==> INDUSTRIES!
BE RUINED! =

SIR, THIS IS SPREADING

WHAT WILL BEYOND BUSINESSES HIT BY THE
WE 00...2 EARTHQUAKE. ALL FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS ARE
IN DANGER.

Ly
) We $ ; : ; & pee
ITUMATTURCIC AN PSS ESS SSOR MMIIoe" \\Y Al

SEPTEMBER 7: THE GOVERNMENT

ISSUES A THIRTY-DAY MORATORIUM
ON PAYMENT OF DEBT.*
LTT STOTT : "i afi
1 ae ny
Lay AWww on
‘NG A
ay

ae
q I

¥SEE NOTES PAGE 52.

17
 IN TOKYO ALONE,
CASUALTIES NUMBER
130,000, WITH 570,000
HOUSES DESTROYED.
ECONOMIC LOSSES RISE z=
TO @5 BILLION YEN—
THE MODERN EQUIVALENT
OF 2-3 TRILLION YEN.*

THE GREAT KANTO

EARTHQUAKE IS ONLY THE
BEGINNING. AFTER TAREE
le _ oh a MONTHS, JAPAN SINKS
i INTO THE SHOWA
FINANCIAL CRISIS.

i EE
} at “BA
*\N 1927, ¥1.00 WAS APPROXIMATELY EQUALT0$0.

16
 THE FEDERAL BANK i a" a |
Iki WHAT IS THIS
OF JAPAN IS BUYING UP il :“DISCOUNTED DISASTER
EARTHQUAKE LOANS AND | RELIEF ACT?2
GUARANTEEING THEM.*
y,
bi
| Va\

YK
No)
\ :
EN
: |
se \

WE HAVE SOME
OUTSTANDING
LOANS FROM
BEFORE THE
EARTH-

(i ve
sa!i5)
CS ONT sk
1% om So
oy MN eeSe
PBX OAN BASSOON

|I |
THAT WOULD il IF WE JUST SLIP
SAVE US. SMART j THOSE IN ALONG WITH
THINKING, SIR... : | | OUR EARTHQUAKE

SSS
oSS$26
RSS
\
O
xs ~o ae
oe
Kos
cSee

ABOUT 200 MILLION YEN

IS LOST SETTLING THESE
FALSE CLAIMS.

RY
XS

(i

lid

19
ONLY FOR THIRTY DAYS. AND ti tiv 4 :\) Willy == THE moRATORIUM
THEN WHAT? "Bb A 4b ire SHOULD HELP,
ITS RISKY. Y,

WE HAVE TO WERE TALKING

LOOK OUT FOR ABOUT 500 MILLION
OURSELVES. YEN IN EARTHQUAKE
LOANS.

%XN KD
Bratre NW

THE GOVERNMEN
ANNOUNCES AN
IMPERIAL EDICT—
THE DISCOUNTED
DISASTER
RELIEF ACT.*
 AS OPPOSING
TOKYO WATANABE BANK* PARLIAMENT MEMBERS
WENT BANKRUPT THIS CLOSE IN, MINISTER
MORNING. OF FINANCE NAOHARU
KATAOKA* CALMLY
ANSWERS...

SSS
CK

THIS
OOWWAS
LES
MISINFORMATION
CAUSES A RUN ON
THE BANKS.

GET YOUR MONEY

f aS
|
NOW OR YOU WON'T GET IT
AT ALL! THE BANKS
lee ARE FAILING!
i|\

WSS
SSS
SSS
SISS

21
 BUT IT IS A TEMPORARY FIX.
THIS “CANCER IN THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY” CONTINUES
UNCHECKED, AND THE
POPULATION IS BECOMING
UNEASY.

THREE AND A HALF YEARS

PASS. IN MARCH 1927, THINGS
COME TO A HEAD WHEN THE
MINISTER OF FINANCE
MAKES A BLUNDER.

MARCH 14: AT THE HOUSE

OF REPRESENTATIVES’
BUDGET COMMITTEE...

NAME THESE
INSOLVENT BANKS!

20
 == w == 2 oS (=)uw uw= < = o w wn<=CS = x=&
WENT BANKRUP T. WATANABE
BANK SAYS THEY DIDN T.

JUST BECAUSE
THEY’ RE HAVING A LITTLE
OF A SLIP-UP. TROUBLE, DOESN T MEAN?

THEY’ RE FINISHED.

Bw
—
SOY

Hilo
Ea
5 JAPAN IS
IN CHAOS!!

TT Ua

23
 IN RESPONSE TO
THE RUN, MANY
BANKS SUSPEND
BUSINESS.

pes Ts
gaatisGCYND
=

do
yh)

“fe.
ie
SS

WITH THE BANKS

CLOSED, HOW DOEY2WE
GET OUR MON

IF THE BANKS
GO BANKRUPT,
IT'S OVER!

IS THIS
EVER GOING
TO END?!

THEY HAVE
EVERYTHING WE OWN! :
WE MIGHT AS WELL (|
KILL OURSELVES! \

22
 SUZUKI SHOTEN IS A HUGE
1 BLAME THE MANAGEMENT | COMEARTY HEP RANTES
AS MUCH AS THE EARTHQUAKE. ALMOST ALL OF TAIWAN'S
PRODUCTION.

AND WITH SUZUKI SHOTEN’S CLOSE

TIES TO THE BANK OF TAIWAN,*
THIS IS A PRECARIOUS POSITION.

T HEAR THE GOVERNMENT AND Yy

THE BANK OF JAPAN LOANED THEM Me THE BANK OF TAIWAN BACKS
700 MILLION YEN AS A STOPGAP. y PRODUCTION FOR THE ENTIRE COLONY.
y WE CAN’T ALLOW THEM
TO GO BANKRUPT.

ANY MORE 1
BANKRUPTCIES THAT'S
AND THIS WILL
GET UGLY.

NCHATTL
Wott
eyi) ——
\ iii! i
AMT (NI A
FSEE NOTES PAGE 52I.
25
 BY THE TIME THINGS
CALM DOWN, NEAR THE
END OF MARCH, SEVERAL
BANKS HAVE GONE
UNDER.

THEN THE
SUZUKI SHOTEN
TRADING HOUSE* GOES
BANKRUPT AND SENDS
A SECOND WAVE
CRASHING DOWN!

KATAOKA’S wh \

ERROR IS A MAJOR (i Cr
CATALYST FOR THE AK re
FINANCIAL CRISIS
AND DESTROYS
HIS REPUTATION.

SUZUKI SHOTEN HAS

GONE BANKRUPT.

INS

\ pA
r\
OMCO TT

*SEE NOTES PAGE 521.

24
 yi!WA
Wal
Ha|

NaN i
TAA i
 BY THE MIDDLE OF MA Y,
THE FINANCIAL CRISIS
WIPES OUT MOST OF
THE SMALLER BANKS.

SIGN: INSTITUTIONAL BANK.

THE REMAINING BANKS

oewDj=}oea>)< =|]us w x = o = Lsoe(a>)uN)

26
MY HEAD WAS FULL
OF THINGS LIKE THIS, A
BUT I DIDN'T START | CAN'T EAT WOOD.
TALKING UNTIL 1 TASTES BAD.
I WAS FOUR 3 ida
YEARS OLD.

WE HAD A FLAG
WE PUT UP FOR
HOLIDAYS.

TWAS
OBSESSED.

ANO I FOUND f : ONE DAY I

MY COVETED eee . = WAS PLAYING
GOLDEN | PReSaSte Ni meena. ee OUTSIDE...
BALL. | ie Z :

29
THAD AN OLDER AND A TWAS BORN IN SAKAIMINATO
YOUNGER BROTHER. I CITY,* TOTTORI PREFECTURE, ON
WAS TWO YEARS APART MARCH 8, 1922, JUST BEFORE ALL
FROM EACH. THIS TROUBLE GOT STARTED.

4M MY STOMACH HAS
e he |2) e ALWAYS BEEN A TANK.
CAN'T st TERE" §—sTHERE ARE FEW LIMITS
EAT ROCKS. “gi * eile. TO WHAT I CAN EAT, AND
TOO MARY. Senay AS A BOY, I FREQUENTLY
-G ; TESTED THESE LIMITS.

28
 AS SOON AS I
FINISHED, 1 FELT
WO0ZY AND
COLLAPSED.

LUCKILY,
NONNONBA*
CAME BY AND
SAVED ME.

XS |

*A GRANDMOTHER FIGURE IN SHIGERU MIZUKI’S LIFE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE NOTES PAGE 521.
=

31
THE “GOLDEN
BALL” WAS SS | be} ; is a W)
JUST PAINTED 7 A me Y/(UN

I HAD WANTED TO EAT

IT FOR SO LONG, SOT
SCRAPED OFF ALL THE
GOLD WITH MY TEETH
AND SUCKED IT DOWN.

3°
 ? REALISTICALLY, ONLY THE
MIDDLE-CLASS AND CITY-
DWELLERS ENJOY THIS
NEWFOUND EASE.

BUT THAT DION’T STOP

MY FATHER FROM
HAVING THE TIME
OF HIS LIFE.

HE WAS A
RARE MAN.

HE WAS THE FIRST IN

OUR VILLAGE TO GO TO
COLLEGE. BUT HE SPENT
AS MUCH TIME AT THE
THEATER AS HE VID AT
WASEDA UNIVERSITY.

33
 THE TAISHO ERA IS BRIEF,
LASTING ONLY TWENTY-FIVE
YEARS. THE PERIOD IS
REMEMBERED AS THE
TAISHO DEMOCRACY.*

BUILDING OFF
THE MODERN
JAPAN FORGED
IN THE MEITI
PERIOD,
CULTURE
BLOSSOMS
IN THE
CAREFREE

FSAPAN’S EQUIVALENT TO THE ROARING ‘20S. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE NOTES PAGE 521.
32
 Lae ers. IN THE CLOSING
MOTION g ; ANH YEARS OF TAISHO,
PICTURES % pe a aris SHINGEKI, OR NEW
ALSO \
‘th\\\ TAWA
MQ i
: bf := DRAMA, SWEEPS
FLOURISH. SWAN: cer. THE TSUKIJI
Wh \ \ Va a SMALL STAGE.

SLY,
0
20

>

id
35
 1913: HOGETSU
SHIMAMURA* AND
SUMAKO MATSUI
FOUND THE
-GEIJUTSU-ZA
THEATER TROUPE,
“HN

MN

1917: SHOIRO | i Wy, THE FOLLOWING YEAR,

SAWADA* FOUNDS | ah THE TAKARAZUKA
THE SHINKOKUGEKI ny eal Wil REVUE GIRLS”
THEATER qr na OPERA OPENS.
MOVEMENT.

¥SEE NOTES PAGE 52I.

34
 FATHER ALSO LIKED LITERATURE.
TODAY TLL READ
YOU A FAIRY TALE...

oI THE STORY
COOL! A PICTURE = I ic OF ALADDIN.
OF THE DESERT!

BE CAREFUL,
YOU'LL TEAR
THE BOOK.

37
 HE ESPECIALLY
LOVED KABUKI.

OUR HOUSE WAS

FILLED WITH BOOKS
ON THEATER
AND FILM,

I COULDN'T READ THE WORDS,

BUT I LOOKED AT THOSE
BOOKS EVERY DAY.
KINEMA

36
 ON THAT DAY, CROWN
PRINCE HIROHITO ASSUMES
THE IMPERIAL THRONE,
USHERING IN THE
SHOWA ERA.

SIGN: LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR,

AFTER JUST ONE
WEEK, SHOWA FIRST*
IS OVER. IT BECOMES
SHOWA SECOND WITH
THE NEW YEAR.

*SEE NOTES PAGE 522.

39
DECEMBER
25, 192@.

THE TAISHO EMPEROR

i ae PASSES AWAY AFTER
ma iat f A LONG ILLNESS.
S35)fe.

38
 IT WANT TO SHOW
YOU SOMETHING

FLOWERS
IN THE
SAND!!

AY
WY
G \
Kl
ae

NONNONBA
HAD ARRANGED
FLOWERS ON THE
BEACH. I THINK IT
WAS THE BUDDHA'S
BIRTHDAY OR
SOMETHING.

G1
 ia

Le“all
ST
ia
i
SA ) }

FOR SOME REASON,

I THOUGHT BOATS
We tae WENT DP. THE eee
s- MOUNTAINS
AT NIGHT," 4,
apr sont le]

THAT WEIRD WORLD OF MINE

WAS A LOT OF FUN.

40
 |
| i
1 BET HE'S
J vy
4M aaa |]

GOING TO GET Mf it(ft i ft

LOST AGAIN.

om LY
Di Sanu

DON’T BOTHER, GRAN.

YOU JUST CAN’T STOP
THAT BOY.

NO WAY!

43
 I NEVER TOLD HER,
BUT AS THE MORNING
SUNLIGHT TWINKLED IN
THE SAND, IT WAS SO
» BEAUTIFUL THAT I FELT
LIKE T WAS IN A
FAIRY TALE.

THERE WERE ALWAYS

PEOPLE IN TOWN.
T WONDER WHERE
EVERYONE'S
GOING?

MAYBE THEY’RE OFF TO

SOME MYSTERIOUS PLACE.

G2
 |
bli

| Hee
TD FOLLOW =f

i,
T LIKED TO TRAIL
THEM ANY- f see wh AFTER ADULTS.

il
\

I OFTEN GOT LOST,

Tm FROM BUT SOMEONE
SAKAI! ALWAYS
HELPED
Me.

Wl i

uu daU Nt Ns, a Mi
Htc hl
CCE

eA
Wa \
AN \i\ J

44
 a

THE GOVERNMENT
RESPONDS TO THE SUDDEN
RISE OF LABOR GROUPS AND
UNION ORGANIZATIONS
BY TIGHTENING ITS
OPPRESSIVE GRIP.

TRIKE, STUDY HALL.

aah HH
ti ee ete |

Ati! \)|
MEANWHILE,
ii | LIFE IN THE
CITIES GROWS

Vy ‘a:
EVER MORE
DECADENT.

47
 JULY 1927: RYUNOSUKE
AKUTAGAWA* COMMITS
SUICIDE. HE WAS THIRTY-
FIVE YEARS OLD. HIS
SUICIDE NOTE BLAMES A
“VAGUE INSECURITY
ABOUT THE FUTURE.”

BUT AKUTAGAWA’S og 2e THEY SAY SHOWA

PASSING TRULY FEELS pase (og BEGAN WITH THE
LIKE THE END ae \ FINANCIAL CRISIS.
OF AN ERA. e : =)

THE SOUND OF
SOLDIERS”
FOOTSTEPS IS
EVERYWHERE.

THE MOST IMPORTA WRITER OF THE TAISHO PERIOD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE NOTES PAGE 522.

46
 WELL, ACCORD- POPS, HOW
THERE ARE 13,000 IN ING TO THE MANY RADIOS
TOKYO, 5,000 IN OSAKA, NEWSPAPER... ill ARE THERE IN
AND 1,000 IN NAGOYA. : THE COUNTRY?

p” iN
|

AS.

IN ALL, 'D SAY ABOUT

ONE PERCENT OF
RADIOS ARE A a THE POPULATION
LUXURY ITEM, HAS A RADIO,

THE RADIO PERMEATES hes © ye LATER, IN 1926,

PEOPLE'S LIVES— IH = TOKYO BROADCASTING
GATHERING AROUND : ih, | MERGES WITH JAPAN
IT BECOMES A | | BROADCASTING
DAILY ACTIVITY. = , i CORPORATION

49
 BROADCASTING
FROM

1925: THE TOKYO

BROADCAST STATION
JOAK AIRS FOR THE
FIRST TIME.

—
—y S
oe

BROADCASTING FROM
ATAGO MOUNTAIN IN
TOKYO, THE SIGNAL
REACHES ALL
OF JAPAN.

WHEW! AT FIFTY YEN

FOR A RADIO, I WAS
WORRIED SICK IT
WOULDN'T WORK.

ACCA

FSEE NOTES PAGE 522.

48
THE BASE CHARGE
IS ONE YEN, SO THEY TAXIS AND OTHER
ARE CALLED YEN CONVENIENCES
TAXIS.

Je| ae
sla

MASS-PRODUCTION
REVOLUTIONIZES
MOTOR VEHICLES,

51
 NEWS SPREADS
NOW SONGS ACROSS THE
CAN BE HEARD COUNTRY IN THE
INSTANTLY. BLINK OF

WE'VE BECOME AN : f EVERYONE

INFORMATION SOCIETY. PZ : : CAN TUNE IN
THE AGE OF THE GENERAL | TO SPORTS!
PUBLIC HAS BEGUN!

i WHERE’S AN IDIOT
WHAT2 IT WAS ea r LIKE YOU GET OFF
ON THE NEWS. ) ee : TRYING TO SOUND
j fe G SO SMART?

50
 PEOPLE CAN AFFORD
THEM, AS A TANKOBON
ONLY COSTS ONE YEN.

WE HAVE TO
MAKE LIGHTNING TL GET ON THAT!
STRIKE TWICE.

SOON EVERYONE
IS PUBLISHING
YEN BOOKS.

PEOPLE FIND A
\'M GONNA READ NEW STRENGTH
:
IN LITERATURE.
y
eee
S
Ne ¥

*SEE NOTES PAGE 522.

53
 1927: IN TOKYO,
JAPAN'S FIRST SUBWAY
STARTS RUNNING
UNDER ASAKUSA.

corus
UL eter |TTT TORRANU UZ
C77TT a

et El M t< H n S T S 1
nd Wi FOLLOWED BY
Bel) n YEN BOOKS.
os o
‘io
g
mere
yt

\s
aa

DECEMBER 1926: KAIZOSHA

PRESS PUBLISHES “NEW
JAPANESE LITERATURE
COLLECTIONS.” A SINGLE
BOOK IS SPLIT INTO TWO
OR THREE VOLUMES
CALLED TANKOBON.

52
 UPS “ A
A
=
am
i i.Sia BC ie \ ih
i | ( !
i AS ae NTS WR AW H

55
 AROUND THAT TIME,
HIDEYO NOGUCHI* DIES
IN WEST AFRICA, HE
WAS FIFTY-ONE
YEARS OLD.
i AL
a

bh, =
Wi H > AG wo

1930: CHRISTIAN ACTIVIST

KANZO UCHIMURA* DIES OF
HEART DISEASE. HE WAS
SIXTY-NINE YEARS OLD.

*SEE NOTES PAGE 5272.

54
 Ne Ai Nae ‘i ? ra " s Un

eat
fos Wh >
<A“\ayy HY re I LOVED SEEING THE
leaeVt , “al MOUNTAINS FOR
“nny
nt Wx i ati d A
\
ng
pal ie
‘te

et t
THE FIRST TIME.
w WK
"
“
" , - | |
\ My Mea Nye
NW

thy . ‘iw os a | |
||
Ky Th ee)” ge
wwe a“te ‘ane ww \
i
NUVI is Hh.
ee yah yn \ oe, Il wy ai
" a La
\ MW ch ‘Wy '
Atte
: a

"|

=re ve rf
- M, Hes UM CTE ts K
i j RA be (ngfeeSUES DEES =
UMN
Jhines4 “iM

a Sa
cee
BSCE
SEES
we ~ SY WH) YY
\\
5 ewe

KY
ps:
AVINRS
SANGAS

i Hi ey; Vite ¥ ui
pe so Na GNA GM 1. WITH THE LITTLE ROAD-
: | a fi iil] |Side SHRINES, IT WAS
cane
if LIKE LIVING IN

“1ek

RY AX Wi

57
TO THE INLET IN
MOROKA ON THE GRAN! WHERE ARE
TOTTORI PENINSULA. YOU GOING ALL
I THOUGHT I'D TAKE DRESSED UP2
SHIGERU ALONG.

HE MAY NOT HAVE

MUCH OF A MOUTH BUT HE’S ONLY
ON HIM, BUT HIS FIVE YEARS OLD!
LEGS WORK FINE.

OKAY, BUT
BRING HIM BACK
BEFORE DARK...

56
 YOU BROUGHT THIS
YES, AND HE’S LITTLE BOY ALL
WORKED UP QUITE THE WAY HERE?
AN APPETITE.

==] om

Wallis UA

WELL THEN,
HERE'S SOME-
THING FOR

Kat

59
 Jerre
Dp

IT WAS HER
ANCESTRAL

4a MU
kth IA cy
|

== —_

HOW HAVE 25 Al | ITS BEEN SUCH

YOU BEEN? : a Rss ALONG TIME!
ol
OM il,i ‘f fe: ;
aN THATTHATFIRST FIRST TRIe,TRIP,
FROMTOMLOVED BEING WITH
NONNONBA. WE SLEPT
SIDE BY SIDE IN

CTS THE KITCHEN,

(fel
Hh

SM,

SHIGERU, CAN
YOU SEE THE
CEILING?

RX MWS 4
PRR
wy,KAKA Ke >

61
 CAREFUL NOW. EAT TOO MUCH
SAZAE, AND YOU'LL TURN INTO
A SAZAE-ONI AT NIGHT.

SA...SA... =
SAZAE-ONI2¥

\ "YY

AH! THERE ARE

EYES HIDDEN IN
THE SHELL.

*#SEE NOTES PAGE 522.

60
 YOU KNOW DAYS
i} WHEN IT'S SUNNY
BUT RAINING?

THOSE ARE THE

mm = PERFECT CON-
Hi ae DITIONS FOR A
i My ii
\hi |ily TTT OURO B° : NG.
FOX WEDDING
nal Hh p SS

rl .il
ii t o mi| Hy
inc | i
nn anhi}Uae i | 'ee i
i!
Attq
ZBNx
eT
EY
iiikHint\
oo:
v
a

Ay
iyi
|
Ce
mC

Fenerent
(Wl ii ‘it! SA Ha \
a
i iia

I Ace ca B
A FOX
WEDDING!
WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT,
NONNONBA2

63
 \ we?
( om
; Y ~

—<
~~
 <>
AS IF FOXES CAN
oO
to res
w woe
o BaZoee
uw ct
nae
Sse GET MARRIED.

CAN YOU
HEAR THEM?

65
 T'Ve NEVER
EVEN SEEN
A FOX.

ALU aa
7 \ G
NEVER : . THEM CRYING IN
HEARD “EM.
: THE MOUNTAINS
AT NIGHT.

IF YOU HEAR ANY

FOXES TONIGHT, WAKE
ME UP, OKAY?

T'M SERIOUS.
DON'T FORGET
.

Gi!
tty

ow
TO WAKE ME.
I, ft

HS
S'S 8,YOOS%;4
©, &,
Ws
AHN
KU
ELVID DS
 FROM THEN ON, I
BELIEVED ANYTHING

WILL YOU
COME TO MY
HOUSE NOW?

Vy

YY
Wp ff
Yf
if!
L, hs
Wf
UL WM

fi/f4

th
| MATT

=
ih

ALE Pt}
=>|

i i
|i

i :
d Ay pi Vi Hh
| e
HIE
H|Ih

| fi
|
 T STILL FIND IT STRANGE THAT
SHE TOOK A FIVE-YEAR-OLD BOY
$0 SERIOUSLY. BUT SHE WAS
TRUE TO HER WORD.

KS
AVYSD |

T REALLY DID HEAR

THE FOXES, JUST
LIKE SHE SAID.

66
 FATHER’S INCIDENT
( UTTER
My Mi,al
£3 Yr
iy Le
Wy Wlittex,

Wit! fliihh
Hill iny,
F H) dite
fee WH irl
Aen i

Mb Np

i
Pe

fi
Mili 4

iif (er. . ‘
SMya
‘
y hy

His HARV
DMA en HAIVVGAN HATHA Te

ANAT RII
TMH
BMI YL
A
WYReaEa
a
———!
OANUNE |
 A Ses')|
: a) 4
M oY) fl mo

SQ MASS
é RSG WIAAVAN MS
SS, x
MAAR

THAT'S YOUR
ANCESTOR.

A LONG TIME AGO,

TWAS A SERVANT
IN HIS HOUSE.

68
 YOU'RE ON THE
NIGHT SHIFT
TONIGHT.

WATCH YOURSELF : OH YEAH.

THOUGH. YOU HEAR / J ITS MY
ABOUT THE BANK J ; : TURN.
ROBBERS?2

THEY'VE BEEN HITTING A NEW

BANK EVERY NIGHT, MAKING
THE ROUNDS. es O hence!

IT'S CREEPY \\
WW
HERE AT

bee
:
AN
— h) ah m I|
| ”\ Yee ) |
i Hall ih [|

71
 1Mihi) iN
wd!
s tath

BUT FROM THE LED HE WORKED AT

BOOKS IN OUR hw WR A LOCAL BANK
HOUSE, YOU COULD C BRANCH.
SEE HIS TRUE
PASSION.

TM GOING TO BE
A SCREENWRITER
SOME DAY.

SIGN: KOMEYAMA BANK SAKAI BRANCH.

7O
 SOME THIEVES IN

KEEP AN
EYE OUT, WILL
YOU?

IN FACT, HE
WAS AN ABJECT
 HEH. JUST MY FATHER
THE CLOCK. WAS NOT A
BRAVE MAN.

C
lil ; Va pp
sy ectt
wists heZO Ws ~~»Za anna
il EEE \ a lhe

THE POLICE! ‘Be Woe ay Upp

YP | oo go iy mr
 my
ci 0%

YOUR NIGHT MAN

. WENT HOME AT FOUR
\ THIS MORNING.

HE WAS
SUPPOSED TO
STAY ON TILL

HE'S
FIRED!

75
 BY 4:00 A.M, HE DECIDED HE'D
DONE HIS DUTY AND HE LEFT.
THIS SMALL ACT WOULD HAVE
GRAVE CONSEQUENCES
FOR OUR FAMILY.

HEADING HOME
ALREADY?

HUH? Y...YEAH. GUESS

TM NOT A MORNING
PERSON LIKE YOU! J

na
j}
|ily
|
i

i zy
oe
te ly AL

74
 as i AND HOW ARE A STAGE
SOMETHING We We SUPPOSED
WILL Come.

THAT'S YOUR
PLAN2

ONE
BEAN BUN,

!
|
Wii |

i
||al |
ee _,

SIGN: SWEETS SHOP.

77
 AND SO FATHER
WAS FIRED FROM
THE BANK,

DLA

fam |
IT |

i ‘a
wal
orm

i |'i i

SESE

IME”
% fe"

iy Lhd
Wie cet’ te GEM;

;
g

iB
SeCO
be

t) . »
8 a
SOO : LN
SSSA
iy
Ty,
YY i
facts pelle ; ortAt EU
TUM Oy tee Me , Os2 S WH
OY rete) ‘ SSH he SQWWap
SSAA WwW
Lp ‘
GON 1 HEME Ly
re Mc tt (YI Wyeth He ee
Yi ff “ZZ. yess Hilly! 1 TS

IT WAS
THinking | Feed’ iy WHAT ARE YOU
OF DOING MW — , GOING TO DO
SOME \ i
WRITING.
 YOU BOYS
GOT THAT?

SSS

SS

iil

A PRETTY MOON == SHIGERU,

OUT TONIGHT. Sal ; tA) HOLD THIS
HEH HEH HEH. I I! BN \ A SEC.

79
 THE OLD MAN WAS
AN ETERNAL
OPTIMIST.

ST ve oat NY
y
i i ie iN ‘in.
vr 2

CAREFUL.
ITS HEAVY.

iy
HG)
Mens
\\\\!ih |
\ i)Mt

78
 l
a S
WRITTEN WORD?
WHAT ON EARTH as || THE AGE OF
ARE YOU TALKING P THE WRITTEN
q WORD MIGHT
BE OVER.

SO I'M STARTING UP
A MOVIE THEATER
INSTEAD!

S|
SSS
==
=:

SO HE RENTED A SMALL
PLAYHOUSE AND STARTED
HIS OWN MOVIE
THEATER.

EVEN FOLKS IN THE

COUNTRYSIDE NEED QUALITY
ENTERTAINMENT.

tu STITT CLEANAT

81
 n e

S!
PIECE
THE

ne
c e o te ci ea
aei ste a
NG HEAVY,
NA YTHI

ONLY
THAT WAS THTEHER
TIME MY FA
HIT ME,
EVER

80
 PUBLIC
SECURITY

ll ee
HIKTH
i Hall

i
‘
{
y
itll
es 4I
E Y yi en [5 eee
 IT WAS A
SURPRISE HIT.

SAN py
Ondef pS
a SS J"
mmr Ae o~ =!8 iim, SKY
S
yuan
te
a) ff OFUl fire WUT cl T g MIMS
S
 THIS SO-CALLED THAT WISHY-WASHY REITIRO WAKATSUKI* JUST
“PROGRESSIVE SERIOUSLY2 DUG US IN DEEPER. BUT I BELIEVE IN TANAKA.
GOVERNMENT”
CAN GET
THINGS
DONE.

WHY DON'T
YOU POUR KNOW HOW
“PROGRESSIVE”
THEY ARE.

WE HAVE TO CLEAN
THIS POLICY UP THIS FINANCIAL
ON BUSINESS MESS, FOR A
EXPANSION WILL START.
BOOST THE
ECONOMY.

WELL IF PEOPLE
EXACTLY. t SO WHAT...SPEND
DON’T START BUYING
| MONEY TO MAKE
FAST, WELL BE BACK
IN THE TOILET.

GGiimemmnittos(rt
=
SEE NOTES PAGE 523.

85
 SLIGHTLY EARLIER, ON APRIL 20,
19727, THE NEW PRIME MINISTER,
GIICHI TANAKA,* FORMS HIS
FIRST CABINET.

WE'VE HAD THREE T WONDER IF

MONTHS OF THIS CRISIS. TANAKA CAN PULL
US OUT OF THIS.

1 CAN’T TAKE
IT ANYMORE,

SE

¥SEE NOTES PAGE 522.

 WHEN THE TANAKA CABINET
BEGINS, IN EARLY 1927, ONE
HUNDRED YEN TRADES FOR
FORTY-NINE U.S. DOLLARS.
BY 1929, THE EXCHANGE RATE
DROPS TO FORTY-FOUR U.S.
DOLLARS, EXACERBATING
THE TRADE DEFICIT.

Ni
Ihe

AS BEFORE, THE
“PROGRESSIVE”
GOVERNMENT
COMES DOWN HARD
ON THE SOCIALIST
MOVEMENT—
ANDO ANY
PROTESTORS.

SS
Saami ‘Mi

| <Ozim\~
 Watt
a cae
“il | ml) |THe exrANsion
Sa aun POLICY HAS
; GOOD RESULTS.

THE STOCK W\ “A eropuction is

MARKET IS MN ON THE
FLOURISHING.

LOOKS LIKE
TM OUT OF
THE WOODS.

BUT THIS 1S ONLY

TEMPORARY. THE TRADE
DEFICIT CAUSES RATES
TO PLUMMET.

86
 THEY WORRY ABOUT THINGS
LIKE AN “ALTERATION OF THE
THAT'S NATIONAL IDENTITY?* AND OF
IMPORTANT, ~, COURSE, PROTECTING THE
UNBROKEN LINE
OF JAPAN'S
EMPERORS...

SO THE PUBLIC SECURITY AND THEY DON’T

ey WANT COMMUNISTS
ous “ABOLISHING PRIVATE
PROPERTY”

ARTICLE ONE OF THE LAW ALLOWS

THEM TO GO AFTER ANYONE “ASSOCIATING OR
ACTING TO ACCOMPLISH SUCH A PURPOSE.” IN
OTHER WORDS, HAVING A SOCIALIST
BOOK ON YOUR DESK IS NOW
AN ACT OF SEDITION.

*¥SEE NOTES PAGE 523.

 PRIOR TO THIS, HOWEVER, TWO
NEW LAWS ANNOUNCED IN
1925 DEALT A HEAVY BLOW
TO DEMOCRACY.

THE GENERAL
WHAT'S UP WITH THE
ELECTION LAW AND
BIG HEADLINES?
WHY VO WE | THE PUBLIC
NEED TWO
NEW LAWS2

LETS THE ONE LAW GRANTS

GOVERNMENT THE VOTE, AND
CONTROL IT. THE OTHER...

pr CU
EN

ITS OKAY TO VOTE, SO LONG

THE GOVERNMENT
AS YOU VOTE FOR THE RIGHT
IS AFRAID OF THE
CANDIDATE. DON’T UPSET
COMMUNIST PARTY. THE STATUS QUO.
Lp 0
fi IM

¥SEE NOTES PAGE 523.

88
 AND THEY CHOSE Vim A WW FOR THE FIRST TIME, EVERY MAN
THE STATUS QUO.* WY eA Ws IN JAPAN HAD THE HONOR OF
CASTING A BALLOT...

ee
7 WW

IT HEAR THE PROLETARIAN IF YOU ASK ME,

CANDIDATES WERE UNDER THE GOVERNMENT HAD
POLICE SURVEILLANCE. A HAND IN THAT.

ihy
|
\)
|
Wy)

SS gels THATS BECAUSE

THEY'RE UP TO

aml
NO GOOD.

~~ film
2A
eee
VEx,

IF THEY HAVEN'T Done =I THEY HAVEN'T

HEY NOW, LET'S WAH ANYTHING, WHY ARE THEY FE =i DONE ANYTHING
NOT ARGUE... 4 UNDER SURVEILLANCE2

\ ee G
*FOR MORE INFORMATION ON POLITICAL PARTIES, SEE NOTES PAGE 523.

91
 ALTHOUGH THE TWO LAWS WERE
CREATED EARLIER, THEY ARE
NOT ACTIVELY ENFORCED UNTIL
THE TANAKA CABINET.

IN 1928, THE FIRST

GENERAL ELECTION
IS HELD IN JAPAN.

AVUUULUUCAASTANUULCUU EUAN

WHAT'S THIS “EMP?”

ARE YOU TRYING TO
ALTER OUR NATIONAL BUT I HAVEN'T SAID
IDENTITY? ANYTHING YET.

90
 I DON’T EVEN
WANT TO THINK T'VE HEARD THEYRE BEING
ABOUT IT. TORTURED BY THE SPECIAL
HIGHER POLICE.

THE MARCH 15 INCIDENT* ALLOWS TANAKA T0

INCREASE THE PUBLIC SECURITY
PRESERVATION LAW'S
MAXIMUM PENALTY
TO THE DEATH
SENTENCE.

THIS SERVES AS THE FOUNDATION

FOR WIDESPREAD CENSORSHIP AND
SUPPRESSION THAT WILL LAST UNTIL
THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD
WAR ON AUGUST 15, 1945.

*SEE NOTES PAGE 523.

93
 SENT YAMAMOTO* ES wi EVEN THOUGH THE
AND HIS GROUP STILL ey. ry GOVERNMENT WASN'T
MANAGED TO GAIN ban — , || PLAYING FAIR...
EIGHT SEATS. | Ee

ALARMED BY THE ELECTION, ON MARCH 15, THE

GOVERNMENT APPLIED THE PUBLIC SECURITY
PRESERVATION LAW ON A LARGE SCALE
FOR THE FIRST TIME.

GOOD THING : = IT SAYS HERE THAT 1,200

YOU'RE NOT A 1 . & COMMUNISTS HAVE
COMMUNIST: =i BEEN ROUNDED UF.

*SEE NOTES PAGE 523.

92
MARCH 4, 1929:
SENT YAMAMOTO IS
STABBED BY RIGHT-
WING TERRORIST
KURODA OKUTI

byi
iN

DAD, IF YOU SAY I BETHE WAS

THINGS LIKE ACTING UNDER
THAT...

95
 THE ACTION WAS BACKED BY Some
OF JAPAN'S MOST INFLUENTIAL
LAWMAKERS, SUCH AS SUPREME
COURT JUSTICE MASATARO MIYAKE.

AND JUST LIKE THAT, FOR ALMOST ANY

OFFENSE, YOU COULD BE LOCKED UP THESE THREATS TO OUR GREAT
FOR FIVE TO TEN YEARS. SOCIETY MUST BE SUPPRESSED.

IT WASN’T SO BAD FOR THE JAILORS,

BUT FOR THE PRISONERS,
IT WAS A HARD
ROAD.

94
97
 MAY 28, 1927: UNDER THE GUISE OF “DIPLOMACY,
GIICH| TANAKA SENDS 2,000 TROOPS
INTO QINGDAO, CHINA.*

Meindl

i ee Le ri irill
iu } TH } RTI ny wh
PU NMR
MH) HH on | NEA usu te |
Hs Ha
CoN it Wo WN
Nati MI | Mii! wae ei ii

Pe ith
HVC WH

lgpel

Pe
yore
ee
2 PA
i, Cn git

fe alli f
 THE OCCUPATION
CONTINUES FOR THREE
YEARS, WITH THE
SECOND AND THIRD
DEPLOYMENTS INFLAMING
THE ANTAGONISTIC
SENTIMENTS OF
THE CHINESE.

UNDOUBTEDLY. THE “PROGRESSIVE” DAD, THIS IS PRIME

GOVERNMENT AT WORK AGAIN, MINISTER TANAKA’S
~ MIXING DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN DOING, ISN'T IT4
AFFAIRS. THEY SEE MILITARY
ACTION AS A WAY OUT OF
THIS DEPRESSION.

BECAUSE, WELL,
I JUST GOT A JOB ITS GOING TO ESCALATE
AS A DEFENSE FROM HERE.
CONTRACTOR.

99
 THE CHINESE ARE THIS IS QINGDAO CITY.
BEWILDERED AND
AGHAST.

a ai
|i Mr |
| iB iN| ee ‘|er
Nh!
] Nai
|
aN will!\ii i)l
a\
iN SHAN!
iN}
!
| |
WAN
i}
i!
lh “og
4 pear
Tt : i

THEY SAY THEYRE HERE TO WHAT IS THIS

PROTECT JAPANESE RESIDENTS ALL ABOUT?
FROM CHIANG KAI-SHEK’S*
ARMIES AND THE NANIING
GOVERNMENT.

98
 JUNE 4, 1928: THE HUANGGUTUN
INCIDENT. BEFORE DAWN, A BOMB
EXPLODES ON THE MANTETSU*
RAIL LINE IN MUKDEN, CHINA.

ON THE TRAIN IS THE WARLORD

OF MANCHURIA, ZHANG ZUOLIN.* IT IS
LATER ANNOUNCED THAT HE LOST BOTH OF HIS
LEGS IN THE EXPLOSION (WHICH TURNS OUT 10
BE UNTRUE), AND WITH HIS DYING BREATH
CALLED FOR HIS SON ZHANG XUELIANG
TO TAKE Hi$ PLACE.

*SEE NOTES PAGE 523.

101
YES SIR. THINGS “Ss JAPAN’S MILITARY AND
ARE ONLY GOING ) a ECONOMY ARE GOING
TO ESCALATE HAND IN HAND
FROM HERE. TO CHINA.
 TLL SHOW UP NOW AND aoa I SUPPOSE I SHOULD
THEN TO HELP YOU OUT Z lel y INTRODUCE MYSELF.
WITH THE HARD PARTS. z

PEOPLE CALLED IT | |
NOBODY KNEW “THAT SERIOUS | | Mn L TM NEZUMI OTOKO.*
ANYTHING \ INCIDENT IN | } - NICE TO MEET YOU.
FOR SURE. S47 Z5— MANCHURIA”

V
) ZHANG ZUOLIN
WAS THINKING OF
THE ANTI-JAPANESE LET'S SEE NOW. IT SAYS
ALLYING WITH
SENTIMENT OF THE HERE IT WAS A CONSPIRACY
THE SOVIETS.
ZHANG FAMILY WAS BY KWANTUNG ARMY* COLONEL
ALSO A FACTOR, KOMOTO DAISAKU TO SOLIDIFY
JAPAN’S POWER.

f)
ZZ
=

AND WHILE THE ZHANG »

FAMILY CLAIMED TO BE 7"
PRO-JAPANESE, THEIR
ACTIONS PROVED
OTHERWISE.

*SEE NOTES PAGE 523.

103
 ALL OF CHINA IS SHAKEN
BY THE INCIDENT.

; Za THE ARMY IS SAYING

Come ON NOW! hm Se = A IT WAS BENITAL GUERILLAS*
WE ALL KNOW THE es AY OA WORKING FOR THE KUOMIN-
-KWANTUNG ARMY... FI - TANG NATIONALIST
GOVERNMENT.

NW
ipioT! WHO THE HELL
Sates
-
EVERYONE HAS
A THEORY
yi ARE YOU TN

og ,

102
 ZHANG XUELIANG PRUDENTLY AVOIDED
DIRECT CONFLICT WITH JAPAN, AND QUIETLY
BUILT ALLIANCES WITH THE NATIONALIST
GOVERNMENT IN NANSIING. SOON, HE
WAS RECOGNIZED AS THE NEW
RULER OF MANCHURIA.

1928: JAPAN’S HOPES FOR A

CONTROLLABLE MANCHURIA
ARE CRUSHED AS XUELIANG
OFFICIALLY UNITES WITH
CHINA UNDER ONE STATE.
ANTI-JAPANESE SENTI-
MENTS CONTINUE
TO GROW.

105
OFFICIAL BLAME WAS TO BE ACCORDING TO
LAID ON SABOTEURS FROM THE THE PLAN...
NANSJING GOVERNMENT. THIS
WAS THE DIVERSION.

JAPAN WOULD SLIP IN

THEIR OWN REPLACEMENT WITH ZHANG ZUOLIN
RULER AND ESTABLISH A OUT OF THE WAY...
PUPPET STATE.

HOWEVER, THINGS
ZHANG ZUOLIN’S SON, DION’T GO AS
ZHANG XVELIANG, SAW PLANNED.
THROUGH EVERYTHING.

104
Gi e
G N f

zt

107
 PRIME MINISTER
THANKS TO THIS GIICHI TANAKA
AMATEURISH PLOT, OUR
EXPANSION INTO CHINA
HAS BEEN IMPEDED.

THEY SHOULD BE HELD f ( THE KWANTUNG

RESPONSIBLE AND PUBLICLY As e NG ARMY HAS GONE
COURT-MARTIALED!! eae Sa) ROGUE.

BUT THE ARMY IS TOO POWERFUL,

ANO THE “PROGRESSIVE” TANAKA
FINDS HIMSELF POWERLESS AND
BEREFT OF SUPPORT. THERE IS
NO DISCLOSURE.

106
 ALL OF US WHO HADN'T STARTED SCHOOL
YET WEREN’T EVEN SEEN AS KIDS.
WE WERE CALLED “SANDALS.”

I WANTED TO SERVE UNDER THE BOY

GENERAL AND BE RECOGNIZED AS A
KIO MORE THAN ANYTHING.

ra
". ¥

lY
LA

A
@) mY
ee AZ,
A

109
 Ube A

Awseylill
7 dea ANY
j

Fis
: cH cen

Le
LLLT
aes

THE BOY GENERAL

OFFICIALLY ACCEPTED
ME INTO HIS
GANG.

a:
anh
A
h; ey
a<
"
rf

108
SPECIAL 3 A FEW DAYS
GUEST: MASA, rere, LATER...
FROM KOBUYA

d
at

( (7
—G
\4
)

111
 NO 2: Posen GETTING ACCEPTED WAS TOUGH.
GOROZUN 3 YOU HAD TO PASS TESTS.
: cae, le

HEY GEGE,
te, “fl YOU WANNA
( i} , SEE TOKY02
@

Hoo ||
HA \ iN
BNA
VAN IN \
y)
an ( KiLA =—\)\)\ (

uaisciatenes

CAN
YOU SEE
IT YET?

110
 |
‘oes Vay

Wy
vanYZ

WAS FOR THE BOY

GENERAL, MASAYAN...

CL} v7 x (/
TN|
|

TO ACCEPT ME.
T HATED BEING
A SANDAL.

113
 BUT THE BOY GENERAL, MASAYAN, WAS REALLY
COOL. HE THOUGHT EVERY DAY SHOULD BE
MASAYAN, DO LIKE A SPORTS FESTIVAL.*
WE ONLY NEED
ONE LILY PAD2

A WN y
NSN,

FIRST PRIZE YEP. AND THERE

IS AN OLD ARE PRIZES FOR
PENCIL CASE. THE FASTEST.

THIRD PRIZE were, SECOND PRIZE IS

IS A LITTLE 7M = THIS ERASER.
‘ RUG
Zz

*SEE NOTES PAGE 523.

112
 NO ONE WHO ARE
YOU KNOW. YOU?
YOSKIKO OKADA
I$ GOOD T00.

MOVIES DOMINATED ALL

NEXT TIME OTHER ENTERTAINMENT. THE
WE SHOULD DO PUBLIC COULON’T GET ENOUGH.
BANTSUMPA’S MY MOVIE-LOVING FATHER
WAS ECSTATIC.

LET’S DO
THEM
DENME| SUZUKI
IS POPULAR 100.

115
 ae / ih | 1929: TALKIES*
HEY! IT SAYS es | HIT JAPAN.
WELL BE ABLE
TO HEAR
THEM.

CHECK YEAH, I KNOW. ITS

THIS OUT! CALLED A TALKIE.

WHATEVER! “EYEBALL” MATCHAN

IS WAY BETTER THAN
TLL TAKE SUMIKO
BANTSUMA.
KURISHIMA.

BASS
VG Bes
<>
fs
SSSoq HES : 1

FTALKIES COORDINATED SOUND WITH MOVEMENT. DURING THE SILENT FILM ERA, JAPANESE FILMS WERE
ACCOMPANIED BY PROFESSIONAL NARRATORS CALLED BEMSHI.
114
FATHER
COES T0

SS

117
 WHILE FATHER WAS
BUSY CELEBRATING...

TL LET Lith SOMEONE STOLE

THE NARRATOR A ROBBER
MUST HAV
THE PROJECTOR.
KNOW WE DON'T Ne
NEED Him
TONIGHT.

‘si a— iit a
inn ii

im we
ot

rec

f
HINA SSO)
~

.
1ON ROOM.
WE HAVE THE | AND THE
WITHOUT THE FILMS, Ae FILMS2
PROJECTOR, THEY
DON’T VO US
MUCH GOOD.
 I CAN’T SHOW MY
«
FACE IN THIS TOWN
\ EVER AGAIN.

Tm uP To My
I'LL HAVE TO GO 10 SO WHAT ARE EARS IN
OSAKA AND LOOK WE GOING DEBT...
FOR WORK. TO 002

MY DAD
ARE YOU GOING IS IN OSAKA
TO HIT HiM UP AS WELL.

119
 PVE REALLY
HIT BOTTOM
THIS TIME.

SCREW UP MY LIFE HOW COULD SUCH

$O COMPLETELY? ‘ A LITTLE THING...

1 FEEL EVEN WORSE. é ‘lind

THE PROJECTOR WAS < MUI «=WHAT'S WRONG? YOU
STOLEN. WE'RE =~ DON'T LOOK WELL.
FINISHED.

sulk i)
 Ghith
: By ya

ay
mii c M
ih,

Ui thal
}mh
eM | aL ANCA Ti
Aida
ee : EE I
W
hi. villina (hd —,

WITH OUR FATHER GONE, THE LIFE

DRAINED OUT OF THE HOUSE. NO ONE
SPOKE FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS.
 DON'T WORRY. Ne
alk A<CSIMNTO
WEL | Wilt)
||Hh | ALL 100 SOON ?
SOMETHING WILL f
TN Wee
\ Ny ECV A
ATT || MY FATHER WENT
COME ALONE... fi way 4 AREA TO OSAKA.

JUST COME
BACK IN ONE
PIECE!

XW é .
AU suv Sy ye -

(X)
© =

me é ¢
fs N AM

Va 7
I ;

aec Ns
THE RICKSHAW
CLATTERED TOWARD
THE STATION...

) (
J th
ONE
Zt

ZZ \ i]
EVERYTHING MW | AND THEN IT WAS JUST
WILL BE OKAY, Cola Ha an THE FOUR OF US.
 Wane aT VT rt . IATA
toSat ait iit | ; ft fi i i WAI

AND THEN
EVERYTHING
CHANGED.

=
EE
———
E=___=

ZES

AN UNEXPECTED
REVERSAL OF
FORTUNES.
KS pel
jelly Nu
yw Fr

\N

\\\
*

sng fui|

“a
WAN {

123
 |
3
|
HICKE

AT NIGHT,
NONNONBA FOUND
SOLACE IN SAKE.

il se (

eset Say,

SHE LOVED
TO DRINK.

THIS IS
WHAT KEEPS
ME GOING.

122
 LOOK! THATS «6(ésA NS il EVERYONE CAME
THE MUTSU yey | iis OUT TO GAWK AT
BATTLESHIP! ‘) alum mt THE SHIPS.

y
il

: ie Wy,
(Xs
i

SO
,q
mas

\a
N\
N
SSSSSSSS
=

THE ARMADA STRETCHED AS FAR

AS THE EYE COULD SEE. AN paneer

CARRIER!
; > a MME.

!\ al
oTTCC i ym
liin
(Ara
i
Seg
ill

N Ss ee NT
~ ; ; sal
YOULL
BE THE YaXs)
ADMIRAL OF )
THE NAVY. ye AMAZING!
1WANT
TO BE A MARINE
WHEN I GROW UP!

125
 WITHOUT
WARNING,
| THE COMBINED
| Hid yj, FLEET SAILED
Nt
vuonptdT
4
INTO PORT.

EVERYONE IN TOWN HAD

BATTLESHIP FEVER.

NONNONBA GOT SOME LADIES FROM

THE NEIGHBORHOOD TOGETHER AND
STARTED A SHAVED ICE STAND.

SHE EVEN GOT A WARNING

FROM THE POLICE FOR
OVERCHARGING
THE SAILORS.

124
 HURRY UP
ANDO GET
DRESSED.

wow! TM AN
ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL FIRST
GRADER!

127
 TOMORROW IS THE FIRST
OF APRIL—YOUR FIRST
fier DAY OF SCHOOL.
| i nua) I
Hit tl i {in

NTN Ge

RSeX\,

~~
——*

TLL BE AS TOUGH AS I'M GONNA BE

MOTOTSUGU GOTO,* OR THE TOUGHEST GUY
EVEN GENERAL NOGI* AT SCHOOL.
OR ADMIRAL TOGO.*

| Mh
—S——
IANA
—————

¥SEE NOTES PAGE 524.

126
 1 GUESS IT IS
POKING UP
JUST A ITS 100
LONG
ON TOP.

YOU'VE GOT ie
ss
A BIG MOUTH. ee a
60 STAND IN ag
a
THE BACK. 4a
aS

T'M AS STRONG AS NOBODY KNOWS

KIYOMASA KATO* WHAT A TOUGH
OR MASASHIGE GLY 1AM.
KUSUNOKI.*

x
YS
Zs AN
Ay

GMA

129
 I KNEW I WAS LATE FOR SCHOOL
BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS QUIET.

uo y :

yf 27 ot
s(n
ae
Pea
ohn
yy '

aad :A ea
ff oY i

i hi)

GHER
TTTELEMENTARY

ali.
ANZ.

—. =,
ia |

|
1 tii
—

T WAS LATE TO
CLASS, BUT STILL TEACHER! YOU . LETS SAY THE
FULL OF MYSELF. WROTE THAT ALPHABET.
HE WAS STRONGER
THAN HE LOOKED.
He HAD ME ON
MY BACK.

NO WAY Tm
GONNA LOSE.

FROM THEN ON, THE

NISHIGUMI FIRST THAT'S HOW A
GRADERS KNEW REAL TOUGH
NOT TO MESS GUY DOES IT.
WITH ME.

131
 TSAW A KIO IN THE RICE FIELDS
GIVING ME A DIRTY LOOK.

LIKE TWO DOGS CIRCLING

EACH OTHER, WE KNEW
WE HAD 10 FIGHT.

WITHOUT A WORD, WE
WERE ON EACH OTHER.

Uy;

Sige

Oe we
>>

MY ENEMY WAS
> A FIRST GRADE
HE’S NOT V BOY GENERAL
HALF BAD. y * FROM THE
TENEMENT
HOUSES.

130
133
 ON MY WAY
TO SCHOOL THE
, NEXT DAY...

7 ( A HAY Q
n\\) A

WZ!

T RAN INTO THE

PRINCIPAL. I WAS
LATE AGAIN, AND
HE WASN'T TOO
HAPPY ABOUT IT.

IN\ yyi |
h iy

| \i} 41)
( Mj Ma."

132
 Mi \ |

Ws vs

ee HLLA
YY il
WE)
4,4

tj”

MINOT
ae:
Cayyyy,

S
SS WSs
SS

AND IT'S
MASSIVE!
HA HA!

i fim
biti

YW)
Gj iY,

135
 AUGUST 8, 1929...

WHAT THE...2

THAT'S A GERMAN
ZEPPELIN,* AN
AIRSHIP.

THE NEXT STOP IS IT CROSSED

AMERICA. IT'S GOING THE PACIFIC IN
AROUND THE WORLD. ONE DAY.

le
De hii

*SEE NOTES PAGE 524.

134
 ils f

c YiYY
Uy
YipUy,
dU;
YOU SEEK
THE MAN
NAMED
SAZEN?

“,

ty yy
YW Yyfyyyp,
Yi YYy
Yy“hij
YOY)
ty
Y

WN Yj;
Y

“yyYY iy
Yyjyy Yj, Yy
WY
Y

GMM
Y
1,
EMU.
Yj
iy

YVUMMMMEG CO LMM MM A
WMUYET COOMLOL
AME BPM,

EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE

THE WHOLE WORLD STILL WENT
WAS BROKE. TO MOVIES.

BUT BEFORE THE

THE NINTH OLYMPICS*
MONEY COMPLETELY
TOOK PLACE IN
RAN OUT, THE OLYMPICS
AMSTERDAM,
WERE HELD.
HOLLAND.

*SEE NOTES PAGE 524.

137
 THE CABIN WAS FULLY
FURNISHED, COMPLETE
WITH A PIANO. IT
WAS INCREDIBLE.

i
Tl sil| mil ti4 AT NIGHT, THE EROTIC GROTESQUE
i a NONSENSE CULTURE*
FLOURISHED.

——$—S>
SSS

——$———=—=S=
———
———>

*0 SOCIAL MOVEMENT THAT INFLUENCED FASHION AND ART. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE NOTES PAGE 524

136
 M\KIO ODA TAKES GOLD IN THE
TRIPLE JUMP. THIS IS THE FIRST
TIME THE JAPANESE FLAG IS
RAISED AT THE OLYMPICS.
YOSHIYUKI TSURUTA ALSO
WINS THE 200-METER
BREASTSTROKE.

MEANWHILE, AMERICA IS TEETERING ON

THE BRINK OF FINANCIAL COLLAPSE.

7
 THE MODEL OF AMERICAN T GUESS
ENTERPRISE, U.S. STEEL, ; “INTERESTING” IS A
HAD SHARES VALUED od LITTLE INSENSITIVE,
AT $200.

GENERAL ELECTRIC SHARES ALL AT ONCE,

NOSEDIVE FROM AN OX THEY DROP
ALL-TIME HIGH OF TO $193.
$400 T0 $283.

ITS KNOWN AS IN A FLASH,

“BLACK THURSDAY.” TENS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS ARE LOST.

141
 THURSDAY,
OCTOBER 24,
TODAY’S
DATE IS...

THE BOTTOM FALLS OUT OF THE NEW YORK

STOCK EXCHANGE.
THE MARKET
CRASHES.

A DEPRESSION IS 1 DON’T KNOW

WHEN THERE ISN'T WHY, BUT A DEVASTATED
EVEN ENOUGH IN ECONOMY IS CALLED
THE GARBAGE A DEPRESSION.
CANS FOR THE
CATS TO EAT.

ata
AVA ZA)
Wi
Y
ty Vp,
ZL)
WW tu
\\\\\"\
eeweNA\)
A DEPRESSION IS
ALMOST LIKE A NATURAL WITH THAT
DISASTER: IT JUST HAPPENS. SAID...
IT'S INTERESTING.

Lf '
“ANY i", U7, {
NY Wf Wii
Whi Lak { Ys
f)

| /

140
 38s THEoS
we 3%
U ay IS AT THE
BS
w oOo se=
Males
«
Fw
== ==
ore rs)
CRISIS SPREADS, QUICKLY
BECOMING AN
INTERNATIONAL
CRISIS.

1932: THE AFTER-

SHOCK HITS JAPAN
AND CAUSES THE

DEPRESSION

143
 BUT ON TUESDAY, THAT WEEKEND,
OCTOBER 29, ANOTHER IT LOOKED LIKE THE
CRASH SHATTERS ALL MARKETS WOULD
HOPES. RECOVER...

SHARE PRICES PLUMMET,

OCTOBER 279 IS IN JUST A MONTH, THE
REMEMBERED AS DOW JONES* DROPS
“BLACK TUESDAY.” BY FIFTY PERCENT.

AY
* AMERICA’S DOW JONES & COMPANY IS USED TO CALCULATE THE MEAN VALUE OF SHARE PRICES.

142
|
—_——_—Ss
=
Zz
ZZ Zea
Ee
g=

SIGN: COOKED SWEET POTATOES.

145
 THE GREAT DEPRESSION CRUSHES JAPAN.
SINCE WORLD WAR |, JAPAN HAS BEEN IN CHRONIC
RECESSION. THE GREAT KANTO EARTHQUAKE AND THE
, GREAT DEPRESSION SINK JAPAN LOWER AND LOWER,
UNTIL ALL FINANCIAL STABILITY DISSOLVES.

UNDER THE
CONTROL OF MAS-
SIVE FINANCIAL
ORGANIZATIONS
CALLED
ZAIBATSU.*

FLITERALLY TRANSLATES AS “FINANCIAL CLIQUES.” FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE NOTES PAGE 524.

144
 T HAVE A WIFE AND
CHILDREN. AND A M BANKRUPT.
CONCUBINE T00.

I CAN’T DO T COULD GO
ANYTHING HERE NO JOBS THERE BACK 10 THE
THOUGH. EITHER. r COUNTRY- |
? SIDE.

B & — =

I'VE GOT IT! I

; — / KNOW SOME PEOPLE
a IN BATAVIA, JAVA.*

<3 | iat
Meee
| ii /

WY il eee | 1
j

oN i! |
| | ee alla) dada il
eee t} af | S

wii,
E—)_jiih,|
u he.

= =: aS
: = <a S=

*MODERN DAY JAKARTA, INDONESIA.

-

147
HERE, TATSUJI
MURA MAKES HIS
ENTRANCE.

MY GRANDFATHER
—_=<w ccpus)” 4 oS = <>
(Ze) HAD A TAX! COMPANY
tH vo<==
<=
—ze
<x IN OSAKA CALLED SEKI
a pa)i=) Ee
AUTOMOTIVE.
HOWEVER

THAT *S ALL MY FORTUNE WAS

GONE... WRAPPED UP
IN STOCKS.
>

146
 T WONDER
TM BROKE,
HOW MY KID, BUT I CAN'T LET
RYOICHI, IS
DOING.

‘ il

La
By UN yhexes
TATSUJI WAS

OUR FATHER TN
HAD EXPECTED
TO FIND HELP
IN OSAKA.

SS

Mak. oN
: SAWS Wd

AN
yr Ks
W TS : We
ul)

149
 TLL SELL
~- EVERYTHING I
: = GRANDFATHER TATSUII wy HAVE AND GET
DIDN'T WASTE ANY TIME. ee
Pig
OUT OF HERE.

JAKARTA
i

|ll UMM
———

I CAN MAKE
A. NEW START
HERE.
AND YOUR
JUST WHEN
FATHER, BAM! THIS
I THOUGHT THE
TATSUJI... GREAT DEPRESSION.
FINANCIAL
NOW EVERYONE
CRISIS WAS
IS BANKRUPT.
OVER.

UNFORTU-
THERE WAS A NATELY. HIS MONEY
TIME YOU COULD GET WAS ALL IN
RICH PLAYING THE STOCKS?
STOCK MARKET.

) e
BACK WHEa
WHAT STARTED
IN NCOL1 WAS
THIS GREAT |
DEPRESSION LEGE.
ANYWAY?

WE TOOK A SECOND HIT WHEN AND THAT’S

THE GOVERNMENT LIFTED TRUE BUT... EVERYONE
THE GOLD EMBARGO. BLAMES THE
AMERICANS.
 OUR COUSIN
HIKOICH| HAD A
SMALL CAFE
\ (arena
YS
be,
<= HIKOICHI,
THIS PUTS ME
IN A BIND.
IN OSAKA.

PG = =H ———

[GESES| CNN
Mt Nees)

Wir

HALAL

Ue 2S ire

SO HE TOOK HAPPENED
OFF TO TO THE OLD
JAVA.

TM SICK OF
ALL THIS.

150
 JAPAN WANTED TO LIFT
THE BAN EARLIER, BUT THE
CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE GREAT
KANTO EARTHQUAKE ANO THE
SHOWA FINANCIAL CRISIS
FORCED DELAYS.

SHUT UP AND | YOU MUST HAVE YOU'RE A ANYWAYS,

GET ME A BEEN ON THE FACULTY SMART GUY, IT WAS T00
SNACK. OF COMMERCE AT
THAT UNIVERSITY
OF YOURS.

=
S

—
TOSSA

YOU CAN'T HIDE YOUR CURREN

GOLD FOREVER. ae WITH NOTHING
BECOMES BACKING YOUR
VOLATILE. MONEY...

153
 Hey, I'M JUST
A GUY WHO USED DON’T YOU : GOLD
TO WORK IN READ THE NEWS- EMBARGO2
A FACTORY. PAPERS?2

LIKE MANY COUNTRIES, JAPAN HAD A

BAN ON THE SALE OF GOLD SINCE THE
GREAT WAR. IN AN ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE
ITS STANDING IN INTERNATIONAL
FINANCIAL MARKETS, JAPAN
RETURNED TO THE GOLD
STANDARD AND ALLOWED
i]
THE FREE EXPORTATION ae
OF GOLD.
+e

4
BRIS
a
ea
ag om
ree
a(mm
ee
ae
61

ee

4 |

152
 JULY 1929: GIICHI
TANAKA AND HIS CABINET
RESIGN EN MASSE. OSACHI
HAMAGUCHI* SUCCEEDS
AS PRIME MINISTER
AND FORMS HIS
FIRST CABINET.

RENOWNED FINANCIER
JUNNOSUKE INOUE*
BECOMES MINISTER
OF FINANCE.

THE NEW GOVERNMENT HAS A I'LL PIPE

HUGE MESS ON THEIR HANDS. TANAKA’S (} IN HERE...
POLICIES LEFT THE COUNTRY IN WORSE 7
SHAPE THAN IT HAD BEEN IN DURING
THE FINANCIAL CRISIS.

FSEE NOTES PAGE 524.

155
 MY CAFE IS ° THAT EXPLAINS
FALLING ON HARD ; THINGS.
TIMES TOO. y

f\\
NO BUSINESS [ AND 1 WAS
WITHOUT 7 GOING TO HIT
CUSTOMERS. (\) YOU UP FOR

\T DOESN'T
me? TM AN
WHAT ARE | ITS THIS BAD
PAY WELL,
INSURANCE AGENT
YOU GOING TO fill ECONOMY.
AT A LOCAL
BUT WHAT
COMPANY.
CAN YOU
902

FATHER
RETURNED

iy
Zant
WZ Ws

AY aN
\ Wea?

154
 EseSo
3c°
ee eS =s3ORs
Soc
ewe—->S>cx aeesw CaS
es Sons
> Stic
wee oo
Lao
aot}
io
=> > oe<=
OS
ary
?
ae ES“3 2
ss
3 >

A
Rs
SN ayy,”
sos,
SS

eZee
>

JANUARY II, 19730

EVERYONE WAS THERE THE DAY THE EMBARGO
FOR THE EXCHANGE. WAS LIFTED, HUGE
LINES FORMED AT
THE BANKS.
——

ITS MUCH ONE HUNDRED

BUT IF YOU HAVE
ADO ABOUT YEN IS STILL
PAPER MONEY OR
NOTHING. ONE HUNDRED
GOLD MONEY.
 THE PRICE OF
GOLD IS RE- COMMODITIES
EMBARGOED. SKYROCKETS, AND
THE BALANCE OF
TRADE PLUMMETS.

THE LIFTING OF THE GOLD

EMBARGO WAS INTENDED TO
PUT JAPAN ON EQUAL TERMS
WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES,
BUT JAPAN’S CAPITALISM
WAS TOO FRAGILE.

wy) i
m ‘Vinay ll \ ana ee
‘ i) ht a y
= a) | ee

AND THE TIMING

AMERICA’S WAS TERRIBLE.
GREAT DEPRESSION
HAD COME TO
JAPAN.
 MEANWHILE, RICH
AT THE CENTER OF IT SPECULATORS IN JAPAN
ALLIS THE MITSUI WERE BUSY BUYING
ZA\BATSU. U.S. DOLLARS.

ANIM” TINIE IN)

RIGHT-WING GROUPS
FEBRUARY 1932: THE ae : BLAME THIS FINANCIAL
LEAGUE OF BLOOD — > ce CHAOS ON THE RISE OF
INCIDENT. Pike,’ nae eyes THE ZAIBATSU.
TM\\\ | Dy ar - ‘

vine

THIS ECONOMIC TURMOIL FEEDS

LIKE THE LEAGUE THE ANGER OF TERRORIST GROUPS
OF BLOOD. TO THE EXTREME RIGHT...

159
 MAKES YOU SURE, GETTING THAT
FEEL RICH. : SPARKLING GOLD IN
YOUR HAND...

THE BRIEF THRILL OF BUT ALL THAT

SPINNING PAPER INTO GOLD JUST FLOWED
GOLD AMOUNTED TO RIGHT OUT OF
NOTHING. } EVERYONE’S
HANDS.

THE EMBARGO WAS LIFTED cue ae

FOR ONLY TWO YEARS, JS |P
BUT AN ESTIMATED ip ‘ POCKETS OF SPECULATORS
YOO MILLION YEN il Ge OVERSEAS. THE JAPANESE
WORTH OF GOLD : WERE PRACTICALLY
LEFT JAPAN. = le

158
MURATNONATLNT
NOU CONT NLT NT cae
Rt ANYIVIGNNKNINTLKOWN
\\\n WnGDIKY AiQUENT AW
RKTT” MT XS SONU
NY AWRY
Wi winKAN\\WNNNIN RUNNER
MNNRONY RN KURA
NNKA
. Xi" \\ WKY 2 : \ \\ NON . \ | \ NTS MN, ANWR NANA i MW W\\
\ N
RaW win SANNA i MN\KY ANY NNR NW
~:
. ‘ a.
; \
AA
ANI
Wy
N) :
~“<
;
SL
Ny We
i
\ \NN
i
NNW i Ni
VI \\\
NK ANN}
Hi A
NV
S uf \\ \ 1AM] | |

AANWANY
SAN
\ Wil
\| | \"
\ i \

Witt

f..%
\r W AN

vil

Hite
Ke n

" vi)

i)

() CEA
Wis

PAS

161
 THE LEAGUE OF BLOOD IS A DOMESTIC TERRORIST ORGANIZATION BASED ON
NICHIREN BUDDHISM. ITS FOUNDER IS NISSHO INOUE, WHO USES SLOGANS LIKE
“ONE PERSON, ONE KILL” AND “KILL ONE, HELP MANY” To RECRUIT
NUMEROUS YOUNG PEOPLE FROM RURAL DISTRICTS.

WIN Res ts,

Vi Lad i E(u OHTA
li iin Ma ie
mr ase

VA AE
ee (es
se i AO NSS
a AES
G >

TAN.

THE GROUP CONTACTS RIGHT-WING

STUDENTS AND EXTREMIST OFFICERS
IN THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY. THEY
PLAN TO PROVOKE SOCIETAL UNEASE
THROUGH KEY ASSASSINATIONS,
WITH REVOLUTION AS THE ULTIMATE
GOAL. MEMBERS OF THE GROUP
ASSASSINATE MINISTER OF
FINANCE JUNNOSUKE
INOUE ON FEBRUARY
7 AND MITSUI ZAIBATSU
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
TAKUMA DAN ON
MARCH 5.

160
 SNR
T WOULD
WANDER THE
GRAVES. IT ED EO
WASN'T SCARY. = it
|
| i}| t th

OMABLE SENSE
OF WONDER.

DSTI. /,7
ANY SU Yi

IT FELT LIKE THERE

WERE HIDDEN WORLDS
UNDERNEATH THE
GRAVES, BUT I WAS
NEVER REALLY SURE
IF THEY EXISTED.

ina

163
 AT THAT TIME,
MY HOBBY WAS BUG
COLLECTING.

NE Nie
NY
US
\

)
Hg
({ Ey
erance iWas icc Hype
i
rs ae<y
HZ

MG NS A

NG
ON
WAN

Mh hy 5
Whit

T OFTEN STUMBLED
ACROSS GRAVEYARDS.
T FOUND THEM
PEACEFUL AND
CONTEMPLATIVE.

162
WHEN I TOUCHED THE ANCIENT QI <a, ene
STONE FOXES, IT WAS LIKE Ol Bay CPS 0G
AN ELECTRIC SHOCK. L WY Ne Ou as
SF
=
i i
<a eae!
/\\ SS
q A

Sra / \ 8,
(
7 Paes i
Vpi Y/Y) De

T DIDNT. REALLY KNOW WHAT IT

ALL MEANT, BUT I WAS DRAWN
TO IT NONETHELESS. THOSE
FEELINGS WERE TOO
STRONG TO
IGNORE.

/ Y,
ND f WMA 1 WAS LOOKING FOR
VA AWA A A SIGN FROM THE
UK HIODEN WORLDS,
q

SS
—
/
“ih.
GE
x
A
Y

é \/ 26
—VTa
— COMING AND GOING FROM
SCHOOL, T ALWAYS STOPPED AT
THE SMALL INARI SHRINES. I
JUST KNEW THERE WAS MORE
THERE THAN I COULD SEE.

165
 1 GOT THE SAME FEELING
GOING TO SHINTO SHRINES,
ESPECIALLY SECLUDED ONES.
IT ALWAYS FELT LIKE
SOMEONE WAS THERE.

IT WOULD PASS UNDER

THE TORII GATES.

I WAS LOOKING FOR

SECRETS. I NEVER
WENT TO PRAY.

bea

164
 | THE DIPLOMATIC ISSUE
|| |
|
i i NOW ON EVERYONE'S
MIND IS...
> A |An mn!
———————_ oa | |

THE LONDON NAVEL TREATY.* THE JAPANESE ARE

SERIOUSLY CONCERNED WITH ITS IMPLICATIONS.

nace wma ‘
*AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN JAPAN, EN GLAND, THE US, FRANCE, AND ITALY TO REDUCE WARSHIP CONSTRUCTION.

167
 THERE WAS A SPIRIT.
WORLD THAT ONLY
He COULD FEEL,

HE STORED THEM IN A HEMP BUT IT WASN'T ALL

BOX AND HID THEM IN THE CLOSET. ROMANTIC. HE ALSO
| HIS MOTHER WAS SHOCKED WHEN ‘ COLLECTED CAT AND
SHE FOUND THEM, TO DOG BONES FROM
SAY THE LEAST. THE BEACH.

WHEN WE LAST CHECKED

IN, OSACHI HAMAGUCHI’S NOW, HOW'S THE WORLD
CABINET HAD JUST TAKEN OF POLITICS DOING?
OVER FROM GIICHI
TANAKA.
 NO MATTER HOW
TERRIBLE THINGS ARE,
THERE IS NOTHING
MORE TERRIBLE
THAN WAR.

4\!
a ai
et

DON’T FORGET
T WOULDN'T AFTER THE GREAT WAR, ALL WE WERE
ABOUT CHAOS
AND A BAD SAY THAT’S ALL LEFT WITH WAS EMPTY PROMISES
WE WERE FROM OUR ALLIES.
ECONOMY.
LEFT WITH.

AND WE GET TO PAY FOR IT. AND NOW ALL THE COUNTRIES THAT
HOW ABOUT THIS CAFE2 NEVER LEARNED THEIR LESSONS
ARE EAGER TO REPEAT
THEIR MISTAKES.
 ARMY AND NAVY DURING THOSE YEARS,
ANNIVERSARIES ARE ALL KIDS WORSHIP GENERAL
THAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NOGI AND ADMIRAL
KIDS TALK ABOUT. THEY TOGO.
ADORE BRAVERY.

HERE'S ONE OF SHONEN CLUB,*

THE PORTRAITS. fs THE MAGAZINE FOR BOYS,
Fee A OFFERS OVERSIZED PORTRAITS
BUT INCREASES TO THE 3 OF GENERAL NOGI AND
MILITARY BUDGET 2 ADMIRAL TOGO.
MEAN HIGHER TAXES
FOR THE CITIZENS.

LET'S HEAR SOME

OF THE VOICES IN
THE STREET.

Zee

*SEE NOTES PAGE 524.

168
 NEXT IS THE LONDON MEETING.
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WILL BE IT'S A CONTINUATION OF THE
RESTRICTIONS ON ARMORED CRUISERS, WASHINGTON CONFERENCE.
; SUBMARINES, AND
AUXILIARY SHIPS.

JANUARY 2!, 1930:

ENGLAND, THE UNITED
STATES, FRANCE, ITALY,
ANDO JAPAN GATHER
TOGETHER.

BUT WERE AIMING INTERNAL POLITICS

FOR A 10:10:7 RATIO. IN JAPAN ARE
COMPLICATED
RIGHT NOW.

171
 THESE COUNTRIES | | TWO BEAN NWP
WOULD HAVE To LeT | | BUNS im 10 STOP THIS FROM
GO OF THEIR EGOS. ~ PLEASE. rx ‘ HAPPENING...

= AND TAKE SERIOUS

AFTER THE GREAT WAR, Hg. MEASURES TOWARD
THERE WAS A DISARMAMENT bj DISARMAMENT.
CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON.

OH YES. THE U.S., ENGLAND, AND JAPAN

AGREED TO A RATIO OF 10:10:G,¥ WITH REGARD
BUT THAT RATIO WAS TO THE SIZE OF THEIR NAVIES.
UNFAIR TO JAPAN.

THEY'LL HAVE TO
DESTROY THE KAGA INDEED.
BATTLESHIP AND AKAGI AND NOW...
AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

FI OLY CITED
¥SEE NOTES PAGE 524.
170
 BUT EVERYONE
IS RALLYING AROUND
THE MILITARY NOW.

rn —_ mm
mitt | Hi

ui
f ‘aa

|
lhe J

APRIL 22: JAPAN IS PREPARED TO RATIFY AND SIGN THE TREATY,

WHICH WOULD RESTRICT THE SIZE AND ARMAMENT OF NAVY VESSELS.

LTT——— Ing)
ON
\ San Mr) ON 7
Sr
=r MMSZa
1) MMMANU
QU)”NL se:
MMMM YNNNNNNNN oe _ Tell
LLL \ ea cs
“Np eriae Te

faOL 77
i |Bex l
7
a Ye
Hdf ® Z

mo | | tik
it

THE ULTRANATIONALIST
RIGHT-WING FACTION
IS ALARMED BY
THE TREATY.

173
 IDIOT! YOU SHOULD J TALKING SHALL WE 60 BUT THE GOVERN-
TAKE THIS ABOUT THIS IS OUTSIDE? MENT WILL NEVER
SERIOUSLY. E\ EXHAUSTING. AGREE TO THAT.

HOPEFULLY THIS WILL THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT IS

CHANGE AFTER FEBRUARY’S POWERLESS TO PREVENT THE MILITARY
GENERAL ELECTION. WITH BUILDUP. THEY CAN’T RESTRAIN SPENDING,
OSACHI HAMAGUCHI LEADING AND ORDINARY PEOPLE SUFFER FOR IT.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL
DEMOCRATIC PARTY,*
IT CAN WIN.

rovewenncenn SS

*SEE NOTES PAGE 525.

 LIGHTER SHIPS ARE
DESIGNED TO MAKE THE
MOST OF THIS LIMIT.

CITIZENS ARE ; any WZ OO |

CONCERNED ABOUT EVEN DURING THIS
TYPES OF | i POOR ECONOMY.
| 4 :
ARMAMENT.

Mii {iN \\
; CHE )

WHAT THEY TAKE SOME KIND

FOOLISHNESS. OF PERSONAL PRIDE IN
THEIR COUNTRY’S
WEAPONS OF WAR.

es
TCT ae =

oN) p jee, ——

175
THE RIGHT WING oe . y
LEADS THE RALLIES, & MN gee CROWDS OF CITIZENS
BUT THE TREATY oe p MEL ¢ GATHER TO PROTEST
IS SIGNED is . ate DISARMAMENT.
WITHOUT 2 ita eee
INCIDENT.

| ACCORDING TO
Kl THE TREATY,
i Mili 2 = Meat JAPAN IS
= BBlll| == = UF, RESTRICTED To
ee ae = = 100,000 TONS
di OF HEAVY
CRUISERS.

174
 JANUARY 24, 1930: THE PRIME MINISTER IS
RETURNING FROM OKAYAMA, WHERE HE HAD GONE TO
WATCH ARMY EXERCISES. AS HE BOARDS TOKYO STATION’S
NEW TSUBAME EXPRESS TRAIN, A SHOT RINGS OUT...

HANG ON,
HAMAGUCHI FALLS,
PRIME MINISTER!
CLUTCHING HIS
HANG Of!!!
STOMACH.

177
 THE TREATY IS SIGNED IN THE
FACE OF OPPOSITION FROM THE
FRIENDS OF CONSTITUTIONAL
GOVERNMENT PARTY, AND THE
EMPEROR HIMSELF. THIS
VIOLATION OF IMPERIAL
PREROGATIVE CAUSES AN
UPROAR IN THE DIET...

ra
il iz
iN!

AND LEADS TO
VIOLENCE.

WY
Wiis
YMyi/!
¢

a
MENA!
Pa LLL a
 THE CULPRIT IS
TOMEO SAGOYA, A
YOUNG RIGHT-WING g SSS
> OPWwW
ULTRANATIONALIST.

KIJURO SHIDEHARA*
SUCCEEDS TO INTERIM
DEPUTY PRIME
MINISTER. — -—
- wp!’

; th,
"hy, a“Hy,HN,\,
ok cae oa
vali
iMMiHi tauLanenol inane
ii ity
Ahineve“et

*SEE NOTES PAGE 525,

179
 EMERGENCY! TU SHOW
GET HIM TO ‘ LE F YOU A MAN?
THE HOSPITAL! eae y ee YEP TRUE WORTH!

THE BULLET IS LODGED IN HIS BODY. IT'S CLOSE,

BUT HE SURVIVES. THE PRIME MINISTER'S
WORDS, “A MAN'S TRUE
WORTH,” BECOME A
POPULAR SAYING.

178
 ITHAVENT SENT rey
WELL, THIS PLACE ; MONEY HOME FoR ess «SUT WANT
IS JUST ABOUT = Wis SOMETHING
BANKRUFT...

DON'T BOTHER ME |
WITH THAT. FOOD!

IN MARCH, THE COMMODITY Vee ee 1930: JAPAN

MARKET FALLS HEAVILY, THE ECONOMY = Is CONSUMED
STAGNATES, WHILE UNEMPLOYMENT BY THE GREAT
AND BANKRUPTCY ARE ON » DEPRESSION.
THE RISE. we ata

SIGN: YOO UNEMPLOYED WORKERS OF JAPAN ENAMEL.

181
MY FATHER
CONTINUED To
STRUGGLE IN

ee
|
ut
|

SASed
Eis BB
PZ |

iW qN
mm
Ww _2

=]

I HEARD REITIRO
ESTABLISHED HIS
SECOND CABINET.

We
SIGNS: ODEN, UOON.

180
 Ze eZ
LS gE 2
hea \
\:
\e
2,

183
AND WITH
UNEMPLOY-

PH
iit
"y
vag ltl
Wy iA i
i}
:
su) ‘ ey
; COMES POVERTY
Ht
[ Ny Wah
criti!
Pees AND DESPAIR.

182
 THERE’S
SOMETHING
BEHIND US.

seniH || IM
eee “il

Seon bs

THERE’S A
MONSTER
BEHING US!
;
|
il

184
 T WONDER IT SEEMS LIKE A NEW
IF HE'S HERE SUICIDE FLOATS UP ON
BECAUSE OF THE BEACH EVERY DAY.
THAT2

LABOR STRIFE DISCUSSIONS OF THIEVES,

ANO DISPUTES ARE FAMILY SUICIDES, STARVATION,
EVERYWHERE, AND LUMPEN* ARE JUST
EVERYOAY TOWN GOSSIP.

1 DON’T THINK MANY OF YOU THERE WAS

MODERN READERS CAN REALLY NOTHING TO EAT,
UNDERSTAND HOW TERRIBLE IT YOU KNOW2
IS TO HAVE NO FOOD.

¥A GERMAN PHRASE MEANING HOMELESS VAGRANTS.,

187
 VID YOU LOOK
WE WERE
THAT'S TOO SCARED!
BETOBETO-

YOU HEARD THE

SANDALS?
NEXT TIME,
JUST STEP ASIDE...

oY i by

AND SAY
I THINK I BROUGHT “AFTER YOU,
HIM BACK FROM BETOBETO-
OSAKA WITH Me.

00000H.
BETOBETO-SAN2
ANO THEN LATER, AT THE HUJIBO KAWASAKI
FACTORY, A YOUNG MAN CLIMBS A FORTY-
METER CHIMNEY AND DELIVERS A SPEECH
AS HE WAVES A RED FLAG.
HE IS KNOWN AS THE
“CHIMNEY MAN.”

iif WN ty

oe
i
Mi aT NY
4
iN
YOU SLOWLY SUCCUMB
STARVATION IS MORE
TO DESPAIR UNTIL YOU THAN JUST AN EMPTY
CAN'T SEE ANY HOPE
STOMACH. HUNGER EATS
IN THE WORLD. AWAY AT YOUR SOUL.

APRIL 9: PAY CUTS

TOKYO CITY TRANSIT
AT KANEBO YODOGAWA
WORKERS 60 ON A STRIKE
FACTORY ARE FOLLOWED
THAT SPREADS ACROSS
BY A LABOR STRIKE.
THE COUNTRY.

188
i!
LL BE HERE HA HA HA! DON'T
UNTIL YOU MEET PLAY KIDS’ GAMES
MY DEMANDS! WITH ME.

—=w w= oOw « Soi = = — 60w =

THE AREA VIEWING ARMY
—S—}
FIELD MANEUVERS SOON.

1
N
aN

THAT'S IT THEN. THERE'S NOTHING

ELSE WE CAN DO BUT GIVE IN TO WE CAN'T LET THE
HIS DEMANDS. WE HAVE TO GET EMPEROR CATCH
HIM DOWN FROM THERE, WIND OF THIS.
AND SOON.
BEEN ENE
feta

19
 WHAT ON HE’S BEEN
GIVE HIM A BLAST
EARTH IS UP THERE FOR
FROM THE CHIMNEY,
HE DOING? THREE DAYS!

SIR, THE SMOKE YOU THINK TLL

DION’T WORK. QUIT BECAUSE OF
SOME SMOKE?

i >
Yt

\ THE FIRE DEPARTMENT

CAN’T BRING HIM

|
TA | DOWN WITH THEIR
“ \ . NY
HOSES EITHER.
5, PAXN | i
ron Zand || =
As ih aos

190
 NONNONBA WAS
NO EXCEPTION.

HER EMPLOYER WAS

ALMOST RUINED
AS WELL.

NO RICE AGAIN TODAY.

MAYBE 1 CAN WORK
SOMEWHERE AS
A NANNY.
IN
ie NL
LE AL
pie cy

193
THE CHIMNEY MAN
WAS UP THERE FOR
132 HOURS. SIX DAYS
IN TOTAL.

WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT

LOWER CLASS LABORERS RATE, IT'S NO SURPRISE
WEREN’T THE ONLY THE CHIMNEY MAN VID
ONES SUFFERING SOMETHING DESPERATE.
THOUGH.

ACTUALLY, IT DIDN'T FROM CITY HALL

MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE WORKERS TO SCHOOL
WHETHER YOU HAD A TEACHERS, NO ONE
JOB OR NOT. WAS GETTING PAID.

192
 STILL IN. J
THEY TIED THEIR FEET AZ SCHOOL.
TOGETHER AND JUMPED aga T SAW A SUICIDE!
INTO THE OCEAN. Panny

XS

SOME KIDS DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING WHAT'S THAT

TO BRING FOR LUNCH. MEANZ IPS BECAUSE |
OF THE BAD
ECONOMY.

195
 SHE FOUND WORK AS A
a a NANNY, BUT IT DIDN'T PAY
THERE'S ONLY SST ENOUGH TO EAT.
ONE THING LEFT ie
THAT I CAN DO.

= SRBarina
SA ET \
MTU Ci UCC CTC
Z _Z {i

NONNONBA ATTENDED 10
A MAN SICK WITH
CONSUMPTION.

ia
il
Bue

194
 YUTAKA’S
FATHER WAS
IF T SAY 60, TLL 00 ANYTHING
THEN YOU 60! BUT WORK ON THOSE
BOATS! I HATE IT!

i
XXOPO
Sos f
fk
xo >

XX

HIS FATHER GETS A YUTAKA IS

YEAR'S SUPPLY WORKING ON
OF RICE IN THE BOATS,
EXCHANGE. COOKING
RICE.

197
 THEY WOULD PRETEND TO BE ENGROSSED
IN A BOOK SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO
SEE THE OTHERS
EATING.

T STILL HAD NO IDEA WHAT

WAS IN STORE FOR ME.

SHIGERY, I
WANT YOU 10
SEE SOME-

YUTAKA YUTAKA* IS
NEXT DOOR? BEING
BEATEN.

196
 A POOR HOUSE WITH
| MANY CHILDREN,
H) THE ENTIRE FAMILY

ier

Ren

<a
XS
CX)
2
XXX ERG
>

ONE DAY THERE THEY SUFFERED

WAS A STORM AT SEA. TO EARN MONEY
YUTAKA DIED. FOR FOOD.

WHEN 1 WAS HIS BODY WAS

REMEMBER BEING UN- 1 COULD GO
NEVER FOUND,
YUTAKA. GRATEFUL, FOR SOME
MOTHER CANDY.
ALWAYS
SAID...

199
FISHING BOATS HELD
FIVE TO SIX PEOPLE,
AND OFTEN BROUGHT
ALONG A LITTLE BOY
TO DO THE COOKING.

USUALLY, THEY WERE POOR

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THE BOY WOULD
STUDENTS OR THE CHILDREN MAKE RICE FOR
: OF APPRENTICE THE SAILORS.
FISHERMEN.

THN p41 Hf
Re a a
SSS S55 RTL
ASSSARSAST
S25
I ;

YUTAKA WAS A SIXTH

GRADER, BUT HE WAS
YUTAKA HAS BEEN SMALL. HE DIDN'T GO
WORKING SINCE TO SCHOOL.
THE FIFTH GRADE.

198
 é THE FA RMER’S
- TRA CEDY
De

—A

Sa

Ce eo a

poy ane

201
ESPECIALLY AFTER SHE SAID
MY FATHER STOPPED THIS OFTEN.
SENDING MONEY
AND WE WERE

DON'T BE
O PICKY.
BE GLAD YOU REMEMBER :
ARE ALIVE. y YUTAKA.

ITS BETTER THAN Se ee

NOTHING, I == (AC AND BE THANKFUL THAT
f YOU EVEN HAVE POTATO SOUP
TO EAT FOR BREAKFAST!

200
 THE PRICE OF RICE AND
RAW SILK DWINDLES TO
ALMOST NOTHING.

on )
Ge Wy
y EN. \
WA
Vl
ZN

WE SHOULD
JUST KILL ;
OURSELVES. AES

y ee
wy /
“y
 EVEN THOSE WITH AN EDUCATION ARE
FINDING IT HARD TO GET BY. “I WENT
TO COLLEGE BUT...” IS A
COMMON PHRASE.

it ee ise

THE TRAGEDY
OF THE TOHOKU
FARMERS
TOUCHES
EVERYONE.

202
 ONL ABOUT Be en" cg A
OF FARMERS
OWN THEIR
OWN LAND.

LANDLORDS CLAIM HALF THE RICE, SO FARMERS

ENDURE ON MILLET. WHEN THE MILLET RUNS
OUT, THEY EAT ACORNS, OR BRACKEN ROOTS
BOILED WITH A LITTLE RICE.
 IF THERE’S A
PRODUCTIVE
HARVEST,
PRICES

— Mt (HI at
re eeOn
Z
aa
ti WA oySANK
4
Miraewe Hy SMa
;
Sher a
\
Dea.
_- ~

SU aie -
5 hice
ee

eg
pet 2
a
Le EEE

BUT WITH A POOR

HARVEST, NOTHING
IS LEFT TO EAT.

ay
Jes

204
 EVERY DAY
BRINGS MISERY. IF
THE FARMERS SUNK
gel ANY LOWER, THEY’D

p
aNii NA BE IN HELL.
¥,
sy

PLEASE HELP
THE PEOPLE
OF TOHOKU!

FUNDRAISERS IN TOKYO
ARE UNSUCCESSFUL.

HIS
207
 PAM
a a
WITH NO MISO PASTE,*
HEY FLAVOR FOOD
WITH A PINCH OF SALT.
Basti
myAi
i ilwl\ ; : | ¢ |
BUT EVEN SALT
rim gy, UN gy)
| { O42 72 l IS TERRIBLY
\ AW’. é
x 5 Dy ‘
LUXURIOUS.
y Z \

VALUABLE HORSES ARE

STABLED IN THE SOUTH-FACING
PART OF THE HOUSE. PEOPLE
SLEEP ON STRAW BEDS IN
THE COLDER, NORTH-
FACING PART.

206
 TWO OR THREE YEARS
BUT THE DEPRESSION ee AGO, RAW SILK WAS
KILLED EXPORTS Ine DOING GREAT.
TO THE US.

A hai
ARLEi :
4 f<4 /Hf|An\)y A hil

|
MAYBE WE SHOULD
HEAD TO THE ES, NO ONE'S BUYING
CITIES. (Zh DOMESTICALLY.

MW YN ag
llNe BH
Ey

<=
MT
3
n THEYRE ALL OUT
OF WORK 100.

I WOULDN'T SELL TLL HAVE TO SELL

MY DAUGHTER FOR VE A, -~—«NY “DAUGHTER.
ANY AMOUNT a
OF MONEY.

209
 : I na THE RICE IS
BUT THERE’S RICE USN REALLY COMING
COMING IN FROM Pees UP THIS
NORTHERN SEER
TAIWAN TOO. ioe

a \\
N
s

Garb
V,
y \Z
¥,

Vi(eae ! }

SO NO ONE
ITS STRANGE DAYS WHEN EVEN WANTS WHAT
A 6000 HARVEST IS WE HAVE 10 SELL.
— BAD FOR FARMERS.

60te LA EVERYTHING «=| Hi Miy Brae Ne Vie OF A

wens PY acc | Peed
PRICIER. wah (NY (
NOSEDIE...
4 (ye =

Peg ign VAY

,
Nh

= ij

ITS UNBEL- STARVING THERE ARE

JEVABLE. /)) FARMERS. TOO MANY OF
US FIELD

cue
Prin ye WORKERS.

Hi We X\
 THE GIRLS WHO
ARE SOLD...

oT

1
Pe i
itt Gy zi
iii
“\ wif Ms ‘ .@)
QS“Db

WIND UP AS
PROSTITUTES,
BARMAIDS,
HOSTESSES,
OR GEISHAS.

ii
(i) Ibi
| i| <‘_

211
 DESPERATE PEOPLE ARE
FORCED TO SELL THEIR
FAMILIES—MEANING,
OF COURSE, THEIR
DAUGHTERS.

Bee

Os
at
me
OX
SS
BSS
(ASB
GE, XXX VILLAGE.
SIGN: IF YOU WANT TO SELL YOUR DAUGHTERS, CONTACT ATARI BROKERA

210
WE SHOULD Eex=Ww (i>)S > w [oa= = put)= [od
BE PROTECTING I$ RESPONSIBLE.
FARMERS WITH
OUR LIVES.

TACHIBANA AND GONDO ESPOUS

THEIR PHILOSOPHY, AND ENCOUR-
AGE “HEAVEN'S PUNISHMENT”
FOR POLITICIANS AND BUSI NESS
LEADERS. THEIR WRITING FUELS
AGGRESSIVE NATIONALISM
ANO RIGHT- WING
TERRORISM.

PYTg 1
| ioc Rig
< Hy Ye

213
 SUICIDES REGULARLY FLOAT UP ON THE BEACH. MANY OF THEM
ARE PROSTITUTES. MILITARY OFFICERS FEEL DEEPLY FOR THE FARMERS.
MANY COME FROM RURAL VILLAGES THEMSELVES.

ean oe sth
I ylA

RIGHT-WING PHILOSOPHERS TO JAPANESE CITIZENS, FARMS

KOSABURO TACHIBANA...” ae ARE THE HEARTLAND OF
wy THE COUNTRY.

AND SEIKYO GONDO*

ADVOCATE THE “AGRICULTURAL
JAPAN DOCTRINE.”*
r i
Wy

nN t ai
SS

*SEE NOTES PAGE 525.

212
 THE TRAGEDY WITH
THE FARMERS INCITES
\ FASCISM, AND JAPAN’S
LONG WAR BEGINS,
j
Dp: SF
My,

UL
TN
Mee

215
 WHILE POLITICIANS,
BUSINESSES, AND THE
MILITARY USE THE ISSUE
OF THE FARMS FOR
THEIR OWN
| PURPOSES...

FITTEST TPG
. » Ny)/

FARMERS QUIETLY
WITH NO ONE STARVE TO DEATH...
TO HELP THEM.

=
we

NN

214
atyA

THE GREAT
KIDS’ WAR
217
 BE
YM ihNiINET eM AN
4,H }y}i
i |
yy fH
/

Vi, a
Ope

, YY BR.
SOMMERS:

EBON ra
Gti
Oe:
POURS; MM ORB RESIS ER Ras ‘ A
DEER 31 MI 2 NSE S SALE
CM es:
 BUT IF I NEEDED IT, THAD WHEN I HEARD “READY,” my BopyY.
A BACK-UP PLAN. SPRANG INTO ACTION.

Ko ‘

\ % \
) os ‘

I DION’T HEAR
THE PISTOL.

AND THE COACK WOULD

OKAY, LET'S ALWAYS SAY...
TRY IT
AGAIN.

THAT'S HOW I
ALWAYS WON.

219
 AT THAT TIME, 1 WAS
SENT TO COMPETE
AT A FIVE-VILLAGE
SPORTS FESTIVAL.

I HAD NEVER LOST

THE SPRINT.

T ALWAYS STARTED WITH A

ONE-METER LEAD.

218
 STONE-THROWING FIGHTS WERE
THE MOST DANGEROUS. |

HEY, YOU JERKS! |_ e ct ee WE MET THE

SEITAN GOT FIVE 4 = rag f | TAKEYASU GANG AT
STITCHES! I? hi avant THE BATTLEGROUND.
 IT WON ALL OF MY EVENTS AT THE
FIVE-VILLAGE SPORTS FESTIVAL. MY
“JUTAROU IWAM| ATHLETICISM ALSO MEANT I WAS A
FIGHTS BABOONS.” STRONG FIGHTER. AT HOME, I WOULD
THAT'S SO COOL. DEVOUR SHONEN CLUB MAGAZINES.

TeVEN HAD A AT SCHOOL, I WAS

FOLLOWER, ALWAYS IN
NEKOYASU. FIGHTS.

WHEN SCHOOL LET OUT,

THE FIGHT WOULD BE ON.

220
 y|
)
)=
f l i a l
aleil|
r
e e
| rr
Hh g sVG
T o
| ll

N To
Zi
ig

YA
YN if

ARE DEAD!

223
 ITS HIS
OWN FAULT!
 AND THEN |
SUDDENLY, |
WE WERE ALL

LEADING THE
RETREAT WAS
THE BOY
GENERAL.

WE JUST

-° NY]
: Cc a x ae) Ww,
me iy f,

S ee wos us NY y

SOMEONE SMACKED US
FROM BEHIND.

225
 ei i==)= LS 35<=> w <x
BUCKET, BUT
THIS’LL DO.

IT WAS THE FIRST

TIME I WAS
SCARED OF
AN ENEMY.

= uMw cS < —
w> w oc> i=)— wD oe< <—
HE SAME TIME. ONE
KIO RAN AWAY.

224
 WHERE ARE

i
ii
iH

wy oe
Pel igSL){

prem NY
NY‘(] \VAN/

227
 MY LITTLE
BROTHER!

QUIT IT,
TAKEYASU!

3 \\\ UNIT AN iv

OAT
.
\
\" A
NJ

Ss

226
 gam THIS TOAD IS JUST ABOUT |
V, ROASTED. READY FOR OUR
FINE ESAKI CUSTOMER!

A GOURMET
YOU AIN'T prone cy, TREAT FROM
HUNGRY2 Gy
Oo lyk HANAMACHI.

Whqyiy a
Gs
hatsa

la
ut Mes

Ue EN
Wee (pasWE 9 iS aS AN)) (; Ki
o>) a rail Ss iZ Ss >
WA
Cac WH ataial §
Ve
mGHf ENMEI aoe
WW aWAG
Ke ~\\\ WEE
MW OA
WE, ¢pe eS

229
 THE NEXT DAY, THE BOY
GENERAL HAD ME DOING
RECONNAISSANCE OF
HANAMACHI.*® I WENT
TO PRAY FOR
MY SAFETY.

vNIeN
oe eigsherr te pa LAN WHAT ARE THEY
PLANNI
NG2

| 2 be DP ~\

Uy Ey
Yr VEZ wy"

Z a\ ¥

<<, .
A AS
TY éj 7bVPm J “a hn ON i

IGHBORHOODS IN SAKAIMINA

228
 MAYBE YOU
WANNA SEE
TOKYO
AGAING

T KNOW YOU CAME

HERE TO SPY ON US.

HEY, THE ESAKI BOY

DOESN'T THINK MUCH
OF OUR HANAMACHI
TREATS.

231
 IF YOU AIN'T GONNA EAT,
je YW THEN IGE CAN SHOW
YOU TOKYO.

Hi

: iIu

\ Wy

Ye YOU SEE
TOKYO?

THEN EAT
YOUR TREAT.

230
 HERE'S A LITTLE ob, POLRYSLON Vibes YOU WANT A
SOMETHING FOR | WY SOUVENIR?
YOUR ERIENDS. (0), 6 e

A x

NASE8
NNW EA
ONC
q J N

WAG THAT'S THE SYMBOL

OF HANAMACHI.
BEAUTIFUL, ITS A SNOT
ISN'T IT? FLOWER!

NOW DON'T Come

sv. POKING AROUND |
HANAMACHI yan \ HERE AGAIN,
cy%
IS OFF-LIMITS ASSHOLE!

233
 PUT SOME
MISO PASTE

FINISH THAT AND

hays YOU CAN
GO BACK
TO ESAKI.

HANAMACHI’S EAT IT SLOWLY If

gabiiein,, ISO IS GREAT, | |AND ENTOY
7 THE TASTE.

232
 All le LZ
7

WAlWhia 7.-
aah (be
AHHH! 2 ei
Jy
BN
sora
ey

BACK WITH ye GOROZUN, YOU'LL

) HANAMACHI! d LIN |f PAY FOR THIS.

WE'RE IN A FIX NOW. |

THERE’S NOTHING
E IF THOSE TWO TEAM
WE CAN DO ABOUT
THAT! BACK TO
een UP, WE'RE TOAST!
HEADQUARTERS! witzy,

ll Pn

BUT THERE'S FIVE

TIMES AS MANY
OF THEM.

235
 WE WERE READY FOR THE TAKEYASU g THE NEXT
GANG THIS TIME. WE HAD CUT EYEHOLES e DAY, THE EIGHT
INTO OLD OIL CANS. , 2 WASON AGAIN

GOROZUN!
Come OvT!

af
Vacwefj

<® THEY FELL BACK AT

THE SIGHT

234
 THEY CAME SOON ~
ENOUGH.

THESE Rocks ake [Perm SAR THE |

HEAVY, | yp
 YEAH! ESAKI HAS ALWAYS WE'VE NEVER
BEEN ESAKI! BELONGED TO
HANAMACHI.

HOW ABOUT THIS? AFTER THE SAND TRAP, WE

DROP ROCKS ON THEM. GIVE THEM A LET'S PUT SOME
: DOUBLE PUNCH2 SAND OVER THE
a ENTRANCE.

GREAT! GET TO
PIG MASA IS IN WORK. USE THAT
FOR IT NOW. STRETCHER THERE.
bags pathsFy

YOU GUYS
60 GET SOME
SURRENDER NOW
AND WE'LL GO
EASY ON YOU!

Bes
Za gE
ZANWA
WAAARGH!
 “ne 3S
YOU
$s2?=&
oOo

o wb
oa
xe= i=w (4

US, OR ELSE

bi
IN

N\ i)
SS \\

241
 y COWARDS!
5
| ze TT \

Fil
| |i i
7s as \!

240
 THIS IS FOR
MY LITTLE
BROTHER!

HERE’S SOME
OF THAT MISO YOU
LOVE So MUCH!!

243
 TIE THEM
BOTH UP!

PIG
., MASA!

242
THE MUKDEN
INCIDENT

245
TO AN OUTSIDER, THEY
MIGHT LOOK LIKE A GANG THAT WAS AN
OF HOODLUMS. BUT FOR EPIC BATTLE.
THE BOYS, IT WAS
THE THRILL OF
A LIFETIME.

IT WAS A STRANGE TIME. BUT

IT WASN'T JUST SAKAIMINATO.
THAT'S HOW KIDS PLAYED ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY.

SOLDIERS WERE ON THE SIDE

OF THE MORALLY JUST. THAT EVERYONE LOVED SOLDIERS.
SOUNDS STRANGE, DOESN'T BATTLE HYMNS FILLED THE
IT BUT PEOPLE WERE AIR ALL OVER JAPAN.
EXCITED BY HEROISM.

244
 YY
Vy
4UY
YY

YY YU,
“yf ily Yop:

AN ae
AS \A

YM
WY
Tilia i,

A PILLAR OF FIRE THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER

SHOOTS INTO 18, 1931: A BOMB EXPLODES
THE SKY. ON THE SOUTH MANCHURIA
RAILWAY NEAR MUKDEN.*

*MODERN DAY SHENYANG, LIAONING PROVINCE.

247
 THE JAPANESE ARE THE CHINESE ARMY CAPTURES
IN AN UPROAR. SONGS ANDO EXECUTES MILITARY SPY
ARE WRITTEN. SHINTARO NAKAMURA*

BAN
|

ih

THIS IS A POPULAR
TUNE.

TO
SX T

ASEE NOTES PAGE 525.

246
 = ow13 = —ot
=
re
Se
= =)|]— UWro)o
ce

=
x
wx
SSrex
x= cee w—ac=<x
oe —— a=
ees 2s
ever
Kn|]
HUNDREDS OF CHINESE
SOLDIERS ARE KILLED.

RV
Ae
SxIT 1S SOON a
= So= ras)> w oe> UNCOVERED
ox 2
THAT
x
= <s °
2
3aaSs oesSs
ri) meee “3s
==e Cc
x Ae
nox
wx
i> AN
= [= — x=w oq—_=)=
SS

<xagpee) fo =

SS
WSN

AW,
XX
©
MQ
SW

\\.
‘\

*SEE NOTES PAGE 525.

249
 THE MAIN ARTERY FOR
THE COUNTRY
JAPAN'S CONTINENTAL
SPIRALS INTO A
BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
FRENZY.
IS CUT OFF.

THE ACTUAL EXPLOSION IS NEWSPAPERS AND

CALLED THE LIUTIAOHKU INCIDENT, MAGAZINES FEED THE
BUT IT BLEEDS INTO THE INSANITY,
MUKDEN INCIDENT.

<é\ vi
—\e:

SIGN: BOMBING AT LIUTIAOKU!

ITS THE DAWN OF A WAR LIKE A COMIC BOOK

THAT WILL LAST NEARLY ADVENTURE, INCIDENT
FIFTEEN YEARS, UNTIL FOLLOWS INCIDENT.
AUGUST I5, 1945.

THE ONLY ONES WHO

SEE ANY APPEAL IN THERE IS WAR
THIS ARE KIDS AND EVERYWHERE.
SOLDIERS, 1 WOULD
THINK,

248
 THE SECOND DIVISION TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT MOVES IN ON A
NEARBY CHINESE GARRISON AND OVERWHELMS IT.

THREE HOURS AFTER THE

INCIDENT, ON SEPTEMBER 19,
THE ORDER TO OCCUPY IS GIVEN.
THE ARMY SYSTEMATICALLY
CAPTURES CITIES DOWN
THE MANTETSU LINE
FROM MUKDEN TO
CHANGCHUN.

251
 IN REALITY, THE
JAPANESE ARMY
BLEW UP THEIR
OWN RAIL LINE.

BUT THE PLAN UNFOLDS PERFECTLY.

THE KWANTUNG ARMY HAS THEIR
EXCUSE TO INVADE.

ee LEN

La
yy
bs
Y

a pias
i
TOR I at
Ail
wm:
eee
 FOLLOWING THE LIUTIAOHU INCIDENT, THE
JAPANESE CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT IS
NERVOUS. THE ARMY IS
GIVING ITS OWN
ORDERS.

THE ARMY WAS NEVER Z THIS IS WAKATSUKI’S FAULT,

GOING TO AGREE TO AN Ss ls WITH HIS TALK OF FISCAL
ARMS REDUCTION. , AUSTERITY AND
DISARMAMENT.

THE CABINET CAN'T

IGNORE THIS MILITARY WE'LL HAVE TO SEND
PROBLEM ANYMORE. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
SOLDIERS TO MANCHURIA
TO DEAL WITH THIS.

253
IN JUST OVER FIVE
MONTHS, MANCHURIA
IS OCCUPIED.

AU

252
 SEPTEMBER 19= : GENERAL
x=
HONIO
< oe= >
*
oOeci=sw [4nn — w avaoOocww =
INTO MANCHURIA.
ulI

=
~=
——S SS
(iA)

f
Wy

SS YsYY,4)
yf
SS = Wy
i iy uy}
y,
Hi}i) hy MyayY
iYHy

Ssh Stazesth
4epee!Ms
4
We
WK
WMD

MMi f 4iD
ih

yy)
M4,ANY MN
L
=Wy
yyWy
iy
MUO
WAYS

Jay) bi1,

; j

yy
Yi
Hy
yy

YP
Yu
YG,
/

Lbigip

WAR IS NOW
Uy
Gy; INEVITABLE.
VM :

UY
Wi

eyWo,
yy

Lily
ps

HYHWth

ees am
1932:
=s25wee
os

= aa 2
o=
=Z2 So
xn
ee—=
wo 3 ale
a= ro)

osSwSAOe==
=

es eS =22=:

*KOREA HAD BEEN ANNEXED BY JAPAN IN 19/0.

255
 THE KWANTUNG ARMY
DOESN'T WAIT FOR THE
GOVERNMENT'S PERMIS-
SION. THEY MOVE IN.

254
a Ne
y afc t a, Heat |

Vy — m } ny
m 4 ty : fy | Habu uu
: : fick sone : oe ri
if

Zo
257
 ITS FOUNDATION IS AN ACT OF
AGGRESSION AND A MAJOR
STEP IN THE MAKING OF
MODERN JAPAN.

SIGN: FOUNDATION OF MANCAUKUO,

om / " I Wt | spain pales. SINCE THE END OF ITS
le ii Cae aia \SOLATIONIST FOREIGN|
POLICY, JAPAN HAS
STRUGGLED WITH
THE WESTERN
POWERS.
 ih
a

E| ie
ill sfy

MCT AM URL
osAAU
etatce
oe
y

Manisa”

Uo

is wnt
“tthe
{ Ww
ye i
JAPAN SEES ITSELT AS ASIA’S
BENEVOLENT, RIGHTFUL LEADER.
BUT IN ACTUALITY, JAPAN
IS DESPOTIC.

|
LAL i
a ; S(g
39 ,
os T=
{———————3
| re
WINN Se |pane
ae | a zBys

ie
if
 =———,
| "
iowwZ
ilApMo ae
=—

RET § PREMIUM COAL.

‘a

260
 IS AVOIDING THE ATTENTION
OF THE AMERICANS AND THESE RUMBLINGS IN CHINA
THE BRITISH. ARE JUST A DISTRACTION. OUR
ONLY CONCERN THERE...

OBATA HAS SPENT HALF HIS LIFE

PREPARING FOR THIS SPEECH.
ALL EYES ARE ON HIM. AS IT STANDS,
OUR HOMELAND IS
UNOEFENDED...

MAJOR GENERAL TETSUZAN

NAGATA* STANDS
TO ATTENTION.

NAGATA IS THE LEADER

OF THE TOSEIHA CONTROL T COMPLETELY
FACTION. HE IS A MAN OF DISAGREE!
PERCEPTIVE INTELLECT.

*SEE NOTES PAGE 525.

 JUNE 1933: THE GENERAL STAFF MEET
IN SECRET TO DISCUSS WHAT COURSE OF
ALL RIGHT, WHAT ARE OUR ACTION THE MILITARY WILL TAKE. THEY
CONCERNS ABOUT JAPAN'S
WEIGH OPTIONS AND DEBATE TACTICS TO
SECURITY. SPEAK UP! I WANT USE AGAINST HYPOTHETICAL ENEMIES.
TO HEAR FROM EVERYONE.

TOSHISHIRO
OBATA,* OF
UNLESS WE ELIMINATE THE THE KODOHA
FACTION,* RISES
RUSSIANS, WE HAVE
NO SECURITY. STIFFLY AND
ANNOUNCES...

THE SOVIET ARMY IS

STRENGTHENING THEIR
VICTORY IS NOW FOOTHOLD IN ASIA, BUT THEY
OR NEVER. ARE STILL WEAK, I CALL FOR
A PREEMPTIVE STRIKE.

FSEE NOTES PAGE 525.

262
 THE SOVIETS-ARE OUR ENEMY NOW!
WASTING ENERGY FRETTING ABOUT
THE CHINESE IS PREPOSTEROUS!

WHAT'S MORE, IT WILL

DRAW US INTO CONFLICT WITH A NEEDLESS WAR IN CHINA
WESTERN POWERS THAT HAVE ~ WILL ONLY FURTHER DEPLETE
CHINESE INTERESTS. THERE’S OUR NATIONAL RESOURCES.
YOUR TOTAL WAR.

265
 IF WE ENGAGE THE SOVIETS, IT WILL BE TOTAL WAR. JAPAN
LACKS THE NATIONAL UNITY AND MILITARY POWER TO
SUCCEED. INSTEAD, WE SHOULD PRESS OUR
ADVANTAGE IN ASIA AND MAXIMIZE THE
— GAINS WE MADE WITH THE
f Re CIN MUKVEN INCIDENT.

THE ANTI-JAPANESE
AGGRESSION IN CHINA CAN
WE NEED TO SOLIDIFY HARDLY BE DESCRIBED AS
OUR HOLD ON THE “RUMBLINGS.” IT IS A
CONTINENT. SERIOUS PROBLEM
WE MUST ADDRESS.

till

WITH CHINA’S RESOURCES

WE CAN BOLSTER OUR NATION.
THEN, AND ONLY THEN, DO
WE CONFRONT RUSSIA.

264
 IN THE END, NAGATA
AND THAT ANTAGONIZING CONVINCES THE STAFF THAT
THE SOVIETS WILL COST CHINA WILL BE AN
THEM ALL GAINS EASY VICTORY...
IN ASIA.

28 i ge

THOUGH STILL PLANNING

TO THIS END, THE ARMY FOR A FUTURE WAR WITH
ALIGNS WITH NAGATA AND THE SOVIETS, THE COURSE
THE TOSEIHA FACTION. IS SET FOR CHINA.

267
IN FACT, WE SHOULD eee
COOPERATE WITH CHINA. gi ents CHINA WILL NOT
WE SHOULD BRING THE j 1 FALL EASILY.
PEOPLE OF ASIA , At
TOGETHER.

—S

a Le

THIS IS OUR CHANCE!

BEFORE THE SOVIETS
BECOME 100
POWERFUL!

266
 Ld
ows—_ | Ladd<r—= © Lo. Zz =]z= Zz =]z= co<t

269
THUS, JAPAN’S DESTINY IS DECIDED.
HAD THEY FOLLOWED OBATA’S
PLAN, JAPAN WOULD LIKELY
HAVE SHARED GERMANY’S
FATE. IN HINDSIGHT, THEY
SHOULD HAVE DONE
NOTHING AT ALL.

“NATIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL IT'S A SHAME, BUT PEOPLE

DESTINIES ARE UNKNOWABLE, RARELY MAKE THE DIFFICULT CHOICE
AND GUIDED BY DEMONS.” OF LEAVING THINGS ALONE. AS
JOHANN WOLFGANG VON
GOETHE SAID...

268
 BON ovort
PRACTICE!

‘ ae TER THT pera

| bitin ett mu uth aul iilili illI {alliadd.d Miitiklt
\hud Lh il thud
(alll(LW li I |
=
Wile

271
 IT WAS ALMOST SUMMER
VACATION. PRACTICE HAD
BEGUN FOR THE BON
ODOR| DANCE.*

UD

SS

i IA
Wit

Hh
tif
if

a>
(ah da 4 27k
MON 2
Mr 2"

v4

Was
aieeae AY
:
ATION, SEE NOTES PAGE 525.
re \. y
*A DANCE PERFORMED EVER Y SUMMER TO
270
ALL THREE OF
YOU CAME.

ag A
a .
A\

a,
 YOU MADE IT
JUST IN TIME.

LaBOS
ze Mla AA MSTT NUE TTA RA

FOR THE BON

DANCE...2

‘saild er
N {yi f
slik
NW

: PAll
i
es s y, KP Ny Mi
;
”,
fl mh wa - “C,OR
‘ul

tee Re ORLA AVE

MOTHER SAID WE SHOULON’T NONNONBA DIED OF
G0 TO HER HOUSE, OR WE CONSUMPTION.
COULD CATCH IT.

1 CAN'T BELIEVE
NONNONBA
I$ DEAD...

AND THAT TLL

NEVER GET 10
TALK TO HER

ISK,
(Wj WH

275
 YOU BOYS...PROTECT ME
FROM THE SHAVOWS
OF GRASS...*

>
KOK.
SOW
a, ee-'

& UNDERWORLD.

274
 IN THE MEITI ERA, TO CATCH UP
TO WESTERN POWERS, JAPAN
ENACTED AN AGGRESSIVE POLICY
KNOWN AS “ENRICH THE
COUNTRY, STRENGTHEN THE
MILITARY.” THIS LEADS 10
JAPAN'S ANNEXATION
OF KOREA IN 19/0.

2, 4a
2 WZ wh.)

TURTLE SHELL: JAPANESE OCCUPATION POLITICAL POLICY.

277
 A LITTLE BEFORE
THAT, ABOUT A YEAR
PRIOR TO THE MUKDEN
INCIDENT, IN 1930...

| RELATIONS
ABOUT TO on BETWEEN CHINA
EXPLODE. Ze mm) AND JAPAN...

M s\n 21811911111111
iy 5 TPR 1011") 108)
PM IM fi

276
 MANY KOREAN
TO CULTIVATE THE AMO yeu FARMERS ARE
LAND OF JAPAN’S Mi Tessa RESETTLED ACROSS
LATEST CONQUEST. aa THE BORDER, IN
MANCHURIA...

villi i
0 Su ! i

ifatwalhilil AMAL

KOREA ACTS AS A
BUFFER BETWEEN
JAPAN AND CHINA.
 TO JAPAN, KOREA IS JUST A
FOOTHOLD USED TO ADVANCE
TO THE REST OF THE
CONTINENT.

rae | a a il
wi NN eT
TMA)

)
mi
tae eal
tien
2 E
ea ee’,
I
mm W |
| i

LL
Abdg gy
VCMT
IOL fiir fy

THE KOREAN PEOPLE ARE

TRAMPLED ON AGAIN
AND AGAIN.
 KOREAN COMMUNISTS § AMIE PEW. SOX INSPIRED BY THE
BEGIN TO ORGANIZE AND AYA FAME NOAA CHINESE XINHAL
Lot an insurrection. AI IVI TEN ( S\N REVOLUTION..*

*SEE NOTES PAGE 526.

281
 A MANCHURIAN VILLAGE.
WHAT MAKES THE JAPANESE
THINK THEY CAN JUST PLANT
A BUNCH OF KOREAN
FARMERS HERE?

IT'S OUR LAND! OUR

ANCESTORS TILLED
THIS SOIL.

SCREW THE
< 4 JAPANESE!

280
JAPAN’S POLICIES OPEN AN
UGLY CHAPTER IN HISTORY.

INTENDED AS A STATEMENT
AGAINST THE JAPANESE, THE KOREAN
UPRISING IN MANCHURIA ANGERS THE
CHINESE AND MAKES ENEMIES
OF BOTH NATIONS.

283
MAY 1930: THE KOREAN
COMMUNISTS EXECUTE A
SERIES OF UPRISINGS.

—C* THE SAME CHINESE COMMUNISTS

ates WHO INSPIRED THE REVOLT Move
TO SUPPRESS IT.

282
Bie Ae
< QS
 THE LINE BETWEEN
“OPPRESSOR AND OPPRESSED
BECOMES LOST. TENSIONS
BETWEEN JAPAN, CHINA,
AND KOREA HAVE BEEN
SIMMERING FOR YEARS;
THE WANPAOSHAN
INCIDENT FINALLY
CAUSES THEM TO
BOIL OVER.

)}
iivsieeatin al
n By
i
eh
iy
wat
WM itc
Meatilt
Md
it Hi iA
Sl 4 tap
‘ll aHhye
My OM
ne
Te Hf

WL intdll it
ii Ua Hie Pe “i

bit

bsp
qd Hii
Mal ff ii

nh 9
1B WH)
hy:

oc)
284
 fa
ff OES | eg
nt Hutt se me

<a dl at
19 yi ae py
rimA Pie 4ee: tw
ge
ing atl KIN
SG “i \
JULY 1931: CHINESE : i
Pi:
ve
Ho.
POLICE ARREST TEN | iihiya Cae
% My Mt
iyHt My,

KOREAN SETTLERS " Va Lal Wis

iw
iy?
uh

IN RESPONSE TO iS ~ 6 a i
Mi iv sy LOW, ye
COMPLAINTS.
VA ) h fly :
“Uf
if
iN,
ni
Wi
; ih
Vo
alld
‘cnwigiaie’ ny

art LAwwe Wy
a Mi
or gk

JUST STOP WORKING

NO CAN VO. ON THE CANAL AND
R
LLY p ~Te YOU ARE FREE
\' AUN W

A
ZA h
I
Hy
i ils
ie ive anata
ie[.

UNTIL THE JAPANESE WITHOUT WATER, THEY

CONSULAR POLICE COME CAN'T GROW RICE. THIS
TO INVESTIGATE GOES BACK AND FORTH...
THE SITUATION.

mai CUCU
wit gy iinet mo
! kr
eo UUM UU Fou Tt
ut \"Uti
a
|
| ith maIf
Waon os asSN
HANAAR HA
 ARE IN
HERE GCWHEUN. TRAVEL

| i"
CHAN
TY MILES

R
ABT OWUTAHNWTPEWASEOTNSHAANND. YOU

oe
————

S
HNI ORT

a
|‘

f \, w
:ia

At
il
In,

y
i\

ii
HI

BRUIIGLADTIENG
” AN
THEY KORE E
AND R E I R
THE A R
A CIARNAFLIELTDOS.
ER S
SETTL G RICE
I N
THE
GROW

mt
ITY
TRIN
ny
f
e
\
Rit

HE THIS CANAL HAPPENS T0

SO, T
AND
IS SET. CUT ACROSS THE LAND
STAGE OF SOME ADJACENT
CHINESE FARMERS

S
A iN
NY
—

286
 IN JULY, HUNDREDS OF CHINESE
FARMERS ASSEMBLE AND FORCE THE
KOREANS TO STOP CONSTRUCTION.

THE JAPANESE
SEND AN ARMED
POLICE SQUAD!

289
 CHINESE FARMERS
WE ALREADY DON’T HAVE WHAT ABOUT
ANY FOOD. YOU WANT TO
TAKE OUR WATER T002
WE'LL DIE!

JUST STOP
THE CANAL!

“£

SIGN: YIN FAMILY GUEST HOUSE.

288
 KEIJ0,* PYONGYANG, INCHEON,
VA WONSAN, AND SINUIJU: ANTI-
, CHINESE RIOTS EXPLODE THROUGHOUT
vila mn) KOREA. 109 CHINESE PEOPLE
ARE KILLED.

_ ASAEAR
mek
—
ii
R Ae qin

WN
fe

PRESSURE HAS BEEN BUILDING

FOR GENERATIONS. DESPITE THE
BLOODLESSNESS OF THE
WANPAOSHAN INCIDENT,
THERE ARE GRUDGES ON
EVERY SIDE, WITH
PROPAGANDA STOKING
THE FIRES OF RAGE.

t i:
aa e LD
*MODERN DAY SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA.
291
 THE CHINESE TAKE UP ARMS
ANDO RETURN FIRE.

REMARKABLY, THERE
ARE NO CASUALTIES.
BUT THIS IS ONLY
THE BEGINNING,

290
1931: MUKDEN IS UNDER MILITARY OCCUPATION.
THE KWANTUNG ARMY TAKES EAST
JILIN AND THEN MOVES
ON TO QIQIHAR.

ee Wl

IN QIQIHAR, GENERAL MA ZHANSHAN’S* ARMY

IS CAMPED WITH 40,000 SOLDIERS
NEAR THE NEN RIVER.

—_
SS:
NOTES PAGE 526.
293
 JAPANESE NEWSPAPERS PRINT
NOTHING COULD
UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS THAT
CALM THE ENRAGED
SEVERAL KOREANS HAVE BEEN
KOREANS. KILLED. IN THE WRONG HANDS,
;
Ai
yy mM
\ i
MASS MEDIA CAN BEA
7s TERRIBLE THING.

JAPANESE POLICE A SWIFT AND STRICT

PASS THE RIOTS OFF CRACKDOWN FOLLOWS
AS “SPONTANEOUS THE UPRISINGS.
OUTBURSTS.”

AY AA
6,

iT7 Fig

WE CAN STILL HEAR * AT HOME, DEMAND FOR

THE ECHO OF BOMBS RETALIATION AGAINST THE
FROM THE MUKDEN CHINESE GROWS. AND ON
INCIDENT. SEPTEMBER 18...

292
 BY NOVEMBER 19,
QIQIHAR IS OCCUPIED.
HARBIN QUICKLY
FOLLOWS.

HE GATHERS ie THE WARLORD OF MANCHURIA,

HIS ARMY IN as \ es ZHANG XUELIANG,* HEARS THE
JINZHOU. NEWS FROM BEISING.

FSEE NOTES PAGE 526.

295
 AT THIS TIME, ON THE MORNING
MA ZHANSHAN A OF NOVEMBER I8,
IS FAMOUS MA ZHANSHAN’S
IN JAPAN. ARMY RETREATS.

THE TRUE STORY OF LIEUTENANT

GENERAL TAMON* GIVING CHASE TO
MA ZHANSHAN MAKES FOR EXCITING
READING IN SHONEN CLUB.

IN REALITY, SIRO TAMON’S

PURSUIT IS NOT SO THRILLING.
THE ODDS ARE AGAINST HIS
FORCES AND THEY MUST ENDURE
EXTREMELY COLD NIGHTS, WITH
cea aa
TEMPERATURES FALLING
BELOW NEGATIVE
FOUR DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT.

SS=
¥SEE NOTES PAGE 526.

294
 THEY EASILY 20,000 OF XUELIANG’S
OUTNUMBER THE SOLDIERS SURROUND THE
JAPANESE TROOPS. JAPANESE BASE.

THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE JAPANESE ARMY

REINFORCEMENTS FROM IS TENACIOUS.
THE KWANTUNG ARMY.

wu LE

IF WE TAKE A STAND HERE, IT

WILL BE MEANINGLESS.
 HEARING THAT ZHANG
THERE ARE IO! XUELIANG IS GATHERING
BOMBERS AND | Bm A
AAS
Ah)
\\
HIS TROOPS, THE
FIGHTERS INV th Bs KWANTUNG ARMY
: AZZ ORDERS AN
AIR RAID.

f
Hf

| ‘"jal
its i :

DECEMBER 2G: ZHANG

? | XUELIANG’S ARMY IS
iiiN ) REINFORCED WITH AN
ARMORED TRAIN.

wae
a" BY
iNe, 2

%
|isGtr»

296
iN ie za —
z PaPay J dbiil Se
 THE EYES OF : IF WE WALK AWAY, SHOW
THE WORLD ARE gu MERCY, WE GAIN SYMPATHY
UPON US. FOR OUR CAUSE.

JANUARY 3, 1932: JAPAN’S MILITARY MAKES

A TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO JINZHAO.
JAPAN’S FORCES MORE THAN
DOUBLE IN SIZE, AND SOON
HAVE COMPLETE POWER
OVER MANCHURIA.

ang |
i" Vs

298
 I FOUND A BIG PILE
OF NEWSPAPERS.

ITS OVER
BY THE TRASH
HEAP.

AA TAN AAAS,
NN} " Yes
A.
Oe AN
WY
\ \

will Te Hl i iets zee

ut i ;
UH LEAD AAT

ne MN i
MW i 4 rill avl aly i
ft

WE ALL USED TO COLLECT HEADLINES.

WE WOULD CUT THEM FROM THE
MAINICH| AND ASAHI NEWSPAPERS
AND PUT THEM IN SCRAPBOOKS.

301
 EVERYONE, VO
YOUR BEST FOR
YOUR COUNTRY!

THERE WERE ALWAYS 1 DON’T KNOW

SOLDIERS HOME FROM WHY, BUT...
THE FRONT.
IN THE WORLD POPULATION GAME
YOU PICKED A CITY, LIKE
KANAZAWA OR SENDAI.

THEN YOU LOOKED UP THE POPULATION IN

A GEOGRAPHY BOOK. THE BIGGEST
POPULATION WON. EVEN WHEN
EVERYONE GOT BORED OF IT,
T ALWAYS KEPT PLAYING.
))

I COULDN'T STOP. I MEMORIZED THE

POPULATIONS OF ALL OF JAPAN'S
CITIES. THEN I MEMORIZED THE
NAMES AND POPULATIONS OF
THE WORLD'S MAJOR CITIES.

T READ THREE
BOOKS ON THE
SUBJECT.
 NEKOYASU, I HAVE
ABOUT 500 NOW.

cy\
AY

TO BE HONEST, THE
NEWSPAPER FAD
WAS ALREADY WOW! THAT'S WHY
OVER BY THEN. YOU'RE $O COOL!

Mia

aA?
a
||Ea |
COMTI tI A oe: Nee
= NOTTATTTITITIN AWHHIT F:_t was exerty muck tHe
| 2 op AAI EY) | fF our one stive voine rr
TIS a

ALONG WITH MY NEWSPAPER COLLECTION,

I MAVE ABOUT 200 PAPER SUMO
| WRESTLERS TO PLAY WITH. I 010
THAT FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS. I
WAS ALSO OBSESSED WITH THE
WORLD POPULATION GAME.

NU Torrey mm
AANAAnt(on UU =

302
 REALLY WANT WILL YOU ir “We THAT PERO’S A
Me TO? BEAT Him uP =F ‘< REAL JERK.

GIVE HIM A
BIG LUMP,

TLL BUY YOU

: H ;
vie
Ds
ie (AU

pn Mi

¥SEE NOTES PAGE 526. SIGN: FAMOUS MOCHI,

395
 SORRY. BUT LOOK! ’ FLIES!
TAIPE! NEWS. aes
THAT'S RARE!

WELL LOOK AT THIS. y Wo SURE, BUT IT'S

NICHIRAN FINANCIAL em CE COVERED IN
TIMES, FROM _ SOY SAUCE.
BATAVIA.

WHALE THIS Z Es THIS IS

THAT'S BROWN STUFF?
POOP.
ay c GE REALLY

NEKOYASU, THIS IS
TOO GROSS. LET'S
HEAD HOME.

304
 MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, FIELOS—I KNEW
THERE WERE YOKAI EVERYWHERE. I ALWAYS
THOUGHT I WOULD SEE ONE, MAYBE
A KAPPA* IN THE RIVER.

P
SWMA
\if
tae *- HEt
T tea HU IE ea
Wanna 3
‘paaieat PS

NIN IANS
ANS

*FLITERALLY “WATER CHILD,”

SUMO AND CUCUMBERS, KAPPA LIVE IN RIVERS WHERE THEY ATTACK SWIMMING HUMANS.
3°07
ON SUNDAYS, I LIKED AS PROMISED, PERO GOT
TO GO WANDERING. A GOOD SMACK THE
NEXT DAY.

ae
rN,Br
a Nc

THIS IS

aM
LL Cm,

SOMETIMES IT SNATCKED
SOME DRIED
PERSIMMONS.

is
IQS

306
 WHY DO I
SUDDENLY FEEL
LIKE THIS?

NM Know Wow THAT I HAD

. BEEN OVERTAKEN 6Y
WR THE HIDARUGAMI, THE
HUNGER GHOSTS.

—————
——
==
———S>

==

ee
=
=

309
 THERE WAS AN AROUND THEN...
ART EXHIBITION IN
TD LIKE TO : YONAGO.*
SEE THAT.

i
I DION’T HAVE A SINGLE YEN,
$O 1 HAD TO WALK ALL TWENTY
MILES. T WAS REALLY HUNGRY
ON THE WAY HOME.

WHAT'S iy THAT'S
Gone on? | | (eens ON STRANGE.

Ba, Casas
‘A
LZ

*A CITY IN NORTHWESTERN TOTTORI PREFECTURE. FRO

MM | eel
| PN
WN
M 1872, A COMMERCIAL CENTER AN
i
AL
D MARINE PORT.

308
 YEARS LATER, I READ
ABOUT HIDARUGAMI IN
KUNIO YANAGITA’S*
BOOK. I RECOGNIZED
THEM IMMEDIATELY.

ON
icyA/
Vt).

THE HIDARUGAMI ARE THE

GHOSTS OF PEOPLE WHO
HAVE STARVED TO DEATH. |
THEY CAN TEMPORARILY
SHARE THEIR FATAL
HUNGER PAINS. ITS
TERRIFYING.

Sent
95259)
FF 53373335
2 952 3sf
J) 4j

311
 T HONESTLY THE PAIN WAS
_ THOUGHT I TERRIBLE.
WAS GOING

LUCKILY, T FOUND
AN EAR OF RICE.

THIRTY MINUTES LATER,

T FELT FINE AND
WENT HOME.

THAD NO IDEA
AT THE TIME.

Ms G kale (NON
MAGIK
ea

ee MK
KA5
Vn M(

NthVb)

310
edaIG) 1 My
|
A an ie
 AT FIRST, MY BROTHERS WOULD TWAS NEVER ABLE
TRY TO WAKE ME. EVENTUALLY, TO GET UP IN THE
THEY GAVE UP. MORNING.

THEY ASKED A NEIGHBOR KID TO

YOU SURE UP AT NINE WAKE ME, BUT THAT DION’T
ARE LAZY. AND EAT A WORK EITHER.
LEISURELY
BREAKFAST.

BY THE TIME T MAVE IT TO SCHOOL, MATH

WAS FINISHED. THAT'S HOW MUCH
T LIKED TO SLEEP.

CG
SIGNS: SAKAI HIGHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SAKAI COMMERCIAL SUPPLEMENTARY SCHOOL.

312
 THERE ARE TWO
LEGENDS CONNECTED
WITH THE SHANGHAI
INCIDENT.

(ie MCU TUTLAC CREAT

JAPAN WAS ON
THE WARPATH,

Ne
ey Sn)
aS Sy (

oe
E off!—S AS
AA

AND YOU CAN SEE SOME IT WAS A BLEAK TIME

OF THAT BLEAKNESS IN FOR THE COUNTRY.
THESE STORIES. .

315
 WITH THE NEW YEAR, TENSIONS CONTINUE TO BUILD. A
SECOND SINO-JAPANESE WAR* SEEMS INEVITABLE.
JANUARY 28, 1932: THE SHANGHAI
INCIDENT UNFOLDS.

IN ORDER TO DRAW THE EYES OF THE

WORLD AWAY FROM MANCHURIA,
SEISHIRO ITAGAKI SCRIPTS
A NEW SCENARIO.

Pe

*THE FIRST SINO-JAPANESE WAR LASTED FROM 1894-1895.

314
 DURING THE WAR, SHE
WAS ARRESTED IN PARIS
ANO EXECUTED BY
FIRING SQUAD.

WHEN SHE WAS KILLED,

MANY MEN WERE LEFT MATA HARI WAS A
THINKING, “WHAT ROMANTIC HEROINE.
A WASTE.”

YOSHIKO KAWASHIMA VID

JUST AS MUCH TO EARN
HER LEGENDARY STATUS.

meri
ay
\'
It Weis
coo : Be

317
 FIRST IS THE TALE OF YOSHIKO KAWASHIMA, CALLED THE
“ORIENTAL MATA HARI.” ACCORDING TO LEGEND, SHE
WAS ON ASSIGNMENT IN SHANGHAI DURING THE
INCIDENT. THE REAL MATA HARI, OF COURSE,
POSED AS A STAGE ACTRESS IN PARIS
DURING WORLD WAR |. SHE WAS A
BEAUTIFUL WOMAN...AND
A GERMAN SPY.

MATA HARI WAS OF

HE MOVED IN UNKNOWN NATIONALITY.
fel SOCIETY. A MIXED-BLOOD BEAUTY,
2 : SHE WAS A DANCER AND A
° HIGH-CLASS PROSTITUTE.

316
 1931: DRESSED AS A MAN,
YOSHIKO KAWASHIMA HELPS
PUYIF ESCAPE FROM TIANJIN.

A GREAT BEAUTY, A
CROSS-DRESSER, AND
A SPY: KAWASHIMA
CUT A PERFECT
FIGURE FOR
A ROMANTIC
HEROINE.

c| n
by a

*LASt EMPEROR OFrian QING DYNASTY. MM

MORE
SCG, SEE NOTES PAGE 526. ;

319
HER REAL NAME WAS JIN BIHUI. A
DAUGHTER OF PRINCE SU, SHE WAS A
MEMBER OF THE QING DYNASTY’S
ROYAL FAMILY. WHILE STILL A
CHILD, SHE WAS GIFTED Ny Mae
TO NANIWA KAWASHIMA, le
fA PREWAR MERCENARY fe Vin
AND ESPIONAGE
AGENT IN
MAINLAND

\"

i Ye, may yiU)

Ne Bik (ils, : wlan u/lil 4 Y

f Re
ON
ber

Ya

SHE WAS RAISED

JAPANESE AND ATTENDED
JAPANESE SCHOOLS.
WHEN SHE WAS OLDER,
SHE WORKED FOR HER
FOSTER FATHER.

318
 YOU MUSTN'T
THINK ITAGAKI
ENJOYED WAR.

HOWEVER, HE WAS AFTER BECOMING WAR

DEDICATED TO THE CAUSE MINISTER, HE OPPOSED
IN MANCHURIA. MILITARY ESCALATION.

TANAKA TAKES THE TWENTY

THOUSAND YEN (IN MODERN

YEN) AND SECRETLY SEEDS

ANTI-JAPANESE GROUPS. HE
USES YOSHIKO KAWASHIMA
FOR HER CONNECTIONS
AND INFORMATION.

321
 TANAKA, MY
FRIEND.

SOSoRS
>
SEISHIRO ITAGAKI
CROOK
OER

SD
5
SeSoCSRS
S85
SSeS
SON
BSS
vetateen

WHAT KIND OF 7
TROUBLE 2
Tr = S =
-= 29 Qn
=Sa =a
ce
a) Pare os
oO > oS> i = w = Ee>

ig
— Se
—_ Se bo
5

CAUSE SOME TROUBLE

UNDERSTOOD, WE NEED TO DRAW

THINGS ARE GOING ATTENTION AWAY
TO GET COMPLICATED FROM MANCHURIA.

320
JANUARY 18, 1932: A
JAPANESE BUDDHIST MONK
IS ATTACKED ON MA YU SHAN
STREET. HE DIES SEVERAL
DAYS LATER. TENSIONS
MOUNT BETWEEN
THE CHINESE AND -
JAPANESE.

THE JAPANESE
NAVY IS ORDERED
TO SHANGHAI AND }
IMMEDIATELY TAKES
TO THE FIELY.

323
 LEAVE THIS TRIVIAL
MATTER TO ME.

THROUGH THE CHINESE, HE BOUGHT

TANAKA HIRED TROUBLE IN
LOWLIFES... SHANGHAI.

AS PLANNED, THIS GIVES TO ATTACK

JAPAN ITS EXCUSE JAPANESE
FOR MILITARY PEOPLE.
INTERVENTION.

322
 THROUGHOUT IT ALL,
THEY CAN NO LONGER UNCERTAINTY GROWS
DENY THAT THEY'VE WITHIN THE JAPANESE
LOST CONTROL OF GOVERNMENT.
THEIR MILITARY.

FEBRUARY 22: A GENERAL ATTACK LEADS

TO THE SECOND LEGEND OF THE
SHANGHAI INCIDENT...

THE LEGEND OF THE

HUMAN BULLETS!

325
 HW HE IMPERIAL JAPANESE
NAVY CLASHES WITH
CHINA'S NINETEENTH
ROUTE ARMY.*

Ny, & oe
~ =

i
Were A MU

ON FEBRUARY 2, THE NAVY'S LAND

THE ARMY IS FORCES ARE VASTLY
SENT IN. OUTNUMBERED.

FSEE NOTES PAGE 520.

324
THIS IS ALL WE'VE GOT! WELL
HAVE TO FILL BAMBOO WITH
EXPLOSIVES AND RUN
IT UP TO THE LINE!

327
THE CHINESE NINETEENTH ROUTE ARMY IS
ARMED WITH MODERN EQUIPMENT
AND HIGH MORALE.

\|
THE CHINESE MILITARY IS
POWERFUL: ANY GROUND
Sexi IS HARD-WON.

326
TWO TEAMS CHARGE THE DEADLY 7 FEBRUARY 22, PREDAWN,
BARRICADES, ARMED WITH NOTHING a IN SHANGHAI, NEAR
MORE THAN EXPLOSIVE-PACKED aS \ Yy % THE FRONT LINES...
BAMBOO TUBES. d <

SUSUMU
KITAGAWA

THESE THREE PRIVATES FELL

IN BATTLE, KILLED BY
THE EXPLOSION.

THEY ARE CALLED THE HUMAN

BULLETS, AND THEIR TALE OF COURAGE
AND SACRIFICE TRAVELS INSTANTLY
IN NEWSPAPERS AND ON THE RADIO.

329
 Y Wi
Yy

i Yy
Wy Wy
Wy 4 Wijif YY,
Mf

NSSS
SN
Wf Y
RQ
MAAS
>»
4
oy, SS

why oe Va
y, Vid 4 4

Ys iy MM fi
v7 A Uy CAE
4M Ej ph, My

oe,
ip Mb;

oS =Z
LAD iy

lw
nnv

h
ri,
\
IF THE FUSE HAD BEEN ALL THIS TALK OF HEROES
A METER LONG, AS WOULD NEVER HAVE
INTENDED. HAPPENED...

IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE A
THE THREE MEN WHO SUICIDE MISSION. BUT THE FUSE
CHARGED THOUGHT THEY WAS ACCIDENTALLY CUT 10
WOULD RETURN SAFELY. FIFTY CENTIMETERS.

Wh
At

AFTER ALL, THE OTHER TEAM MAVE IT

BACK IN ONE PIECE, AS PLANNED.

331
 EVERYONE IS
SINGING THEIR

AND SENT IT TO THE EVEN YOUNG

KOGA REGIMENTAL SHIGERU MIZUKI WROTE
COMMANDER* A LONG ESSAY ON THE
HUMAN BULLETS...

AND READ
ALL OVER THE IT WAS PRINTED IN
COUNTRY. SHONEN CLUB...

¥SEE NOTES PAGE 526.

330
MARCH 3, 1932: A GENERAL
CEASE-FIRE IS DECLARED.

THE GOAL OF THE

MUKVEN INCIDENT IS
MET. MANCHUKUO IS
FOUNDED.
a
ea
\ e,
be

333
 BUT JAPAN
NEEDED WAR
HEROES.

THAT STIR THE THESE ARE THE KINDS

POPULACE. OF NOBLE DEATHS...

AND SO,
LEGENDS WERE
CREATED.
rae
ithHN in
Mii i
iN

Ni

SiNa)
THE SOUTHERN ISLANDS

4
iya

“ssi

335
 AUGUST 1945:
WITH JAPAN’S DEFEAT,
MANCHUKUO IS DISSOLVED
AND REVEALED TO HAVE
BEEN A PUPPET STATE.

DURING THE SAME YEAR,

YOSHIKO KAWASHIMA IS ARRESTED
IN PEKING. SHE IS EXECUTED
BY FIRING SQUAD ON
MARCH 25, 1948.
TATSUJI RECOVERED HIS FORTUNE
BY STARTING A PRINTING OFFICE.

BRING ME SOME
COFFEE, BOY.

i
T SHOULD
BUILD A

<

Sas
<3ae="

337
 AND WHO IS LAUGHING SO CONGENIALLY2
OL GRANDFATHER TATSUJI.

BATAVIA , JAVA

336
 TVE BEEN
LOOKING
FOR YOU.

OH YEAH2 ar T HEAR POPS HAS

DOING WHAT? f XK i BEEN DOING WELL
2 s DOWN SOUTH.

HE'S LOOKING FOR TEN | : RUNNING

MORE PEOPLE. YOU et al \y A PRINTING
SHOULD GO. es OFFICE.

rien |, ae
: THAT'S GREAT. MY SHOP WENT
oo
=. = \ BUST, AND I WAS GETTING

u le
i TR ¢ }

339
 T COULD SEND
TO JAPAN FOR
SOME STATE. |

HEY, HIKOICHI!

LN NY Ze
atsalin GIT LY : a A ae . : \ \a We
 = bo = = i=
_—— = <xBSw

OFF THINGS WITH

A MOVIE.

MEANWHILE, BACK
IN THE TOTTORI
COUNTRYSIDE...

34 1
 TASKED HIM FOR A LOAN AND
HE JUST SAID, “HARDSHIP IS
GOOD FOR YOU.”

TOO BAD. WELL, I NOPE. DAD'S

GUESS TM HEADED ALWAYS BEEN
FOR BATAVIA. TOUGH ON ME.

TU BE IF THINGS GET ANY

WAITING. WORSE HERE, TLL
HAVE TO JOIN YOU.

IT MIGHT COME
I SHOULDN'T HAVE
TRUE...
SAID THAT.
 THEY'RE FROM
OVERSEAS.

BUT THEY
ONLY SELL

BUT PVE ONLY SO THAT'S A WY irs tree ven

GOTTEN YEN. | cent crne ay E A DONUT.
NINE YEN.

WE DON’T HAVE
ENOUGH FOR THE TRAIN
ANDO DONUTS.

343
HEY GUYS! HAVE YOU EVER
HEARD OF DONUTS?! THEY
HAVE THEM IN YONAGO!

WHAT DO THEY
LOOK LIKE?
 /

i Pa
J
Fo
ee eres

Se
Wrese-
N:
.
AS

Sa
SSS
aS-

Ny!
AIK

——-~

YOURSELF IE
TOGETHER! Sigg an JUST A LITTLE
- > FARTHER.

I CAN SEE THEM!

THEY ARE ROUNO!!

345
 oe
OUR
ti WAS
Se

— VACATION
ADVENTURE.

IF WE WALK ALONG
THIS BEACH, BY
ABOUT NOON...

i ;
I
I
Hh
;
a
i!
|

WELL BE EANUTITSNG!
DO

344
 THEY WALKED ALL THAT
COULD YOU IMAGINE MODERN
WAY FOR JUST ONE DONUT.
KIDS DOING SOMETHING LIKE
TWENTY-FIVE MILES,
THAT? LIFE IS SO MUCH
THERE AND BACK.
EASIER NOW.

HERE’S A
THIS LITTLE GUY IS NORAKURO.* SURPRISE
HE WAS REALLY POPULAR FOR YOU.
BACK THEN.

WOW! NORAKURO’S
A PRIVATE FIRST

*SEE NOTES PAGE 526.

347
 WE WALKED OVER TEN MILES UNDER THE
SCORCHING SUN, JUST TO TRY DONUTS.
THREE DONUTS
PLEASE!

AFTER ALL THAT WORK TO GET THERE,

WE WERE REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT THE DONUTS.

THAT'S HOW RARE

THEY WERE.

THEY'RE
DELICIOUS!

esawger
= )
—= \,
—_—S> z
i
346
 DEANS
vlA i. i
a
1) bis [. sania

Wik |

vw
Be Ti

2s

349
 a ls I LIKE THE
HE WAS A I nT ts ADVENTURES
CHIEFTAIN i Nii, ae OF DANKICHI*
LAST TIME.

WHAT ABOUT
ALADDIN2

ETO
‘
|

N\ WM eee
a)
FN

YOU'RE SUCH A
BABY! WAR COMICS
ARE WAY BETTER!

FA ie
¥FSEE NOTES PAGE 526.

348
 NOW, IT SEEMS AS IF THAT
GOAL IS WITHIN REACH. THE
MUKVEN INCIDENT HAS OPENED
THE DOOR TO MANCHURIA.

SEPTEMBER
22, 1931: KANS\
ISHIWARA,* LEADER OF
THE KWANTUNG ARMY,
HOLDS A MEETING
IN MUKVEN.

*SEE NOTES PAGE 526.

351
 SINCE THE MEIII
PERIOD, JAPAN HAD
AMBITIONS TO ESTABLISH
AA COLONY IN ASIA.

JAPAN FELT THAT IF HOWEVER, ONE ASIAN

ASIA WAS GOING TO COUNTRY AFTER ANOTHER
BE COLONIZED... FELL UNDER THE YOKE OF
WESTERN POWERS.

a
i cea Lg

i
\ INT

MANCHURIA HAD LONG BEEN SEEN AS IT SHOULD BE COLONIZED

THE PERFECT LOCATION. JAPAN COULD BY ASIANS. AT LEAST THEY
USE A MANCHURIAN COLONY AS A COULD RELATE 10
BASE TO SPREAD ACROSS EACH OTHER.
THE CONTINENT.
 ARE YOU
SERIOUS?

THE MANCHURIAN QING Eis THE CONVERSATION

FORCES OVERTHREW THE ; 4 CONTINUES.
MING DYNASTY IN 1G44.

A
4 Pei }

NIA I
titeun ANNO AMR

WY THE QING DYNASTY

i RULED FROM
BEIJING AFTER =
THAT, BUT x
BD EMPEROR PUY
: WAS STILL
\ CONSIDERED
MANCHURIAN,
i

RedS
oe

353
GENTLEMEN, WE
HAVE TAKEN MANCHURIA.
NOW WHAT DO WE DO
WITH IT?

ik
S==
Ny
WY
« Z N

A\\NA

iyiM HN
WE CAN FOUND | js | I SUGGEST WE
A NEW COUNTRY, | Al INSTALL THE DEPOSED
ONE IN HARMONY e = * QING EMPEROR, PUYI.
WITH OUR VISION ? Pe, ae MANCHURIA IS HIS
FOR ASIA. j / F&F ANCESTRAL HOME.

ee ‘GH <A~ZAA ISHIWARA’S PLAN HAS MERIT. BUT

Za BCBe SOMEONE NEEDS TO SELL THE
| A) IDEA TO THE GOVERNMENT. |
ANY VOLUNTEERS?

352
 ae

W MANCHURIA IS HIS HOMELAND, THAT'S

ITS A BEAUTIFUL ll WHERE WE START. WE CAN END THE STRIFE
IDEA. ASIA WILL BELONG = gE —— ANDO UNITE THE FIVE PEOPLES—THE HAN
TO THE ASIAN PEOPLE a CHINESE, MONGOLIANS, KOREANS,
ONCE AGAIN. JAPANESE, AND MANCHU-UNDER
liq A VIRTUOUS RULER.

GENTLEMEN, 7A\| & WZ AND WELL ESCAPE

WE HAVE “ZN i. INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM.
OUR PLAN. i WM ZZ WE ARE LIBERATORS,
If a 4&e : NOT AGGRESSORS.

355
 FALL, III: THE XINHAI REVOLUTION
IS SUCCESSFUL. JANUARY |, 1912:
iOS REPUBLIC OF CHINA
IS FOUNDED.

THE DEPOSED EMPEROR LIVES

IN THE JAPANESE TERRITORY IN
TIANSIN UNDER HOUSE ARREST.
IN SECRET, HE PLOTS WITH THE
JAPANESE TO RETURN TO HIS THRONE. -.

354
AMAKAZU WAS
SENTENCED TO TEN
YEARS IN PRISON FOR
KILLING OSUGI, BUT WAS
RELEASED AFTER TWO YEARS.
HE WENT TO CHINA TO AVOID
UNWANTED ATTENTION.

NOVEMBER 8: DOIHARA ENGINEERS AN

UPRISING IN TIANJIN AS A COVER...

357
 SOMEONE HAS TO
amen
HERE.
iA )
(\ )}
|
yy
| |
ae MIN aSete Bs

; Z 1G I THINK COLONEL KENII

HOW ABOUT CAPTAIN AZ ZAR | DOIHARA* IS THE MAN
AMAKASU2 aime “| & ‘Ray. FOR THE JOB, BUT WHO
LZ f, . SHOULD GO WITH HIM?

JAPAN IS * 1 | WwoMmMawrv EXCELLENT.

COUNTING Ne Elin | CZ fe YU; WE'RE SET.

UNDER THE COVER OF CAPTAIN MASAHIKO AMAKASU

THE CHAOS OF THE GREAT WAS INFAMOUS FOR HAVING
KANTO EARTHQUAKE. < KILLED ANARCHIST
SAKAE OSUGI...

*SEE NOTES PAGE 526.

 at
eg (hl
THIS HAS
GOTTEN OUT ZL
OF HAND.

WHAT? THE ae Vii THE AMERICANS

yes By 2) ee 7 WON'T KEEP SILENT
INCIVENT2 ‘ey: ale ABOUT THIS.

YOU WORRY TOO MUCH.

THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS
WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

359
 THEN SMUGGLES PUYI
OUT DURING THE CHAOS.

EARLY 19372...

met
i
ML
 THE CAPITAL IS THE FLAG HAS
CHANGCHUN.* ‘ ~— = S FIVE COLORS.

—L
—T
UAA

FIRST, MAKE I 1 ALL YOU 00 IS REPEAT

YOUR MOVE. | THE NEWSPAPER.

TLL GRILL
Some

THOSE GUYS NEXT AND HEAT

DOOR ARE PLAYING Ae SOME SAKE
60 AGAIN.

Wl
N NZ

*IN JAPANESE, THE CAPITAL WAS KNOWN AS SHINKYO.

361
 T WOULDN'T GO THAT FAR. BUT LOOK YOU THINK I DON’T
AT THAT BUSINESS IN MANCHURIA. KNOW WHAT Tm
THAT WAS SKILLFULLY DONE. TALKING ABOUT2

AS OF THE
ON FEBRUARY 17, THEY
FIRST OF F LKNOW ALL ANNOUNCED MANCHURIA’S
MARCH... \ ABOUT THAT. INDEPENDENCE.

PUYI IS THE NEW

YOU DON’T HAVE EMPEROR OF
TO TELL ME. MANCHUKUO.
THAD SEEN PEOPLE T WOULD ACT
KILLED IN THE
MOVIES. KYAAHHH!

PEOPLE THEY DIED SILENTLY, THAT SEEMED

pirates ALL WRONG TO ME.
WHEN THEY
vie!

SO I ALWAYS DID THE VICTIM'S

VOICE. IT WAS VERY
REALISTIC.

FATHER WAS BACK FOR NEW

YEAR'S. I LOVED HIS PRAISE, HE'S ACTUALLY
BUT NOT ENOUGH 10 PRETTY GOOD.
MAKE ME STUDY
FOR SCHOOL.

363
 mb
wae |

I MADE A
HW = GUITAR FROM
LOOK AT WWI «=THAT BOX AND
SHIGERU : Cai SOME WIRE
60! | STRING.

OF COURSE, THERE WAS SWORD I PLAYED MY OWN OPERA

FIGHTING. AND WHEN PEOPLE FOR MY FAMILY.
WERE KILLED... ee

362
IT HEAR MY POP IS
DOING WELL IN
BATAVIA.

ina
|
pt

ONLY BECAUSE I FRONTED

HIM THE START-UP CASH.

| dial ny Hal |

YOU DEPEND TOO MUCH YOUR FATHER IS A HARD

ON OTHERS. YOU'VE WORKER, BUT YOU'RE
GOT NO INITIATIVE. A BAD BET.

BEING SOFT- 3" hl C6 IF THAT'S HOW

HEARTED GETS SEE N\A YOU FEEL.
YOU NOWHERE. oR OMIEL’ “Pore OW ZZ

yee
ak
y

Ko}
SSK

365
 ~
S
a
a
ee

HE HAD A BIG PRINTING COMPANY THIS GUY IS OUR

IN UMEDA, OSAKA. GREAT UNCLE.

Zinn

OUR FATHER
OH, RYOICHI. WAS STILL
|WANS WORKING
AS AN
INSURANCE
APKXSSXY
SETI
may,
SeXy
onsSOS
x AGENT.
2s
DK
Pesci
VESVYS STEN
Ri
vas———-— RX
oS
OS
BIA
—
KXSSYIXESS
SS)
<p
OXSSV\ aoe:
WAS

(Xss)
KY
XS PSSESTRSSKK
SASSXKSoN
Sy
 WHO ELSE? IT’S NOTHING NEW. YOU CAN TRACE THOSE RIGHT-WINGERS BACK TO THE
MEISI PERIOD. HELL, THE RIGHT WING CREATED THE MEITI PERIOD, RESTORING THE EMPEROR
TO HIS THRONE. THAT'S WHEN THIS STARTED. THEY SAW THE EMPIRES OF THE WEST, WITH
THEIR COLONIES. THEY WANTED THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN TO BE AS STRONG, AND THAT
MEANT BRINGING ALL THE INDEPENDENT ASIAN COUNTRIES UNDER A SINGLE BANNER.

THIS SEEMS LIKE

A LONG STORY,
$000...

YOU HAVE A
CHANCE TO LEARN
SOMETHING HERE.

367
 IEYASU
UH WELL...HOW ABOUT THE TOKUGAWA
RECENT HULLABALLOO?2 SAID SO.

IF THE MILITARY KEEPS THIS MUKDEN

ACTING INDEPENDENTLY, INCIDENT IS
JAPAN WILL GO NO GOOD.
BANKRUPT.

Dip YOU HEAR ABOUT IT WORRY ABOUT THE

THE ATTEMPTED RIGHT-WING RADICALS
cour ETAT? IN THE MILITARY.

THAT’S THE RIGHT-

WINGERS, HUH?
AND THIS TOHOKU TRAGEDY. TM APPALLED, ALL
OF THE YOUNG ARMY OFFICERS ARE SHEDDING
TEARS FOR THE FARMERS...

THE RIGHT WING THINKS ONLY WHILE TROMPING THEIR

OF THEMSELVES. THEY THINK ARMY BOOTS ALL OVER
NOTHING OF THE LIVES THE FARMS OF THE
IT WILL COST. REST OF ASIA.

TM REALLY

PEOPLE HAVE 70
BE MORE
EARNEST
IN WHAT
THEY VO.
 AND SUPPORTED RASH ANYWAY, YOU KNOW WE
BEHARI BOSE IN INDIA’S HELPED SUN YAT-SEN*
FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE. AND HIS REVOLUTION
IN CHINA.

IT ALL SOUNDS
VERY IDEALISTIC.

BUT BLIND FANATICISM

THEY'VE LOST SIGHT OF HAS TAKEN OVER. INSTEAD OF
THEIR PRIORITIES AND TRYING TO UNITE INDEPENDENT
DESCENDED INTO CLANNISH ASIAN COUNTRIES, THEY
NATIONALISM. CAN’T LOOK PAST JAPAN’S
NATIONAL INTERESTS. IT'S
A SELFISH APPROACH.

WHO CAN THINK OF ee asta a WHERE IS YOUR

THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF ea \@ BATHROOM?
SUCH AN IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION?

FSEE NOTES PAGE 526.

368
 WORKING WITH RIGHT-WING PHILOSOPHER
SHUME! OKAWA,* THE SAKURAKAI ATTEMPTED
THEIR COUP ON MARCH 22. THE PLAN
INVOLVED INCITING A RIOT IN FRONT OF
THE DIET BUILDING, AS WELL AS
BOMBING THE PRIME MINISTER'S
RESIDENCE. THEY WERE HOPING FOR
A FULL-SCALE REBELLION.

371
 Pee:
Si!

MARCH 1931: YOUNG MILITARY OFFICERS,

= WHO HAVE FORMED AGROUP CALLED THE
SAKURAKAI,* ATTEMPT A COUP D’ETAT.

\ THIS WAS
WHEN THE ATTEMPT : \ 5 CALLED THE
FAILED, THE INCIDENT ») ; MARCH
WAS COVERED UP. ee, ae INCIDENT.

Wyuna
a |
AN }

JAPAN’S GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED 3s a NO ONE EVEN KNEW

THE MEDIA, SO THE AVERAGE CITIZEN ens A COUP D’ETAT WAS
WAS NONE THE WISER. y i PLANNED.

FSEE NOTES PAGE 526.

370
 THIS MANIFESTED AS THE OCTOBER INCIDENT (ALSO CALLED
THE FIVE IMPERIAL COLORS INCIDENT). AFTER THE INVA-
SION OF MANCHURIA, THE GOVERNMENT WAS SLOW TO
PRESS THE GAINS MADE IN CHINA. THE
SAME PLOTTERS OF THE MARCH
INCIDENT—THE SAKURAKAI AND
SHUME| OKAWA—SAW AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SEIZE POWER,
LEARNING FROM THE FAILED
MARCH INCIDENT, THE GROUP
MAKES PLANS ON A
LARGER SCALE.

THEY COLLABORATE ASR a ae YOUNG ARMY OFFICERS

WITH THE OMOTO-KYO BN SAY JOIN TOGETHER WITH
RELIGIOUS SECT. RN LIKE-MINDED NAVAL
\ OFFICERS.

373
THEY WANTED MARTIAL LAW
TO BE DECLARED, AND THEN
THE MILITARY COULD SWOOP
IN AND SEIZE POWER. IT
WOULD BE LIKE SOME-
THING FROM
A NOVEL.

L=
it
iN
oN

og

THEY PLANNED TO DECEITFULLY

DRAW LEFT-WING LABOR UNIONS
INTO THE DEMONSTRATIONS. IT
WAS A CLEVER SCHEME, BUT
IT DION’T WORK.

AROUND THE TIME THE MUKDEN

INCIDENT BROKE OUT, RIGHT-WING | kg 5;
DISSENTERS THOUGHT y NO ONE JOINED
THEY’D GIVE IT Ba IN THE RIOTS.
ANOTHER vial
SHOT.
 THE CALL TO ACTION IS SET FOR OCTOBER 21.
HOWEVER, THE ARMY’S WAR MINISTER GETS WIND
OF THE PLAN AND ON OCTOBER I7, THE MILITARY
POLICE ARE
MOBILIZED.

ierANN
|

ULTIMATELY, THE MUKDEN

INCIDENT HASTENED JAPAN THIS COUP D’ETAT
DOWN THE ROAD TOWARD NEVER CAME TO
A MILITARY DICTATORSHIP FRUITION.
FASTER THAN ANYTHING
THE SAKURAKAI DID.

| Jill)
al
nae) rn FY

WHICH IS SCARY, APPARENTLY, THE MILITARY

TO SAY THE AND CIVILIANS HAVE
DIFFERENT WAYS OF
THINKING...

CS
Fo

.
eT)

374
 =
DOES LIFE |= — NO TESTS
GET ANY BETTER TO TAKE.
THAN THIS?

WHAT ABOUT WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

DAY AND GET IN THE BATH.
SOHEI2

THEY'VE
ALREADY
BEEN IN.

OUR FATHER WASN'T MAKING 100 WE HAD A BATH IN THE

, MUCH MONEY, SO WE HOUSE, BUT IT WAS
SAVED ELECTRICITY AT THE OPPOSITE
BY KEEPING THE END.
LIGHTS OFF. IT
WAS PITCH
BLACK.

377
WHEN THESE
EVENTS WERE
TAKING PLACE,
TWAS AN
ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL SIXTH

THERE'S BUGS
BEST OF ALL, GALORE, AND SUMMER
NO SCHOOL. I CAN Swim VACATION IS
THE BEST!
SOMETHING WAS
CLOSING IN

T WAS ABOUT TO GET

OUT OF THE BATH,
BUT SOMETHING
T KNEW IT WOULDN'T LET ME.
WAS DANGEROUS.

SOMETHING'S
HERE!!

379
T KNEW I
WAS ALONE, y IN THE BATH, I GOT SCARED
BUT IT FELT ; 17 SSEASD ALL OF A SUDDEN.
LIKE SOMEONE
WAS THERE.

I TOLD MYSELF THAT IF I

BUT THAT COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING,
DION’T HELP. NOTHING WAS THERE.
THE FEELING :
GOT STRONGER.

ai ——
 T STILL THOUGHT IT
EVERYTHING MIGHT JUST BE NERVES,
WAS BLACK. == $0 I POKED MY HEAD UP.

SOMEHOW, THE
LIO* HAD FALLEN I TRIED TO GET UP,
OVER THE BATH. BUT 1 BUMPED
MY HEAD ON
SOMETHING.

WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE BATH AND

TOLD EVERYONE, THEY ALL LAUGHED.
NO ONE BELIEVED ME.

*\N JAPANESE BATHS, SEVERAL FAMILY MEMBERS SHARE THE SAME HOT WATER. A LID IS KEPT OVER THE
BATHTUB IN BETWEEN SOAKS TO KEEP THE HEAT IN.
381
 MAY 15, 1932:
YOUNG NAVAL OFFICERS
ANVADE THE PRIME
MINISTERS OFFICE.
 THINGS EXIST
THAT'S WHERE FEAR THAT WE CAN'T SEE.
COMES FROM, |

f ri

recs
«<n (

aa Mh
Sr an” Ti \

IT'S SPRING 1932. NOW OUR STORY WILL

THE EVENING OF... \ TAKE ANOTHER TURN.
 LS
SS

eS
A

SY

EVEN WITH PISTOLS

POINTED AT HIM,
INUKAI IS A HOW DARE YOU TRACK
PROUD FIGURE. - MUO IN MY HOUSE!
| WHAT IS THIS?

IF WE COULD
WERE DONE \\ TALK, YOU'D
TALKING! QQ \ Z UNDERSTAND.
 IT 1S 5:30 IN THE EVENING.
PRIME MINISTER TSUYOSHI INUKAI*
IS AT HOME EATING DINNER
WITH HIS FAMILY.

TY f/s
ZI
a=

me Mae De

| | DID YOU HEAR

| SOMETHING?
ie
é
oN
=

N*SEEesNO’ TES PAGEfb 527.

 Dn) HE)

itt: ty

iy NH
Roi

MOUNT *
MIHARA

pbHN oh lh

ye
vb]

e TAMU Se il
si ui Ae iy “y x all
i iyMh
|
i UTTSEL hs
RIGHT THERE,
JNUKAL
BREATHES
HIS LAST,

(eal
ca UPR
THE ASSASSINS ALSO
ATTACKED TWO OTHER “IF WE COULD TALK, YOU'D UNDERSTAND”
POLITICIANS AND THREW BECAME FAMOUS LAST WORDS. THE
SOME GRENADES INTO RESPONSE, “WE'RE DONE TALKING,”
ELECTRICAL TRANSFORMER WAS EQUALLY WELL-KNOWN.
SUBSTATIONS.

BUT THE INCIDENT IN THE END, THE INCIDENTS

REFLECTED JAPAN'S HAD LITTLE IMPACT. ASIDE FROM
MENTAL STATE: INUKAI’S DEATH, THERE WAS
FANATICAL AND ONLY SOME SMALL DAMAGE.
IMPULSIVE. THE ATTACKERS TURNED
THEMSELVES IN.

386
 THOUGH THE CONFLICT ARISING
FROM THE MUKVEN INCIDENT HAS
ENDED, THE EFFECTS OF THE MAY
IS INCIDENT PERSIST. THE
ATMOSPHERE IS FULL
a
ante 5 OF UNEASE AND
EXCITEMENT.

FROM 1932 TO 1933,

THERE IS AN OUTBREAK
OF MASS HYSTERIA.
in of BS
AN van
VETS

WSS

—
WIISS
SQ

MI
AXX
 mt) yy
oN I
WGt]

HUMAN BEINGS HAVE

DIFFERENT REACTIONS TO
OVERWHELMING CIRCUM-
STANCES. WHEN THEY HAVE
LOST ALL CONTROL, SOME
LAUGH MANIACALLY, SOME
CRY—AND THEN THERE My!
MN,
IS MASS HYSTERIA.
| ‘/ Ve

\V\\
pee,
Us;
Ad
OL
ptt
ty

\
yr
\
xWe
\\ eae
4
R65
AS

VS

WHEN TIMES CHANGE,

AND FUNDAMENTAL
VALUES AND OLD WAYS OF
df THINKING GIVE WAY TO NEW
THOUGHTS AND IDEAS, THERE ARE
OUTBREAKS OF MASS HYSTERIA. AN
EXAMPLE IS THE WITCH TRIALS OF
EUROPE. IN JAPAN, AT THE END OF
THE E90 PERIOD, THERE WAS
EE JA NAI KA*

*SEE NOTES PAGE 527.

388
 THE LOVERS ARE
BURIED TOGETHER.
BUT ONLY THE BOY'S
BODY STAYS PUT!

— . \)

asBi

THE GIRLS BODY IS LATER FOUND, STARK NAKED, ON THE O1SO

COAST. A YOUNG WOMAN'S NAKED, DEAD BODY. THE POLICE ARE
ENRAGED AND INVESTIGATE EVERY LEAD. THEY ARREST AN
ELDERLY STAFF MEMBER AT A NEARBY CREMATORIUM.

391
 MAY 1932: AN INITIALLY UNREMARKABLE DOUBLE
SUICIDE OCCURS IN OISO CITY, KANAGAWA
PREFECTURE. THE BOY, GORO CHOSHO,
IS A STUDENT AT KEIO
UNIVERSITY, AND THE
GIRL, YAEKO YUYAMA,
IS A FINANCIER’S
DAUGHTER.

THE TWO WED

WITHOUT THEIR
PARENTS’ PERMISSION,
THEN KILL THEMSELVES
WITH POISON...AND
THEN THINGS
GET BIZARRE.

390
JANUARY 8: A DOUBLE
SUICIDE ON MOUNT MIHARA,
OSHIMA. TWO STUDENTS
FROM THE JISSEN GIRLS’
SCHOOL. ONE OF THEM
JUMPS...

AND THE OTHER

DOESN'T. THE POLICE
TAKE THE REMAINING
GIRL INTO CUSTODY.

393
THE NAKED BODY REALLY SETS EVERYONE OFF. THERE
IS THE ASSUMPTION OF SEXUAL PERVERSION.
YAEKO’S BEREAVED FAMILY FIGHTS TO KEEP
THE DETAILS OUT OF THE PRESS.

BIZARRE EVENTS AFTER THE

INITIAL TRAGEDY EXCLUDED, AFTER ALL, EVEN A DEAD GIRLS
THESE KINDS OF DOUBLE BODY IS STILL A GIRL’S BODY.
SUICIDES ARE POPULAR. THE FAMILY WANTS PRIVACY.
THE FILM “A LOVE BOUND
TO HEAVEN” DRAMATIZES
THE STORY.

THE THEME SONG, ABOLT PURE

LOVE, BECOMES A BIG HIT.
AND THE INEVITABLE
COPYCATS FOLLOW.

392
 THE GIRL WHO y =\
CALLS DEATH.

: f “i ‘| / f m b,

Wn a MY s !(
FONT Y\
eee : ae

I DON’T KNOW WHY,

BUT SOME PEOPLE WERE
FASCINATED WITH DEATH,
LIKE MY TEACHER.

WE CALLED Him
MR. BETIO. HE
WAS USUALLY
SERIOUS,
BUT...

395
DOUBLE SUICIDES AREN'T
RARE AMONG STUDENTS,
BUT THERE ISN'T USUALLY
A SURVIVOR.

THE LIVING GIRL

GETS NICKNAMED
“THE GIRL WHO
CALLS DEATH.”

394
 HELL GETS CLOSER p ONE LEG AT A TIME, YOU
AND CLOSER. SLIP INTO THE LAVA.

LIFE IS DEATH!
WE ALL DIE
SOMETIME!

HIS RANTS WERE MORE FUN TO WATCH

THAN A MOVIE. HE GOT ALL GIDDY
TALKING ABOUT DEATH. WE
LOVED MR. BETTO. HE
WAS FAMOUS AROUND
SCHOOL.

397
THE MIHARA EVENT
WAS JUST BREAKING.
LOOK AT
MIHARA’S
CRATER.

MIHARA...
MANY PEOPLE
THROW THEM -
SELVES IN...

THERE’S NO
TURNING
BACK!

1 LM RQ iin
zn ee ee

ii :

™
396
 Uf Wi EVEN WITH ALL THAT
THEY GOT A ROPE Y LB PO|SONOUS GAS...
AROUND HER.

IS THAT HOW THEY

MMMHMM! \ SUCH SAVED HER?
BRAVE MEN.

CAN'T ARGUE “I | IF SHE WAS JUST GOING TO GET

WITH THAT. | SSRSSS GRE e RESCUED, SHE MIGHT AS WELL
| NOT HAVE JUMPED.

FOR SOME REASON, MOTHER

YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY WAS ALWAYS BRAGGING
HAD PERMISSION TO ABOUT HER HERITAGE.
WEAR TWO SWORDS...*

*IN THE EDO PERIOD, THIS WAS RESERVED FOR SAMURAI AND SOME WEALTHY FARMERS AND BUREAUCRATS

399
 OUR MOTHER WAS
CAUGHT UP IN
THE MIHARA
SUICIDES 100.

1 Yi

WiDEN
\S
\

He SAVED THAT DID YOU HEAR

POOR GIRL FROM ABOUT THE MIHARA
KILLING HERSELF. FIREMAN2

APPARENTLY SHE GOT

CAUGHT ON A ROCK
IN THE CRATER AND
HE PULLED HER OUT.
 AROUND THE TIME OF THE MIHARA
THE GOVERNMENT BANS SUICIDES, A MELANCHOLY SONG
THE SONG, THINKING IT CALLED “GLOOMY SUNIDAY,” BY
MIGHT ENCOURAGE FRENCH SINGER DAMIA,*
MORE SUICIDES. BECOMES A BIG HIT.

ALONG WITH A DANCE

CALLED TOKYO ONDO. YO-YOS ARE
ALSO POPULAR.

., Aids
SVs
}
iaul
659)
<
Yonvy
Oy

FOR A BRIEF MOMENT,

JAPAN IS TRANSFORMED
INTO A WILD THEATER.

¥SEE NOTES PAGE 527.

401
 WHAT DO YOU | WHO CARES—WE'RE
KIDS KNOW?! | POOR NOW.

ARE YOU GOING ef 3 | |

ON ABOUT THAT | ps y 4 FOUR STONE
AGAIN? | , ee N77) 2 ANI STOREHOUSES.

MOUNT MIHARAZ! ‘ge N«\ IT LOOKS LIKE FOUR MORE

YOU SHOULD WORRY is ) PEOPLE TOOK THE PLUNGE
MORE ABOUT NEXT a ||| Za INTO MOUNT MIHARA.
MONTH'S BILLS.

WEHAVE TO SETTLE | Wel NEXT MONTH'S A

ALL OUR DEBTS | - WAYS OFF YET
NEXT MONTH. We ery,

MTN
Ah Hifi
Ati

i}

400
ANU ONNINNLNUAAINUONLNUONIOIUC NLS (aniitiit

ns
ANANNANASUNYUANUDE STAYIN ATTA

ANKKCOOOUUINN
:

Avy QQRN ENN VARONNLGNNLNENARUNNAD LER AN i Hi VINE BAIT

APRIL 30, 1932: THE
OLYMPICS TOOK PLACE IN
LOS ANGELES. I WAS IN se
THE FOURTH GRADE. A ALE

2
nf ‘aT
fae
Hi “ancl
li
|
ie i

IT WROTE A PAPER CALLED

“AK, OLYMPICS!”

BUT MY TEACHER WASN'T

IMPRESSED. THAT REALLY DID You cory
MAVE ME MAD. HE THIS FROM
DION’T BELIEVE I SOMEWHERE?
HAD ANY
TALENT.
 JAPAN’S AGGRESSION
ALL THIS TALK ABOUT TOWARD? CHINA IS
HARMONY IN ASIA... LY UNWARRANTED.

WHAT WILL THE Y /\m Wen IPS JUST

ACOVER FOR
LEAGUE 002 a) IMPERIALISM,

— Ae THEY'LL HAVE TO
BECAUSE OF
THE SHANGHAI eee e 6 ACKNOWLEDGE
i (N mA! () ¢ F JAPAN AS THE
INCIDENT?
Ht) INVADER.

rt THAT DION’T HELE.

BUT TRUST ME, THIS
ISN'T OVER YET.

405
 HOW VO YOU THINK
CHINA WILL REACT TO
THIS MANCHUKUO
BUSINESS?

re MT
" Prom
LOTT)

THEY'LL PUSH FOR A 7

DIPLOMATIC ae _ CHINA ISN'T
SOLUTION, | Parmar}

AFTER THE MUKDEN INCIDENT, CHINA

1 BET OUR PRESENTED THEIR CASE TO THE
GOVERNMENT LEAGUE OF NATIONS.*
DION’T LIKE

¥SEE NOTES PAGE 527.

 Bi
1
}

ib,
! i) ‘

ee ne

THEY PUBLISH THEIR REPORT

ON OCTOBER 2. THE
BUT THEY DENY JAPAN’S
REPORT ACKNOWLEDGES
CLAIM THAT MANCKUKUO
SOME OF JAPAN'S
IS AN INDEPENDENT
MILITARY AND
COUNTRY.
ECONOMIC RIGHTS...
perro aleerterrt
y 5uaEN rac ei eas

agit ce ep
ET et

407
 T HEAR THE LEAGUE HAS NATIONS ARE
BEGUN AN OFFICIAL PECULIAR
INVESTIGATION. THINGS.

LED BY THE
UK’S EARL OF

| FEBRUARY 29, 1932:

LYTTON’S INVESTIGATION
BEGINS IN TOKYO. THEY
SOON PROCEED TO
CHINA.

406
 IN A VOTE OF FORTY-TWO TO ONE, THE LEAGUE
ADVISES JAPAN TO WITHDRAW FROM MANCHURIA.
THE OPPOSING VOTE IS JAPAN'S OWN.

awe ‘YY

SS & ; h |
F ANAT Nt

—— INDIGNANTLY, REPRESENTATIVE
YOU ARE ALL j a A MATSUOKA* SHOUTS...
WRONG!!

JAPAN WITHORAWS é me EFFECTIVE

FROM THE LEAGUE Z IMMEDIATELY...
OF NATIONS!

: Uy
*SEE NOTES PAGE 527.

409
 THE REPORT
RECOMMENDS THAT
JAPAN WITHDRAW AND
PUT MANCKUKUO UNDER
INTERNATIONAL
CONTROL.

MANCHUKUO IS NEVER
ACKNOWLEDGED AS A
LEGITIMATE NATION EXCEPT
BY GERMANY AND ITALY,
WARTIME ALLIES OF JAPAN.
AFTER WORLD WAR Il, THE
STATE IS ABOLISHED AND
THE TERRITORY
RETURNED
TO CHINA.

MANCHUKUO IS
ONE OF HISTORY'S
ILLEGITIMATE
CHILDREN.

THE LEAGUE HOLDS

ON FEBRUARY
AN EXTRAORDINARY
45 (9S3:..
GENERAL MEETING.
 Le) 3 "46 = oe rc)> 4= 2 =
TO GREATNESS! ALL GERMAN
PEOPLE WILL HAVE
THEIR OWN CARS!

HEIL HITLER!
HEIL! HEIL!
HEIL HITLER!

HE WAS TO CALL HIM

WAGNERIAN POPULAR IS AN
IN SCOPE UNDERSTATEMENT.

4 11
 JAPAN IS NOW A LONE
WOLF, BEREFT OF ALLIES.

tl
THE NAZI PARTY'S ADOLPH BUT SOON...
HITLER* IS APPOINTED
CHANCELLOR OF
GERMANY.

PEOPLE OF
GERMANY, COME
WITH Me!

*SEE NOTES PAGE 527.

G10
 LETS LOOK IN ON JAPAN AGAIN. IN 193),
BEFORE THE MUKDEN INCIDENT, VARIOUS
LABOR MOVEMENTS REORGANIZE AND
ENJOY SIZEABLE INFLUENCE. BUT
THEY SIT ON THE FENCE ABOUT
e WHETHER OR NOT T0
SUPPORT THE WAR.

eee \

NSS Fa an"

i
il ZA L
os ee SEVERAL GROUPS COME
7 — sit, AND GO, BUT BY 1935,
>. \ hh THE MAJORITY HAVE
CEASED TO EXIST.

413
 A MASTER SHOWMAN, HE
HE SUMMONS
ORGANIZES MASSIVE
STORMS OF EMOTION
ASSEMBLIES.
BY SAYING NOTHING
AT ALL.

eran tii
Re)
IT ISAT SOMETHING TO Y.eS os y=

Ssee
=~)
LAUGH ABOUT. IT IS es
TERRIBLE.

IT'S LIKE HE'S ITS DIFFICULT TO GRASP

THE AGENT OF SOME HOW ONE MAN CAN HAVE
INCOMPREHENSIBLE ENOUGH POWER TO ALTER
FORCE. THE SHAPE OF HISTORY.

IF YOU'D LIVED IN GERMANY, YOU

LIKELY WOULD HAVE ADDED YOUR
VOICE TO THE CROWD.

G12
PPT, THREE MEN WITH
PISTOLS BURST INTO
THE HYAKUGO BANK
IN OMORI, TOKYO.

lu ll ivi
THEY GET AWAY WITH
THIRTY-TWO THOUSAND
YEN. THEY ARE
ARRESTED FIVE
DAYS LATER.

THEY ARE RELENTLESS THE COMMUNIST PARTY,

IN THEIR PURSUIT. THE GOVERNMENT
RETALIATES WITH
LARGE-SCALE RAIDS.

THIS IS A HUGE SHOCK. AS A THE NEXT YEAR, IN JUNE

RIPPLE EFFECT, COMMUNISTS 1933, JAILED COMMUNIST
ALL OVER JAPAN—IN JAIL AND PARTY LEADERS ANNOUNCE
OUT—RUSH TO THEIR CONVERSION AND
ANNOUNCE RENOUNCE COMMUNISM,
THEIR OWN
CONVERSIONS.

(iow
| mer
By/
ih (lt N Vill

(a2 A

415
THE GOAL IS TO 1932: AT THE HEADQUARTERS
STRENGTHEN JAPAN'S OF THE COMINTERN IN MOSCOW,
FADING COMMUNIST MEMBERS DISCUSS THE STATE
MOVEMENT, BUT IN OF JAPANESE COMMUNISM.
REALITY, FUNDS ARE THEY PUBLISH A THESIS TITLED
LOW AND STAFF IS “ON THE SITUATION IN
SPARSE, SO NOTHING JAPAN AND THE TASKS
HAPPENS BEYOND OF THE JAPANESE
THE THESIS. COMMUNIST PARTY.”

OCTOBER @, 1932: SOME OF THE JAPANESE COMMUNIST

THE OMORI BANK PARTY’S MOST CAPABLE LEAVERS ARE
GANG INCIDENT ARRESTED. THOUGH THEY VOW
OCCURS. VIOLENT ACTION IN RESPONSE,
THERE’S LITTLE THEY CAN DO.
 MIYAZAWA IS SUSPICIOUS OF LAW PROFESSOR
YUKITOK| TAKIGAWA.* HE ACCUSES TAKIGAWA
OF TEACHING MARXISM, ~

ALL HE DOES IS Give IN TRUTH, TAKIGAWA

LECTURES AND WRITE \S JUST A LIBERAL.
PAPERS ON LAW.

¥SEE NOTES PAGE 52

THE MILITARY LEANS HEAVILY
ON SCHOLARS.

PRESSURE IS ON BUT NOT ONLY ON

ANYONE ADVOCATING JX LEFT-LEANING
INCONVENIENT INDIVIDUALS.

THE TROUBLE STARTS IN AT KYOTO UNIVERSITY,

JANUARY 1932 WITH YUTAKA THE GOVERNMENT BLATANTLY
MIYAZAWA, REPRESENTATIVE INTERFERES WITH ACADEMIA.
MEMBER OF THE THIS BECOMES KNOWN AS THE
CONSTITUTIONAL TAKIGAWA INCIDENT.
GOVERNMENT
PARTY.

416
 IN MAY, MINISTER OF EDUCATION ICHIRO HATOYAMA*
PRESSURES UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT SHIGENAU
KOINISH| TO FIRE TAKIGAWA. THIS
SENDS A MESSAGE TO JAPAN'S TOP
UNIVERSITIES, CONFIRMING THEY
NO LONGER HAVE AUTHORITY
OVER PERSONNEL.

PROFESSOR TAKIGAWA

ALL THIRTY-NINE LAW

PROFESSORS AT KYOTO
UNIVERSITY RESIGN IN
PROTEST. STUDENTS
ALSO BOYCOTT
CLASSES IN
SOLIDARITY.

> sat.

¥SEE NOTES PAGE 527.

419
 FANATICAL RIGHT-WING BUT THE MILITARISTS
PHILOSOPHER ARE CONVINCED
MUNEKI MINODA* THAT TAKIGAWA
JOINS THE z A IS TEACHING
CAUSE. SOMETHING
SUBVERSIVE.

IN APRIL, HIS WRITINGS TAKIGAWA IS

ON THE PENAL CODE UNDER PRESSURE.
1 ARE BANNED.

/=—=
==

¥SEC NOTES
So—
wh PAGE 527.
 ON FEBRUARY 25, MINOBE STOOD
BUT FEW, IF ANY, é BEFORE THE DIET AND OFFERED AN
WERE LISTENING. ‘ EARNEST COUNTERARGUMENT IN
DEFENSE OF HIS WORKS.

NOT JUST THAT. OUR JAPAN IS TRE LAND

DENIAL IS
EMPEROR IS A GOD. OF THE GODS.
HERESY.

IN MARCH, THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OFFICIALLY
DENOUNCES THE EMPEROR ORGAN
THEORY. IN APRIL, MINOBE’S
WRITINGS ARE BANNED. HE
IS PROSECUTED.

PROFESSOR MINOBE

421
i)
o . ULTIMATELY, THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE
AND CULTURE USES UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT KONISHI
Sil AS A SCAPEGOAT. HE IS FIRED, AND THE
PROTEST IS SUPPRESSED.

if | in i

Ww

| |
ws 2
i Lal
|i

Lu liie
Ca
(hiii (
4 A “\i 5
ArT rmaN
{it a,

“di, |

MINEKI MINODA, A PREPARATORY

COURSE PROFESSOR AT KEIO
UNIVERSITY, IS KEPT ON RETAINER
BY THE MILITARY TO ATTACK
AND SUPPRESS ACADEMIC
SPEECH. AT THE END OF
THE WAR, HE KILLS
HIMSELF.

ON FEBRUARY 18, 1935, A PUBLIC

CAMPAIGN IS STARTED TO DENOUNCE
CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLAR TATSUKICHI
MINOBE* AND HIS EMPEROR
ORGAN THEORY.*

a :
( Wares | i |ERM er fj
H
LO :
—
———
——> ili ihULNAR Re
¥SEE NOTES PAGE 527.
 SHE LEAVS A MONTH-
LONG STRIKE,
THE STRIKE IS ‘ DEMANDING
IN REACTION TO ah IMPROVEMENTS IN
WAGE CUTS. ; LABOR CONDITIONS
£ AND A WAGE
INCREASE FOR
MUSICIANS.

ie
ANS
SIGNS: EXPLOITING SHOCHIKU GIRLS REVIEW.

LED BY THE EIGHTEEN-YEAR- / THAT'S HOW

OLD MIZUNOE, IT WAS KNOWN | gy st IT WENT.
AROUND THE WORLD AS THE YS
“PINK STRIKE.”

SHOCHIKU COULON’T BE SEEN

CONGRATULATIONS! EXPLOITING ITS MOST POPULAR STAR,
BUT MEANWHILE... Z SO THE COMPANY SOON GAVE
IN TO HER DEMANDS.

423
 RIGHT-WING RUFFIANS FANATICS GO AFTER THEIR
TAKE DOWN THE LEFT TARGETS WITH NO FEAR
ONE BY ONE. OF REPRISAL.

ANYONE EVEN SLIGHTLY

LIBERAL IS CALLED A
COMMUNIST. ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY,
DISSENTERS
ARE ARRESTED.

THE LABOR MOVEMENT GAINS

ONLY ONE VICTORY, LED BY
TAKIKO MIZUNOE,* STAR OF
THE SHOCHIKU GIRLS
REVUE COMPANY.

¥SEE NOTES PAGE 527.

 FOR SOME REASON,
MY FATHER WAS
ALWAYS HOME WOW, NAGATA
BACK THEN. HE WAS KILLED.
WAS NEVER
REALLY DOING
MUCH OF
ANYTHING.

ITS A SHOWDOWN
BETWEEN THE IMPERIAL
WAY FACTION
ANDO THE
CONTROL
FACTION.

Al IN
SiON: BE CAREFUL WITH FIRE.

GENERALS ARAKI AND MASAKI ARE IMPERIAL WAY

BOTH...1 DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU t FACTION?
WOULD CALL THEM. THE MIND AND fr
SOUL FACTION OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT, I SUPPOSE.

425
 TETSUZAN NAGATA
IS MURDERED!

Pie:
(}
ae 7

4, ——a4 a

A LEADING MEMBER OF THE TOSEIHA

CONTROL FACTION, MAJOR GENERAL TETSUZAN
NAGATA WAS ASSASSINATED BY SABURO AIZAWA,*
A MASTER SWORDSMAN. AIZAWA WAS UPSET
THAT NAGATA HAD REPLACED THE KODOHA
IMPERIAL WAY FACTION’S JINZABURO
MASAKI* AS INSPECTOR
GENERAL OF MILITARY
TRAINING.

*SEE NOTES PAGE 528.

G2q
427
 PEOPLE ARE STARVING, ma Wail ° ae NAGATA, T0J0, AND MUTO
BUT ALL THEYRE core NA , ARE MEMBERS OF THE
WORRIED ABOUT ine iW AY CONTROL FACTION.
IS WHO WILL BE bi | |
IN CHARGE.

MAYBE WE SHOULD PUT THOSE OMOTO

LIKE ONISABURO Y ; RELIGIOUS WACK-JOBS
DEGUCHI2* IN CHARGE.

AT Z

HE’S A GOD. HE I WONDER WHAT

GETS THE BEST. HE EATS?

WELL, LAM OFF

TO WORK.

#SEE NOTES PAGE 528.

 WATCHING THE WESTERN
POWERS CARVE UP ASIA FUELS
THEIR NATIONALISM.

AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT j “3 %

IS CRIPPLED BY INDECISION. Ety sh THEY BELIEVE INDUSTRIALISTS
THESE YOUNG OFFICERS l LPO : LINE THEIR OWN POCKETS AT
CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE. TM iV THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS...

WHO ELSE IS GOING TO

HELP THE FARMERS?

429
THE FEBRUARY 2@ INCIDENT:
THE MOST AMBITIOUS ATTEMPTED of FEBRUARY 26, 1936...
COUP D’ETAT IN THE HISTORY Xe
OF MODERN JAPAN.

THE MAIN PLAYERS ARE MANY OF THE SAME YOUNG

OFFICERS THAT HAD PARTICIPATED IN THE 1932 IMPERIAL
COLORS INCIDENT. THEY ARE DRIVEN BY A FANATICAL
SENSE OF PURPOSE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.

THE TRAGEDY OF
THE TOHOKU FARMERS
TOUCHES THEM DEEPLY.
THEY NEED TO ACT.
 ON FEBRUARY 25, THERE |
IS A SNOWSTORM IN |
THE CAPITAL UNLIKE
ANY SEEN IN
THIRTY YEARS.
¢

li
y

AT DAWN ON THE TWENTY-SIXTH,

THE BLIZZARD STOPS. THE
SOLDIERS ADVANCE, KICKING
THE SNOW UP AROUND
THEMSELVES AND
USING SNOWDRIFTS
AS COVER.

431
 THESE IDEALISTIC YOUNG OFFICERS FALL
UNDER THE SWAY OF RIGHT-WING
INTELLECTUALS LIKE IKKI KITA AND
SHUME! OKAWA. UNDER THE NAME
OF THE KODOHA FACTION, THEY
INTEND TO FORCE THE CHANGE
THEY WANT TO SEE IN
THE WORLD.

IKK! KITA

THE TOSEIHA CONTROL FACTION

OPPOSES THEM. THESE SEASONED, MORE
REALISTIC OFFICERS WANT CHANGE AS WELL,
BUT UNDERSTAND THAT IT TAKES TIME. THE
KODOHA, HOWEVER, ARE SICK OF WAITING.
THEY WANT THEIR IDEAL WORLD TO BECOME
A REALITY, AND TO ACCOMPLISH THIS,
THEY PLAN TO TAKE OVER.

430
 THE INSURRECTION
LASTS FOUR DAYS, FROM
FEBRUARY 26 10 29.

ARMY CAPTAINS SHIRO NONAKA,

UW "lity ti PFBPLALAHYA TERUZO ANDO, KIYOSADA KODA,
, gay se jo. A TAKATI MURANAKA, AND ASAICHI
‘
ISOBE LEAD AN INSURGENT ARMY
OF TWENTY-TWO NON-
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
AND I,4OO SOLDIERS.

433
 iz Yjffjsisd it
ZZZ
Z
ate
Z ty
jj): Zz THEIR TARGETS ARE THE PRIME
MINISTER'S HOME, THE TOKYO
METROPOLITAN POLICE
DEPARTMENT, THE WAR
MINISTER'S HOME, AND
THE GENERAL STAFF
OFFICE, AS WELL AS THE
ASAHI NEWSPAPER AND
SEVERAL OTHER NEWS
ORGANIZATIONS.

re r i e s y
97,
| aVa <a
eae
A.M
 € GOVERNMENT IS |
Shae INTO \ Gi) WE CAN'T GOrT
ON LIKE THIS!
sh
POVERTY.

I THOUGHT WE WERE
POOR BECAUSE WE
DON’T HAVE ANY

TOOT

VERT
ETT

| AND WHOSE
FAULT IS THAT? THE
GOVERNMENT'S!

IT SAYS PRIME MINISTER

KEISUKE OKADA* WAS
REPORTED DEAD...
 RIGHT-WING STATESMAN MITSUGI NISHIDA*
IS ALSO HELD RESPONSIBLE. ANYONE BELOW
THE RANK OF NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER
IS EXCUSED—THEY WERE SIMPLY
FOLLOWING ORDERS.

SS See ee

| OUR MOTHER
al |

|hy ,
MITSUGI NISHIDA i TWAS SHOCKED BY
WAS FROM NEIGH- | /]| MMs. « THE FEBRUARY
BORING YONAGO, I 26 INCIDENT.
AND SHE KNEW }|
HIM WELL. qi
Ina

PN_ ‘ih
fh hill
| va i|Wl,i
N,/ t Y

pe

*SEE NOTES PAGE 528.

434
 INSURGENTS CONTROL
THE CAPITAL CITY UNTIL
AROUND 9:00 A.M.

AT THE HOME OF THE ARMY MINISTER YOSHIYUKI

KAWASHIMA, CAPTAIN KODA PRESENTS THEIR
MANIFESTO AND A LIST OF DEMANDS
TO BE DELIVERED T0
THE EMPEROR.

437
PRIME MINISTER OKADA HIDES WHEN THE fi

iNa
a ih a |
ASSASSINS ARRIVE. THEY KILL HIS BROTHER-
IN-LAW BY MISTAKE. FINANCE MINISTER li YW all |ut ———

Mi
—————

KOREKIYO TAKAHASHI, HOME MINISTER

MAKOTO SAITO, AND INSPECTOR-
Hi
"i
{hi m at
im,
——

GENERAL OF MILITARY = fa ‘i . =>

=
e
EDUCATION JOTARO bale
“4
WATANABE ARE ALSO Gi y,
KILLED. GRAND A EG
CHAMBERLAIN
KANTARO SUZUKI IS
GRAVELY WOUNDED.

THE METROPOLITAN POLICE

DEPARTMENT IS OCCUPIED
BY 4OO ARMED SOLDIERS.
OTHER INSURGENTS SMASH
THE TYPE CASES AT THE
ASAH| NEWSPAPER
ANO FORCE OUT
THE STAFF AT
VARIOUS NEWS
AGENCIES.

436
 FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT,
I TRUSTED THESE SENIOR VASSALS, THE CHIEF CABINET
AND KILLING THEM WOULD AMOUNT SECRETARY ATTEMPTS TO
TO STRANGLING ME WITH i RESTORE ORDER, BUT
FLOSS SILK. 1.34 RELATIONS WITH THE
MILITARY ARE STILL
TENUOUS.

\\ : \ \\"\ \ )
:
THE EMPEROR SAYS 10 \\\ \
\\
HIS AIDE-DE-CAMP,
SHIGERU HONIO...*

T WILL PERSONALLY
LEAD THE IMPERIAL GUARD
TO SUBDUE THEM!

*SEE NOTES PAGE 528.

439
 THE INSURGENT ARMY BESEECHES THE
EMPEROR TO TAKE DIRECT CONTROL
OF THE COUNTRY AND THE
MILITARY, LEADING THEM
AS A TRUE RULER.

nS|\
s
fh
i u

x
NG iiw
ll
BUT THE
EMPEROR
THIS INSURRECTION REFUSES.
MUST END NOW!!

IN A CABINET MEETING
THAT DAY, THE GOVERNMENT
DECLARES MARTIAL LAW.
 AREN'T YOU IT SAYS HERE THAT MARTIAL LAW HAS ©
A LITTLE T00 BEEN DECLARED, AND THAT ALL OCCUPYING
INTO THIS2 SOLDIERS MUST RETURN TO THEIR ORIGINAL
UNITS BY THE DEADLINE.

THEY'RE CALLING IT
A REBELLION!®

THEYRE ISSUING A GENERAL '

EVACUATION ORDER FOR ALL
THE PEOPLE IN TOKYO. THIS
CAN ONLY MEAN
A FIGHT.

*¥SEE NOTES PAGE 528.

Gi
 OUR MOTHER FOLLOWED
THE NEWS CLOSELY.

| } ral
\ —

LOOK EVERYONE! THERE

WAS AN IMPERIAL EDICT
ISSUED AT 5:00 A.M.
YESTERDAY!

I THINK THEY OH YEAH, ISN’T THERE

STOPPED SOMETHING GOING
THAT. ON IN TOKYO?

440
 INSURGENTS HANG A BANNER FROM
THE PRIME MINISTER'S HOME. IT READS:
“REVERE THE EMPEROR, RESTORE
THE MILITARY*

pena
SEE NOTES PAGE 528.
443
 ON FEBRUARY 29,
24,000 SOLDIERS SURROUND
THE INSURGENT ARMY,

IN TOKYO BAY, A FLEET OF FORTY

WARSHIPS ENTERS THE HARBOR AND
DISPATCH THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE
NAVY LAND FORCES. THE TROOPS
STAND RESOLUTE, READY
TO ENGAGE.

4G2
 IT IS A LEAP YEAR, SO THE DEADLINE FALLS “EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY,
ON FEBRUARY 29. THAT MORNING, IF NOT TOO FAR AWAY”
| A SPECIAL DIRECTIVE TO SOLDIERS IS BECOMES A POPULAR SAYING.
BROADCAST OVER THE RADIO
ENCOURAGING THEM TO
RETURN TO THEIR BASES.

445
 GUN BATTERIES ARE SET AROUND
THE IMPERIAL PALACE, READY
TO REPEL INSURGENTS.

AS THE AMNESTY DEADLINE a

GETS CLOSER, AN ADVERTISING
BALLOON IS FLOATED WITH
THE SIGN “IMPERIAL
COMMAND DISPATCHED,
DO NOT DEFY IT.”
 LOW-RANKING SOLDIERS
ARE NOT HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR
AS THE WAR SITUATION THEIR ACTIONS. THEY WERE JUST
GETS MORE DESPERATE, MANY FOLLOWING ORDERS.
OF THESE SOLDIERS ARE SENT TO
THE FRONT LINE. FEW OF
THEM RETURN.

447
it ITT
=

\ HEARING THAT MESSAGE, THE SOLDIERS

i RETURN TO THEIR UNITS. NOT A SINGLE
ONE CHOOSES TO STAND AND FIGHT.

ON JULY 5, THE SEVENTEEN IN APRIL, A SPECIAL COURT-

OFFICERS CONSIDERED T0 MARTIAL IS HELD BEHIND
BE PRIMARY INSTIGATORS CLOSED DOORS. JUDGMENT IS
ARE SENTENCED T0 DELIVERED WITHOUT THE
EXECUTION. BENEFIT OF TRIAL OR
LAWYERS.

ANCILLARY OFFICERS THE NEXT ROUND OF TRIALS

ARE SENTENCED 10 ARE HELV ON JANUARY 18
LIFE IMPRISONMENT. AND AUGUST 14, 1937.
FATHER HAD BOUGHT ME AN OIL
PAINTING SET FOR SOME REASON.
MY ART TEACHER WAS
IMPRESSED ENOUGH BY
MY WORK TO ORGANIZE
A ONE-MAN SHOW. THE
MAINICH| NEWSPAPER
CALLED ME A GENIUS!

ON MAY 18, THERE IN THOSE DAYS, IT WOULD

WAS SOME STRANGE SPEND ALL DAY
NEWS FROM TOKYO’S PAINTING.
ARAKAWA WARD.

WE ALL HURRIED TO
SCHOOL TO TALK
HIS DICK WAS (Ne ABOUT IT.
CUT OFF!2 @ tl
) “ry

449
 q HNN

| it AUGUST 1937: THE

Tig DEATH PENALTY FOR
SO IT'S DEATH FOR i RINGLEADERS IKKI KITA
NISHIDA. I REMEMBER in| AND MITSUGU NISHIDA
THE BUDDHIST SCULPTURES ISBN CUNT LY:
HE MADE. SUCH A ia
CLEVER BOV...

we
illLe

MOTHER WAS ALWAYS

ON THE SIDE OF THOSE BOYS WERE JUST
THE REBELS. CONCERNED ABOUT
OUR COUNTRY.

WE DIDN'T REALLY | ANAT AI | WHATEVER.

UNDERSTAND fs. af, We ee WHO CARES?
WHAT WAS | reece
GOING ON.
SO SHE DIDN'T a ey 4 IT ALSO SAYS HE LIKED
MEAN TO KILL pat : TO BE STRANGLED
HIM? é wx DURING SEX.

WE DIDN’T HAVE MUCH

GOING ON BACK THEN,
SO WE LOVED HAVING
SOMETHING TO
TALK ABOUT.

ITS TRUE. Oe : SINCE SHE WAS A YOUNG GIRL,

ITS ALL THAT : SADA ABE HAD BEEN CONSUMED
1 LIVE FOR. Me ee! BY SENSUAL PLEASURES. SHE
m | GAVE HERSELF OVER TO
THEM COMPLETELY.

VOOM
LATA
TIT
OT

451
 HE'S SOME GLY
T HEARD HIS WAITRESS, NAMED ISHIDA WHO
SADA ABE, VID IT. HAS A SMALL
RESTAURANT.

AND SHE CARRIED HIS

DICK AROUND UNTIL SHE
WAS CAUGHT.

SHE HAD IT
WITH HER?

CAN THEY WRITE IT SAYS THEY HAD AN

THINGS LIKE ABNORMAL PROPENSITY
FOR SEX.

ean
eeNitty
UNITED

ii\
\

453
 ir, SADA ABE FASCINATES
Ik THE NATION. SOME SAY
SHE IS NOTHING MORE
THAN A WELCOME
DIVERSION FROM THE
HARSH REALITIES OF
THE TIMES. OTHERS SAY
_ THAT—IN THE MIDST OF
ALL THESE MEN DRIVEN
BY THEIR PASSION FOR
“GREAT CAUSES” LIKE
GOVERNMENT AND
EMPIRE—-SADA’S
DEVOTION TO THE
“SMALL CAUSE” OF
PASSIONATE LOVE
I$ EQUALLY
IMPORTANT.

S 2 N AFTER HER RELEASE

ALL OTHER DETAILS ee Se FROM JAIL, SADA ABE
OF HER LIFE ARE ‘hill, ; i WORKS AS A WAITRESS
UNCONFIRMED, | a is i AND PARLOR MAID.

SIGN: YONEMATA’S BAR.

452
 BECAUSE OF THAT, ITS OFTEN
CALLED THE MARCO POLO BRIDGE.

AT Il:00 P.M, JUST BEFORE THE DRILL WAS

SCHEDULED TO FINISH, AN UNEXPECTED
BURST OF MACHINE GUN FIRE FILLS THE
AIR. THE JAPANESE MILITARY HAD
INFORMED THE CHINESE ARMY
STATIONED NEARBY ABOUT THE
DRILLS, BUT A FEW STARTLED
CHINESE SOLDIERS
RETURN FIRE.

THE JAPANESE ARMY RETALIATES

AGAINST THE CHINESE,
INITIATING THE SECOND
SINO-JAPANESE WAR.

455
 JULY 7, 1937: A JAPANESE ARMY COMPANY (250 MEN) ASSEMBLES FOR NIGHT
DRILLS ON THE LUGOU BRIDGE, ABOUT FOUR MILES SOUTHWEST
OF BEITING. BUILT IN THE JIN DYNASTY, THE BRIDGE IS MADE OF
MARBLE, AND SPANS THE YONGDING RIVER (ALSO
CALLED THE LUGOU RIVER).

IN THE THIRTEENTH aah ded

CENTURY, MARCO ©
POLO INTRODUCED
| THE LUGOU BRIDGE
TO EUROPE AS ONE
OF CHINA. |

454
 FACED WITH ANNIHILATION, THE
ENTIRE RED ARMY FLEES RUISIN.
300,000 TROOPS BEGIN THE LONG
MARCH IN OCTOBER 1934. FOR
OVER A YEAR THEY FIGHT
STARVATION, ILLNESS, AND
NATURAL DISASTER.

& -~
=
eX NUD ‘el
GN

THEIR LONG MARCH ENDS

IN YAN’AN, SHAANXI PROVINCE, ¢3
IN WESTERN CHINA. THE JOURNEY -s
SPANS 7,800 MILES. OF THE 300,000
SOLDIERS WHO SET OUT, ONLY :
AROUND 30,000 ARRIVE °%
IN YANPAN. :

457
 THE SECOND SINO-JAPANESE WAR OFFICIALLY BEGINS WITH THE LUGOU BRIDGE INCIDENT.
HOWEVER, CHINA IS READY WELL IN ADVANCE. THEIR COUNTER-OFFENSIVE WAS PUT INTO PLACE A
FEW YEARS EARLIER WHEN MAO ZEDONG’S* RED ARMY
COMPLETED THEIR LONG MARCH.

MMe Merely |
AN a KR
Nasi
Ne 1}

UNTIL 1934, THE RED

ARMY WAS BASED IN
RUIJIN, IN SOUTHERN
CHINA. HERE THEY
TEMPORARILY HELD OFF
THE KUOMINTANG.

I
iii
I H }

aAia Alin
Ki ATT i

= APy as

*SEE NOTES PAGE 528.

 NEWS OF THE VICTORY AMPLIFIES ANTI-JAPANESE
FEELINGS AMONG THE CHINESE PEOPLE. BUT IN ORDER
TO TURN THIS INTO AN ACTIVE RESISTANCE...
(UITEaty a nit

| CHINA NEEDS TO END

ITS DESTRUCTIVE CIVIL
WAR. WITH THE XIAN
INCIDENT, THEY GET
THEIR CHANCE.

i™)
AGAIN (|

459
 THE HARDSHIP OF THE LONG
MARCH STRENGTHENS THE
SS RED ARMY’S RESOLVE AND
SN
SSS SOLIDIFIES THE PARTY'S
LEADERSHIP. DURING THE
ae
SESS
SS
MARCH, THE SUIYUAN
S=
Ss
CAMPAIGN OCCURS.
eS ON NOVEMBER 14, 1936,
THE MONGOLIAN ARMY—
A JAPANESE PUPPET—
ADVANCES ON SUIYUAN.

THE CHINESE
FU ZUOYI ARMY
COUNTERATTACKS,
EASILY ROUTING THE
MONGOLIAN
ARMY,
 XUELIANG HAS LITTLE INTEREST IN THE RED
ARMY, IN FACT, HE IS SYMPATHETIC TO
THEIR CAUSE. INSTEAD, HE TRIES TO
CONVINCE CHIANG TO JOIN FORCES
AGAINST THE JAPANESE.

XUELIANG MEETS
WITH ZHOU ENLAI,* 6000
A HIGH-RANKING AFTERNOON.
MEMBER
OF THE RED
ARMY,

MY FATHER, ZHANG rn = = WE ARE THE ONLY

ZUOLIN, WAS MURDERED | = ma «CHINESE BRAVE ENOUGH
BY THE KWANTUNG : 16 TO STAND UP TO THE
ARMY, =HilE ae INVADERS.

WE FIGHT
AS ONE.
v TOGETHER WE WILL
AVENGE HIM.

'

il

*SEE NOTES PAGE 528.

 IN DECEMBER 1930, CHIANG KAI-SHEK ARRIVES IN XIAN, TO THE
SOUTH OF SUIYUAN IN SHANXI PROVINCE. THE LONG MARCH HAS
JUST FINISHED IN NEARBY YANPAN.

eats

EN ele. GSS ae 4
Ful,

CHIANG KAI-SHEK COMES TO XIAN TO DEAL

THE RED ARMY A DECISIVE BLOW. ZHANG
XUELIANG, WARLORD OF MANCHURIA,
IS WAITING WITH HIS FORCES.
 BUT CHIANG IS CAUGHT. |
XUELIANG CALLS ZHOU ENLAI
IN THE HOPES THE THREE
CAN COME TO AN
AGREEMENT.

Tae A SEBO os dig i

la NT | :is

}
iN ih ee
; quei : ‘ Ih ee | Y | A AE | M iL lI
Saa=e—_

i We . i | m Hist
all) WML Eh ty atl HSS i !Mt Ni : :
ANA AMEN cA
n = iS ye RY
Lis Any A PANT ANN

TLL HAVE ed ee | es
NOTHING 1000 <x = Waawgee: HOW VO YOU 002
WITH THESE
= i S " 1AM ZHOU ENLAI.
COMMUNISTS.

THEY POSE A
GREATER
THREAT 10 9a
THAT FUTURE
THAN JAPAN
 CHIANG KAI-SHEK IS STAYING AT THE
FAMOUS HUAQING POOL, FORMER
RESIDENCE OF TANG EMPEROR
XUANZONG AND HIS CONSORT,
YANG GUIFEI.

ri
Te tine
ht iMul

YOU'RE A G00D )
MAN, XUELIANG, co alas PRESIDENT, NOW IS NOT THE TIME
BUT YOU'RE e TO FIGHT THE COMMUNISTS. WE MUST JOIN
BEING VERY i} i OUR THREE ARMIES INTO A UNITED FRONT
FOOLISH. si THAT CAN REPEL THE JAPANESE.

ri

"Wi a
| Mb MAG

WITH HIS OPINION SO COMPLETELY

DISMISSED, XUELIANG ORDERS HIS | | THIS : WHO ARE YOU
BODYGUARDS To | | Discussion 1 CALLING A
HUAQING POOL ON IS FINISHED.
DECEMBER 12.

CHIANG KAI-SHEK FLEES THROUGH HIS

BATHROOM, FORGETTING EVEN
HIS FALSE TEETH.

462
SIX MONTHS PASS
BETWEEN THE XVAN
INCIDENT AND THE XUELIANG IS INCARCERATED IN TAIWAN
LUGOU BRIDGE FOR THE NEXT FORTY YEARS.
INCIDENT,

IN CHINA, BECAUSE OF THE

DATE—JULY 7, 19737—IT IS KNOWN
AS 7-7-7 DAY. NEITHER CHINA
NOR JAPAN WILL HAVE A DAY /
OF PEACE FOR THE
NEXT EIGHT
YEARS!!
 WHY WOULD YOU FIGHT
WHEN DID YOU AGAINST YOUR CHINESE
BECOME A COMRADES WHEN YOU
COMMUNIST2 COULD FIGHT ALONG
SIDE THEM?

CHIANG AGREES TO UNITE, BUT

DOES NOT FORGIVE. THE EVENT
BECOMES KNOWN AS THE X’AN VERY WELL. WE FIGHT
INCIDENT. TOGETHER UNTIL THE
JAPANESE ARE GONE. CHIANG’S
RESISTANCE IS
BROKEN VOWN
AT LAST.

CHIANG CALLS
BUT WHEN XUELIANG
ESCORTS CHIANG BACK 10
NANIING, CHIANG HAS
HIM PUT UNDER HOUSE

it
y Pad \ ! i! f
1!
i!

464
 AND THAT'S HOW IT WENT, AFTER
GRADUATION, I WENT
TO WORK AT A
PLATEMAKER’S
SHOP. I GOT
FITTED WITH
GLASSES FOR
MY NEAR-
SIGHTEDNESS.

“auyllff idl
; ae
sul

S
<=3 = =~>=-— =:
XS

ASSN)
ATe<SAT><<WY Bx 2] Ay

467
 iii SHIGERU’S GRADUATING...
HAVE YOU SEEN HIS “Y S®N WE SHOULD FIND HIM
TEST SCORES? : me AN APPRENTICESHIP.

YOU REALLY THINK HE’S THE ONLY KIO

SOMEONE WILL WHO GOT A ZERO
TAKE HIM ON2 IN MATH.

QO ®
Nae
Li by yy; :
a

ACTUALLY, I KNOW A PLATEMAKER IN OSAKA.

I COULD USE THAT MIGHT BE JUST
A LITTLE EXTRA THE THING.
CASH MYSELF.

466
 WHAT THE HELL
DO YOU THINK |
YOU'RE DOING?

AND JUST WHERE

WHERE AM I VO YOU THINK
GOING? YOU'RE
GOING2

SHOULDN'T YOU BE
TELLING ME THAT2
 =e
wm=
=e”m osEo
oo
— THAT’ $ THE
w od w
\=
od
Sas <e¢ BATHROOM.

Yes

468
 il FATHER PICKED UP
THANKS. YOU KNOW | MOCHI! YOUR MA SOME SWEETS
THAT PLATEMAKER’S | FAVORITE. iy YEN Ti FOR US.
SHOP? ITS FULL OF | \ iH}
BEDBUGS.

THIS MOCHI’S
GOOD THOUGH. THAT'S NO
GOOD.

: Sa I WAS PRETTY LAZY IN

WE'LL FIND = JRA , — KOSE DAYS. AFTER
IWAS
ANOTHER PLATE- TINK WS : FIRED FROM THE PLATE-
MAKER FOR PRR RS NES MAKER'S SHOP, I HUNG
YOU. Cie eee aN : \ SSS OUT AT MY GREAT
: UNCLE’S PRINT SHOF |.
FOR ABOUT THREE
MONTHS, PAINTING.

471
 IT NEED
TO SPEAK TO
YOUR FATHER
TOMORROW.

I WENT TO MY GREAT UNCLE’S

PRINT SHOP IN UMEDA WHERE
MY FATHER WAS STAYING.

47°
 GIVE ME
ANOTHER
ORDER OF
THESE.

WHAT2 HE JUST THREW THE ZINC PLATE

IN FRONT OF YOUR SHOP? T'M REALLY
SORRY ABOUT THAT.

Ze, | ti iN (! AM

. 4 |‘lh
/ i
HE CAN’T EVEN
MANAGE THE
SIMPLEST
TASK.

SS

i ;li |

473
 IF YOU'RE JUST WAZ tippy TN 1 GOT A JOB WITH ANOTHER
GONNA STAND ty AN PLATEMAKER AND My
THERE, HELP | iy FATHER SET ME UP WITH
WITH THE qi Gp MOT RA IE AN APARTMENT.
WEEDING. ail “ls

Hh RS
\\

ie l
oe p-

THERE SURE
HEY! TAKE THIS ZINC ARE A LOT OF
PLATE* OVER TO SPARROWS
MR. MARUKAME. < HERE.

ol i

ee)
¥ONE OF THE PLATES USED IN OFFSET PRINTING. MADE FROM ZINC, THEY ARE
SOMETIMES CALLED AEN-BAN.

472
WHATEVER. ae WHAT WERE YOU
ITS NO BIG THINKING?

WHAT DID YoU (= YOU DIDN'T

DO WITH THE
? KNOW THE

ARE YOU SO WHERE

KIDDING ME?
YOU LOST THE
PLATE?!?

475
 THEY SAID I COULD DO JUST TAKE THIS HIS DOOR WAS
SOME PAINTING, BUT ALL TO GOTO’S SHUT.
100 ARE DELIVERIES.

On
(
Wf
UU
UK

EP 1 Hao No iveA
| WHERE me,
G0TO’S PLACE
THIS SUCKS, PLUS
ITS GETTING
LATE.

‘i
ir TLL JUST HIDE
if" HW THIS HERE AND ASK | —__————— NOTHING I
oe y Nee, = FOR DIRECTIONS | Eee ; CAN DO BUT
TOMORROW. HEAD BACK,

474
IT WOUND UP STUDYING ILLUSTRATION
AT THE SEIKA ART SCHOOL. NOW HURRY UP AND
IT WAS A WEIRD SCHOOL. GET BACK TO OSAKA.
THE TEACHER AND
THE PRINCIPAL
WERE THE
SAME GUY.

AND YOUR SCHOOL’S ONLY TWO

HOURS FROM TANBA SASAYAMA, SO
YOU CAN STAY WITH ME.

es 0

TANBA SASAYAMA WAS A LITTLE MOUNTAIN TOWN WITHOUT

A MAJOR TRAIN LINE. I TOOK A LOCAL LINE AT 5:00 A.M.
DOWN TO THE MAIN STATION, WHERE I SLEPT UNTIL |
MY TRAIN ARRIVED. T WAS ALWAYS THE ONLY |
ONE THERE. 1 HATED IT.

ey Se
- - E—-

WAAZS
=4 Vv &
= \)

477
 MAYBE HE NEEDS THAT KIO OF OURS
TO GO BACK GOT FIRED AGAIN.
TO SCHOOL.

ill

YOU MAY I DON’T THINK WORKING IN T HAVE BEEN

BE RIGHT. HE’S READY TO SASAYAMA CITY. DOING BETTER
WORK YET. WE COULD LATELY...
AFFORO IT.

SO IS HIS LITTLE SOHEI IS I WAS THINKING

BROTHER. SHIGERU IS IN SCHOOL. THE SAME THING WHAT ABOUT
THE ONLY PROBLEM. MYSELF. ART SCHOOL?
COULD BE WORSE.
ENTERING NANJING

ee
ee

seb

—
 L JUST STAYED Home AND | fue WTNH = RARELY WENT
DREW AND PLAYED WITH my —_ TO SCHOOL.
INSECT COLLECTION, | F —

STUDENT LOAN? YOU'RE We ~V/ ‘aa HEY TEACHER, HOW

HARDLY EVER HERE. VO Sew (aps ABOUT A STUDENT
YOU REALLY THINK YOU'RE
GOING TO EARN YOUR
CERTIFICATE?

RV
Y OWA MNF

HE SPENT HIS TIME WRITING AND :

DRAWING DOZENS OF COMIC BOOKS SHIGERU JUST DIDN'T SEEM
BASED ON GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES, . TO FIT IN ANYWHERE. BUT HE
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN, DIDNT LET THAT STOP HIM.
AND THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.
HE WAS HIS OWN
AUDIENCE.

478
THIS GOES ON FOR EIGHT YEARS, 3
AS THIS “NON-WAR” SPREADS — |
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AFTER THE XV’AN INCIDENT,
JAPAN FINDS ITSELF
FACING OFF AGAINST
THE SECOND UNITED
FRONT.

Zim
—
~

ZW

AND UNITES WITH THE RED KEEPING HIS PROMISE, ON

ARMY TO FORM A SINGLE %, AUGUST 8, CHIANG KAI-SHEK
ANTI-JAPANESE FORCE, THE = TAKES DIRECT COMMAND OF
SECOND UNITED FRONT. THE CENTRAL GOVERN-
e MENTS ARMY...

JAPAN’S IRRESISTIBLE
FORCE SLAMS INTO
CHINA'S IMMOVABLE
OBJECT.
 AFTER THOSE INITIAL POTSHOTS ON
THE LUGOU BRIDGE, JAPAN AND CHINA
EXCHANGE FIRE OVER THE FOLLOWING
“MONTHS IN A SERIES OF SKIRMISHES.

THE BATTLE IS RE-NAMED WITH

EVERY CONFLICT. THE “NORTH
CHINA INCIDENT” BECOMES THE
“CHINESE INCIDENT.” JAPANESE
SOLDIERS ADVANCE, SHOUTING
“DEFEAT THE TYRANNICAL
CHINESE!”

wt
y \

TERRIFIED OF WESTERN IND

INVOLVEMENT, JAPAN TRIES TO mY, BUT JAPAN MAKES
PASS OFF THEIR INVASION AS A : NO EORMAL
: thy DECLARATION
SERIES OF “INCIDENTS,”
ALWAYS CLAIMING CHINA “a
AS THE AGGRESSOR.
 HWagiy CHANG KAl-sHEK’s UNITED ARMY FOUGHT J
MIRAE, HARD AT SHANGHAI, BUT WAS DEFEATED. &
ee, THE JAPANESE ARMY CONTINUES ITS
I hy RELENTLESS MARCH TO NANSING, Ply
are 190 MILES TO THE NUiaten

‘ A\\\ q y I 35
NANIING IS THE CAPITAL OF iil }
olf
THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND Ny
"
AN IMPORTANT TARGET. (
JAPAN’S FORCE OF 200,000 \y Seah we
SOLDIERS MEETS CHINA'S
100,000 DEFENDERS. , §
ih \\

Se Zz
= 2@y, 2

483
THE JAPANESE ARMY’S
OFFICIAL POLICY IS FOR
TROOPS TO PROVISION
THEMSELVES LOCALLY.
PLAINLY SPEAKING,
THIS MEANS
ROBBERY.

FIVE MONTHS AFTER THE LUGOU BRIDGE

INCIDENT, THE JAPANESE ARMY MARCHES
VICTORIOUSLY INTO CHINA'S CAPITAL,
NANSING.

HHT! é

Mt
\ C=
 HISTORY REMEMBERS THESE
ATROCITIES AS “THE NANTJING
MASSACRE.” WHILE ACCURATE
FIGURES MAY NEVER BE
KNOWN, VICTIMS NUMBER |
IN THE HUNDREDS OF |
THOUSANDS.

THE NEWS OF JAPAN’S

VICTORY IN NANSING IS
GREETED IN TOKYO WITH
CELEBRATIONS AND
LANTERN PARADES.
DECEMBER 10: JAPAN ATTACKS
NANSING IN A FULL-SCALE OFFENSIVE.
BY THE TWELFTH, THE CHINESE ARMY IS
IN RETREAT. ON THE THIRTEENTH, THE
VICTORIOUS JAPANESE ARMY MARCHES
INTO THE CITY. BUT TRIUMPH IS
SWIFTLY FOLLOWED BY TRAGEDY.

THE JAPANESE SOLDIERS ARE

DRUNK ON THEIR OWN SUCCESS.
THEY ROUND UP TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF SURRENDERING
CHINESE TROOPS AND sbooalne sah,
SLAUGHTER i ai ro ‘9 fi
SUGIMOTO IS A LEFTIST, ONE OF THE OKADA IS THIRTY-SIX
FOUNDERS OF THE WESTERN-STYLE YEARS OLD. SHE ISA
DRAMA, SHINGEKI. DISGUSTED WITH FAMED BEAUTY OF
JAPAN’S DESCENT INTO STAGE AND
FASCISM AND THE SCREEN.
DISMANTLING OF THE
JAPANESE COMMUNIST
PARTY, HE CHOOSES
TO LEAVE HIS
HOMELAND...

AND WORK WITH THE COMINTERN IN

MOSCOW TO REVIVE THE MOVEMENT.
SUGIMOTO BELIEVES RUSSIA
CANNOT REFUSE HIM.
 =z2
3Ss=
oé<
ax

s2
x
m

=
3
4
ON THE SOVIET-JAPANESE
BORDER » ACTRESS YOSHIKO
OKADA AND HER LOVER ?
DIRECTOR RYOKICH|
SUGIMOTO, DEFECT T0
THE SOVIET UNION

UNDER THE PRETEXT OF VISITING THE

BORDER GUARDS > THE TWO
SNEAK ACROSS

a a ee
oe ST
ANGE

x NW ee
ili

486
MANY YEARS AFTER THE
WAR, YOSHIKO OKADA
IS FOUND ALIVE IN A
PRISON CAMP. SOVIET
AUTHORITIES BRING HER
TO MOSCOW, WHERE
SHE MARRIES A
JAPANESE
COMMUNIST. _

SHE IS IN JAPAN OKADA WORKS FOR RADIO

ONLY MOMEN- MOSCOW. SHE RETURNS TO JAPAN
TARILY BEFORE IN 1974, BRINGING HER HUSBAND'S
RETURNING TO REMAINS BACK TO HIS NATIVE
RUSSIA. SOIL. IT HAS BEEN THIRTY
YEARS SINCE SHE LEFT.

'
i

489
ae 7sig
alal
mn: iM

\ THE TWO ARE SOON CAPTURED |

‘AND INTERROGATED BY STALIN'S,
"POLICE. THEY ARE BRANDED AS?” b
, COUNTER-REVOLUTIONARY SPIES,
AND SENT TO A PRISON CAME.

ON THEIR THIRD
DAY IN RUSSIA,

SEPARATE CAMPS
AND SENTENCED
TO HARD LABOR.
SUGIMOTO’S
CONSTITUTION IS
WEAK. HE IS DEAD
BY THE FOLLOWING
AUTUMN.
WELL, T NEED
THE CREDITS TO WHAT DOES THAT DID YOU JUST | -
TRANSFER TO HAVE TO DO WITH SAY FARTS?
VENO ART HORTICULTURE?
SCHOOL. :

YOU THINK NOT AT SO WE'RE JUST A

THAT'S ENOUGH2 ALL. STEPPING STONE
= FOR YOU?

YOU'RE STILL TATE POOP ONCE,

HERE? = y| \* THAT'S WHAT IT
ae TAKES TO GET IN. |

491
 SHOULDN'T YOU BE STUDYING
FOR YOUR HORTICULTURAL
SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAM?

T WASN'T WORRIED | fami

ABOUT THE EXAMS. | If AFTER THREE YEARS AT THE
ih HORTICULTURAL SCHOOL, T'M OFF
f =—sFIFTY STUDENTS, AND | iit TO VENO ART SCHOOL. °
By ONLY FIFTY-ONE WERE
APPLYING. THOSE
SEEMED LIKE SAFE
ODDS TO ME.

RAL SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAMS,

T ACTUALLY SAID
AFTER GRADUATING, I
THAT. BY MAKING MAA AK? WILL SERVE THE
ART. ; tg PEOPLE OF MY
ae COUNTRY...
LAGVE

490
 ABOUT A MONTH
AFTER THE
OUTBREAK OF WAR
IN CHINA, THE
NATIONAL
MOBILIZATION
2% 2, UAW IS ENACTED
a AND THE
NATIONAL
SPIRITUAL
MOBILIZATION
MOVEMENT IS
ESTABLISHED.

NEXT, THEY TOLD EVERYONE IN OCTOBER, THEY TOLD THE WOMEN OF

“RICE ANG A PICKLED PLUM JAPAN THAT GETTING THEIR HAIR DONE
IS ENOUGH FOR LUNCH!” WAS A WASTE OF VALUABLE
ELECTRIC POWER.

THINGS WERE THEY SHOUTED TIRESOME SLOGANS

LOOKING BAD. LIKE “LUXURY IS THE ENEMY!”

a
= mos ZL}

493
 ISN’T TODAY WHEN
THEY ANNOUNCE THE
ENTRANCE EXAM
RESULTS2

UT TN 77

THOSE EXAMS DON'T MEAN

ANYTHING. ANYONE WHO CAN
PAY GETS LET IN THE DOOR.

TWAS THE ONE | 7

I SCREWED UP! PERSON WHO | ANIVTTTAITTTAWT WHY UT I WENT TO CHECK,
raiveo. | IN| | AND THE UNBELIEVABLE
HAD HAPPENED.

492
 193G, INTERNATIONAL
THE REPORT DEMONIZES NOT ONLY WORKERS’ DAY IS BANNED,
COMMUNISM, BUT INDIVIDUALISM THEN, IN MAY 1937, THE
AND LIBERALISM AS WELL, AND MINISTRY OF EDUCATION,
ASSERTS THAT HAPPINESS LIES SCIENCE, AND CULTURE
ONLY IN ABSOLUTE SUBMISSION PUBLISHES “THE UNDERLYING
TO THE EMPEROR'S WILL. f; PRINCIPLES OF NATIONAL
IDENTITY.”

FEBRUARY 1938: BY THE END OF 1937, TIGHT

SCHOLARS HYOE OUCHI SOCIAL CONTROLS ARE IN PLACE.
AND RYOKICH| MINOBE AUTHORITIES ARREST ABOUT 4OO
ARE ARRESTED IN THE LABOR PARTY MEMBERS FOR
POPULAR FRONT VIOLATING THE PUBLIC SECURITY
INCIDENT. PRESERVATION LAW.

THE WAR HAS NO

END IN SIGHT.

AAAS

495
FOLLOWED BY THE NATIONAL
SPIRITUAL MOBILIZATION THE DIET ANNOUNCES THE
MOVEMENT, JAPANESE : NATIONAL MOBILIZATION
CITIZENS LOSE ALL By LAW IN APRIL 1938.
CONTROL OVER
THEIR LIVES.

IN 1939, THE FIRST OF EACH

MONTH IS DECLARED ASIAN PEOPLE ARE SEEN AS AN
DEVELOPMENT DAY. THE DAY ECONOMIC RESOURCE
EMPHASIZES SACRIFICE, TO BE EXPLOITED.
FRUGALITY, AND
PATRIOTISM.

AROUND THE SAME TIME, THE HINDENBURG BURSTS

INTO FLAMES AS IT COMPLETES ITS MAIDEN VOYAGE
BETWEEN GERMANY AND NEW JERSEY.

paca
4 AMn iyMage
 MAY |, 1938: JAPAN
CAPTURES XUZHOU. IN
FEBRUARY, THE GOVERN-
MENT HAD MOMENTARILY
CONSIDERED HALTING THEIR
ADVANCE, BUT THIS IDEA
WAS QUICKLY DISCARDED.

STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT, XUZHOU CONNECTS NORTHERN AND CENTRAL CHINA. JAPAN ATTACKS
FROM THEIR BASE IN NANIING, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THEIR PUPPET GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, A
FORCE OF 400,000 CHINESE
SOLDIERS HALTS THE
JAPANESE
ADVANCE.

willl i

497
JAPAN INSISTS THAT THEIR
JANUARY 1938: JUST A
PEACE OVERTURES WENT IGNORED
FEW MONTHS AFTER THE
BY THE KUOMINTANG, ALTHOUGH
NANSJING MASSACRE,
THEIR OFFER WOULD BE MORE
JAPAN ANNOUNCES AN
ACCURATELY DESCRIBED AS TERMS
END 10 PEACE TALKS
FOR CHINA'S SURRENDER. ON
WITH CHINA.
MARCH 28, CLAIMING
THAT CHIANG’S
GOVERNMENT IS NO
LONGER LEGITIMATE...

\\WH
UU

JAPAN ESTABLISHES A as
PUPPET GOVERNMENT IN
NANJING: THE REFORMED
GOVERNMENT OF THE
REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
 ‘ <
ie
Na M/E AY
AS
Mi Binivan iy

oe
oh Mi
aBy
ve 1 mt!
}
i

Cas ger ae ened

nee aN

THE BATTLE OF WUHAN IS AFTER OCCUPYING XUZHOU, THE

LAUNCHED SIMULTANEOUSLY MILITARY GENERAL STAFF SETS ITS
WITH THE CANTON SIGHTS ON WUHAN, A HISTORICALLY
OPERATION IN THE SIGNIFICANT CENTER OF TRADE
SOUTH CHINA SEA. AND COMMERCE.

WITH THE CANTON OPERATION, JAPAN BLOCKAVES

GUANGDONG PROVINCE AND ITS TRADE ROUTES. THE GOAL
IS TO CUT OFF COMMUNICATION WITH, AND AID FROM,
THE WESTERN POWERS. JAPAN HOPES THIS WILL:
CRUSH CHINESE MORALE.

499
 XUZHOU FALLS ON THE FIRST OF MAY, BUT JAPAN PULLS IN TROOPS IT HAD RESERVED
THE ENCIRCLING MANEUVER FAILS, AND TO FIGHT THE SOVIETS. THE NORTH CHINA
- MOST OF THE CHINESE TROOPS AREA ARMY AND THE CENTRAL CHINA
ESCAPE TO THE WEST. IT IS NOT EXPEDITIONARY ARMY TRY
THE DECISIVE BATTLE JAPAN TO ENCIRCLE XUZHOU.
WAS HOPING FOR.

TWO MONTHS INTO THE OCCUPATION OF XUZHOU, THE FIRST

CONFRONTATION BETWEEN JAPANESE AND SOVIET TROOPS
OCCURS ON THE SOVIET-MANCHUKUO BORDER.

eB ine
hou fit

THE BATTLES OF THE SOVIET-MANCHUKUO BORDER IS

KHALKHIN GOL ARE DEFINED BY THE TUMEN RIVER. THE
A SIGN OF THINGS FLOODING AND DRAINING OF
TO COME. THE RIVER MAKE FOR AN
UNSTABLE BORDER.

ALLA
|

498
 Why)
: M WWW,

——————
SSSSSSSSSSSSS
=

501
AFTER A DESPERATE AND
HARD-FOUGHT BATTLE, WUHAN
FALLS TO JAPAN ON OCTOBER 27.
SHORTLY BEFORE, THE KUOMINTANG
HAD TRANSFERRED THE CHINESE
CAPITAL TO CHONGQING IN
SICHUAN PROVINCE. THE
LOSS OF WUHAN IS A
HEAVY BLOW.

i ZS| Wing
z : uo) : |y |
;
\ AS
pas
s S

“HOW LONG
WILL WE CONTINUE
WITH OUR OWN MISTAKE?”
THIS IS A LINE FROM A SONG
BY YOSHIE FUJIWARA, CALLED
“FLIGHT” POPULAR AROUND 1932,
IT TOLD THE STORY OF A BAND OF
ey)
pee i Ae
CHINESE GUERILLA FIGHTERS.

“HOW LONG WILL WE

CONTINUE WITH OUR OWN
MISTAKE2” THESE LINES
EMBODY THE SECOND
SINO-JAPANESE WAR,
THE ERA WHEN I
BECAME A MAN.

500
 NOW THIS JOB
TAKES BALLS.

THIS MACHINE HAD | HE SEEMED

TD RATHER KEEP AN APPETITE FOR | TO BE MISSING
ALL OF MINE. I FINGERS. Mi | SOMETHING.
NEED THEM.

ISN'T THERE
SOMETHING ELSE
1 CAN 002

503
Lalae i| WW” WITH FEW

TT |
2 COME HERE AND
TLL SHO YO ~ OPTIONS AVAILABLE,
W U TLANSWERED AN AD

ims
WHAT T0 DO. FOR M ELECTRONICS.
THEY WERE SEEKING
FACTORY HANDS,
NO EXPERIENCE
NECESSARY.

DOES HE THINK TM
How Come I'm
ONLY GOOD FOR
THE ONLY GUY
WOMEN’S
WORKING HERE?
WORK?

YOU THINK ISNT THERE YOU GOT A HEY THERE.

YOURE TOUGH, SOMETHING PROBLEM2
HUH2 MORE MANLY T
COULD 902

502
 HAVE YOU we Win | I MIGHT JUST HEAD DOWN
GONE MADZ | SOUTH AND JOIN POPS.

HOW CAN A MAN WITH SO i ~ N : WHAT DO YOU KNOW2 I'm

MUCH DEBT THINK HE ill i GOING TO BE RICH!
CAN STILL BUY A i j
DREAMS2

WN N
Qin, < r C : “a Yes =

\ STR W\\\ BB, NONETHELESS, OUR

, Gy | FATHER PACKED UP
\SN \ a Ny VN Ye ALL HIS COURAGE
: NN H AND SAILED TO JAVA
oy ( BEFORE THE
OUTBREAK OF
\ de i= THE WAR.
a Mt,

\ ut Nl it

bet
Mi
TLL SHOW T THINK HE'S A
LITTLE TOUCHED NOW, NOW. NO
YOU TOUCHED...
IN THE HEAD. FIGHTING HERE.

MAYBE YOU'D
BETTER LEAVE.

DUE TO THE SOUTHERN ABOUT THEN, WE GOT A LETTER

EXPANSION DOCTRINE,* My FROM OUR GRANDFATHER
POPS THINKS I COULD D0 IN BATAVIA.
GANGBUSTERS IN JAVA
SELLING LIFE INSURANCE.
 JAPAN WANTS TO AVOID BEING
DRAWN INTO A FULL-SCALE WAR
WITH THE SOVIETS, BUT THEY’RE NOT
OPPOSED TO TESTING THE WATER
WITH A FEW BATTLES.

YOU THINK WE CAN : ee” ( ZAP AWE \MPERIAL

LOSE 10 A PACK ml ag ARMY IS
OF RUSSIANS? i 7 UNDEFEATABLE!!

THE KWANTUNG ARMY STATIONED

TO THE NORTH IS OVERCONTIDENT AND
RECKLESS. THEY MOBILIZE A BATTALION
INTO INNER MONGOLIA AND ATTACK.

507
x 2 wo3 oS[42 2 ABOUT SIX MONTHS INTO
THE WUHAN OCCUPATION...

Y, YY.
MAY II> 19739: NOMONHAN, IN
NORTHWESTERN MANCKHUKUO
\ SSN

ON THE BORDER WITH

OUTER MONGOLIA.

A FIREFIGHT BREAKS OUT

BETWEEN SOVIET AND
JAPANESE FORCES.

506
A SPEEDY VICTORY JAPAN HAD
OVER THE SOVIETS. FORESEEN...

WAITING FOR THEM IN AUGUST, THEY

IS SOVIET GENERAL LAUNCH AN ALL-
GEORGY ZHUKOV... fh oe
i Tes
OUT ATTACK.

AND THE
FIREPOWER
OF HIS TANK
BRIGADE.

509
BUT THIS IS A LAND V4, Yi, i F WITH 130 PLANES,
WAR. RUSSIAN TANKS ll JAPAN DOMINATES
ROLL EFFORTLESSLY oo Z
ZZ
A
THE SKIES.
OVER THE JAPANESE

JAPAN’S DEFEAT IS TOTAL.

508
 SOVIET CASUALTIES AMOUNTED TO 9,000,
WHILE JAPAN’S LOSSES RAN TO MORE THAN 17,000.

A
. 8
at pyr
ie cen

boy
A be ls ss . e Sey (Sac Ore 4
vy lll uw
age CRC RARE er pala _ aL dil bare Pare, tO dei’
ey Ae

RUSSIA IS NOW FREE TO FOCUS ON

THEIR INVASION OF POLAND.

511
 JAPAN’S STANDARD TACTIC
THIS PROVES USELESS
AGAINST TANKS IS TO LOB
AGAINST ZHUKOV’S
MOLOTOV COCKTAILS.
MODERN. ARMOR.

Y ty
'swfffyyy
Yi
YY Y)

AND THE SOVIETS ARE THE JAPANESE FORCES REFUSE TO

WORRIED ABOUT THE ADMIT DEFEAT AND PREPARE TO GO
GROWING SITUATION DOWN FIGHTING. BUT THE CENTRAL
IN EUROPE. COMMAND HAS OTHER IDEAS.

THE JAPANESE AMBASSADOR IN

MOSCOW SIGNS AN ARMISTICE NEITHER SIDE REALLY
AGREEMENT ON SEPTEMBER 15. WANTS THIS WAR.
IT COMES INTO EFFECT THE
FOLLOWING DAY.

510
 -
Oe
\\|

\)
I
We 7

ld Yi)

h
“sm yo “
Y YZ.
YF.

SS,
SS

", tf if

=
| a /y
Hq \
yy
h Mi) Mh Ys

SEPTEMBER 1939: THE UK

AND FRANCE SIMULTANEOUSLY
ECLARE WAR ON GERMANY AFTER
ITS INVASION OF POLAND. THE
SECOND WORLD WAR BEGINS. AT
THE SAME TIME, JAPAN'S NEW
WAR MINISTER, HIDEKI T0J0,*
STEPS ONTO THE STAGE.

*SEE NOTES PAGE 528.

513
 PL
iy y 4G

Nc.
a Vanes)'
Ae

512
TOJO IS A MAN
WHO NEVER SMILES,
AND BECAUSE OF THIS,
HE TAKES AWAY THE
SMILES OF THE
JAPANESE PEOPLE.
HE LOVES SLOGANS
LIKE “A MAN WHO
DOESN'T WANT IS A
A TIME FOR
MAN WHO WINS” AND
MIRACULOUS DEEDS
“LUXURY IS THE ENEMY.”
HAS COME. WE WILL
HIS TIME IN COMMAND
DO WHATEVER IT
IS A SIEGE ON THE
TAKES TO ENSURE
JAPANESE NATION.
LASTING HARMONY
AND STABILITY
WE WOULD SOON LEARN
IN ASIA.
WHAT IT MEANT TO
TRULY SUFFER.
 Se

AF TERWORD HiDEKI 0ZAKI Wh

ee

What exactly is the Showa period? We can say with certainty that it began on December 25,
1926. On that day, the reigning Taisho Emperor passed away, and the era name changed with ~
the ascension of the new Emperor, according to Japanese tradition. But what does Showa
mean? The name was taken from a passage in Shu Ching, a classic work of Chinese literature,
also known as the Book of Documents. The passage implores the reader “to bring the people
of all nations into enlightened harmony.” In selecting this as the era name, the intention was —
for Japan to be a light to the world, guiding man down a road of peaceful coexistence and —
mutual prosperity. But in actuality, the Showa period was a time of “War and Peace,” a —
turbulent era that blew like a raging gale instead of a peaceful breeze.
The instability of the Showa era was born from the preceding Taisho period. On September 1, :
1923, the Great Kanto Earthquake ravaged Japan. Tokyo, Japan’s capital, was devastated. However,
the earthquake was only the beginning of Japan’s troubles. A mere three months into the first
year of the new Emperor's reign, the country was thrust into the Showa Financial Crisis, which
would ultimately devolve into the Great Depression. Trouble followed trouble with the Mukden
Incident on September 18, 1931, and the Second Sino-Japanese War, initiated on July 7, 1937. This -
conflict escalated and became part of the Pacific War, a theater of World War Il.
At the time, Japan was among the great powers of the world, standing shoulder-to-shoulder
with the United States, the United Kingdom, and Nazi Germany. However, while Japan was exter-
nally strong, it was not internally stable. The country’s agricultural communities remained in an
almost feudal state, dominated by landlords. Powerful financial conglomerates called zaibatsu
took advantage of the Showa Financial Crisis and seized control of the country’s economy. This
volatility allowed the Japanese military to act unilaterally, pursuing an aggressive agenda on
the Asian continent that lead to nearly fifteen years of constant and unjust war that would define -
the Showa period. These circumstances persisted until August 15, 1945, when Japan was finally
defeated in World War II. : .
With the United States’ occupation of Japan, order was forged from chaos. At first it seemed
as though the Japanese had lost their independence as a term of surrender, but under the pro-
tective umbrella of the United States, the Japanese economy flourished in the post-war years.
The country once again became a giant to be reckoned with, but this time it was a financial
giant. The troubled winds of Showa were blowing in the opposite direction.
Most people today cannot truly understand the chaos and uncertainty of the early- to mid-
Showa period. The overwhelming majority of Japan’s population has never known war. They
have no concept of what their grandparents endured. To many, the events of World War Il are
ancient history, something that happened more than sixty years ago.
Shigeru Mizuki, however, lived through these years. Born in Sakaiminato city, Tottori Prefec-
ture, in 1922, Mizuki is part of the generation born in those last few moments of calm, before
chaos and uncertainty erupted and overwhelmed Japan. After graduating from higher primary
school, Mizuki moved to Uehonmachi, in Osaka, where—according to his family registry—he
attended Seika Art School and a trade school for manufacturing. But truthfully, he didn’t stay
at either school for very long. He left these institutions, and went to what was then called middle
~

517
__ school. He stayed there until he was twenty years old and in his third year. It was then that he
heard the call to arms and joined the Tottori regiment of the Imperial Japanese Army. He was
assigned to be the regimental bugle player, but he did not enjoy it. In one of the most defining
~ moments of his life, he asked the Master Sergeant if he could be released from bugle duty. The
Master Sergeant was more than happy to acquiesce. Instead of playing the bugle, Mizuki was
_ sent to the front lines, namely Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. It was there that he lost his arm.
In 1946, a year after Japan’s defeat, Mizuki was sent back to Kanagawa Prefecture from
_ Papua New Guinea. He was a patient in the Aibo Veteran’s Hospital, where he enjoyed swapping
war stories with other injured soldiers. Once formally discharged, he paid his way however he
could—everything from dealing in black-market rice, doing street-side fundraising, working as
a fishmonger, to being a partner in a pedicab company. For two years, he spent his spare time at-
tending Musashino Art School. Sometime later, while working in Kobe city, Hyogo Prefecture, his
destiny—along with his name—would change. He found himself wandering down Mizuki street,
and came upon a rundown apartment building called Mizuki Manor. He liked the place and,
_ after securing loans, purchased it. He also borrowed Mizuki as a pen name, having been born
Shigeru Mura.
Shortly thereafter, Mizuki was introduced to Koji Kata, and together they went into the popular
kamishibai paper theater business. This was an early type of theater where traveling storytellers
used painted panels to accentuate their stories. (A great deal of Japan’s comic book tradition
stems from kamishibai). At their studio in Mizuki Manor, they produced kamishibai stories and
art. Life was still difficult in Japan, and making kamishibai alone was not enough to meet living
expenses. For this reason, Mizuki decided to try his hand at the emerging field of manga and
created his first comic book, Rocketman.
Mizuki began making comics for the then-popular rental-comic system, where people paid
a small fee to rent comics rather than buy them. He specialized in both war comics and comics
based on folkloric Japanese monsters, called yokai. During this period, he created many of the
characters that would become his life’s work with Kitaro’s Night Tales, Sanpei the Kappa, and
Devil Boy. Fortunately, these comics sold well, and for the first time in his life, he could afford to
buy a luxury or two.
In 1965, his life took a drastic turn. His comic Television Boy was published in a special issue of
Shonen Magazine, and won the Juvenile Comic Storytelling award. His next comic, Kitaro of the
_ Graveyard, was a smash hit and Mizuki gained further recognition. He was forty years old, and
just coming into success as an artist. Compared to other comic book artists, it took a long time
for Mizuki’s work to catch on. But eventually he would surpass them all.
Looking at this résumé, you can see how Shigeru Mizuki carries the weight of the Showa period
on his shoulders. Born in Tottori Prefecture the year before the Great Kanto Earthquake, and a
young boy in the early Showa period, he experienced all of the period’s strife. Then in 1943, he
joined the armed forces and was shipped to the Southern Islands, where a new level of suffer-
ing awaited him. He experienced battle, and learned first-hand what it feels like to have bullets
pierce your body. Mizuki also endured the disorder following the war, and the slow process of
stabilization. From the military demobilization, to his life as a disabled soldier, to working at al-
most any job to support himself and his kamishibai, and then, eventually, his success as a comic
book artist, Mizuki is someone who lived through the entirety of the Showa era.
This comic, Showa:AHistory of Japan, is a personal story as well as a historical one. Everything
from the Great Kanto Earthquake, to the initial stirrings of conflict, to the decade and a half of
war on the home front as well as the battlefield, to Japan's defeat and revival, is intertwined with
_ the autobiography of Mizuki himself. Mizuki's life brings depth and perspective to the story, and
brings the history to life. And of course, his old friend Nezumi Otoko shows up as the narrator,
helping the reader along some of the more twisted paths of the Showa era.
Shigeru Mizuki wanted to leave this document of the Showa period—written from the point
of view of someone who lived through all of it—for future generations, so that they could better
understand the past.

518
NOTES

17 Moratorium on Payment of Debt: A relief measure enacted by Cabinet member Gonbee ie

Yamamoto on September 7, 1923, during the Great Kanto Earthquake. It allowed companies to
postpone payments of salary, rent, and other expenses for thirty days. Nii

18 Discounted Disaster Relief Act: Due to the devastation of the Great Kanto Earthquake, people
were unable to repay the already discounted earthquake loans. The Bank of Japan rediscounted
the loansto help with the losses suffered by city banks. Proclamation issued on September 27, 1923.

19 Discounted Earthquake Loans: Banks could liquidate outstanding loans issued prior to a fixed
date and—after subtracting interest—receive cash in trade.

21 Naoharu Kataoka: (1859-1934) b. Kochi Prefecture. Businessman. Politician. Minister of

Finance in Prime Minister Reijiro Wakatsuki’s first cabinet. In charge of reconstructing the
earthquake loans.

21 Tokyo Watanabe Bank: A mid-sized bank in Tokyo city, the Watanabe Bank was founded — ;
in the Meiji era by the Watanabe commercial house, a real estate brokerage and wholesaler of
marine products.

24 Suzuki Shoten: Commercial trading company founded in 1877. General Manager: Naokichi
Kaneko. Active in import/export of goods with Taiwan. A rapid expansion after World War | saw
Suzuki Shoten rise to become the largest trading company in Japan.

25 Bank of Taiwan: Taiwan's main bank under Japanese rule. Founded in 1897 as a special govern- _ .
ment bank, it became a central bank in 1899. The Bank of Taiwan closed after World War Il.

28 Sakaiminato City: A port city in the northwest corner of Tottori Prefecture. Called the |
“Gateway to Tottori.” An active fishing port since the Meiji period.

31 NonNonBa: Fusa Kageyama, called NonNonBa, was an elderly woman in the village where
Shigeru Mizuki was born. Growing up, she had a huge impact on Mizuki. To learn more about her,
read NonNonBa by Shigeru Mizuki, published by Drawn & Quarterly.

32 Taisho Democracy: A brief explosion of previously unprecedented social freedoms and

luxury, the Taisho period is equivalent to America’s Roaring Twenties. The period followed on the
heels of the Meiji Restoration, which ended the era of the Shoguns and put the Emperor back on
the throne, and the Meiji period, which modernized Japan and increased contact with foreign
nations. During the Taisho period, Japan experimented with imported ideas like parliamentary
democracy and social leveling. The excesses of the Taisho period led ultranationalists and social
conservatives to believe that too much freedom was dangerous. Conservatives worked to clamp
down social and political controls.

34 Hogetsu Shimura: (1871-1918) b. Shimane Prefecture. Author. Waseda University professor.

Founded Geijutsu-za (arts theater) with actress Sumako Matsui, successfully bringing modern,
Western drama to Japan.

34 Shojiro Sawada: (1892-1929) b. Tokyo. Appeared in Geijutsu-za with Sumako Matsui. Founded

521
85 Reijiro Wakatsuki: (1866-1949) b. Tottori Prefecture. Politician. Became Prime Minister twice, e
first in 1926 and again 1931. é

88 Public Security Preservation Law: 1925. This law identified criminals as anyone who “formed
an association with the intent of altering the national identity or system of private property, and
anyone who has joined such an association.” In prewar Japan, this law prohibited free speech
and free thought under the pretense of combating communism.

89 National Identity: The word used here is kokutai, which was an important political point at
the time but does not satisfactorily translate into English. Literally, it means “National Body,”
but a better translation would be “Japaneseness.” At the time, Japan was entering onto an
international stage after 250 years of cultural isolation. Many feared that too much foreign
influence would cause Japan to lose its unique identity and culture. The Emperor was held up as
the living embodiment of kokutai.

91 Political parties: During the Tanaka cabinet, there was the Constitutional Government Party
to the right, the Social Democratic Party at the center, and the Labor-Farmer Party to the left.

92 Senji Yamamoto: (1889-1929) b. Kyoto Prefecture. A biologist and social activist, he was elected
to the Diet of Japan, affiliated with the Labor-Farmer Party. He was stabbed to death in 1929.

93 March 15 Incident: March 15, 1928. In an organized sweep, 1,600 members of the Japan Com-
munist Party were arrested in a single morning.

96 Qingdao Prefecture: Located in mountainous Eastern China. The port at Jiaozhou Bay lies
on the southern coast. During 1927 and 1928, Japan sent three waves of troops to Qingdao to
oppose Chiang Kai-shek’s Northern Expedition. Simply put, this was an invasion.

98 Chiang Kai-shek: (1887-1975) b. Zhejiang Province. Chinese Militant. Politician. Succeeded

Sun Yat-sen as leader of the Kuomintang Nationalist Party (KMT). From 1926 to 1928 he lead the
Kuomintang Army’s Northern Expedition against the warlord factions, and unified China under
a single government. However, after World War II, he lost the Chinese Civil War and retreated to
Taiwan, where he ruled as the self-declared President of the Republic of China.

101 Mantetsu: The South Manchuria Railway Company. Founded by Japan in 1906 and used to
develop North/South Chinese enterprises. The company was taken over by the Chinese govern-
ment in 1945 when Japan was defeated.

101 Zhang Zuolin: (1875-1928) b. Liaoning Province. Chinese Militant. Politician. Warlord of
Manchuria. Assassinated in an explosion by the Japanese Kwantung Army.

103 Nezumi Otoko: Literally “Rat Man,” Nezumi Otoko is one of Shigeru Mizuki’s yokai char-
acters from his popular comic GeGeGe no Kitaro. Nezumi Otoko is well-known in Japan, and his
appearance here is as welcome to readers as Donald Duck popping up in a history book written by
Walt Disney. However, Nezumi Otoko is normally a conniving con artist, which makes his inclusion
in Showa: A History of Japan as a well-spoken and informed narrator all the more interesting. For
more adventures with Nezumi Otoko, see Kitaro, also published by Drawn & Quarterly.

103 Kwantung Army: Before the war, an army group of the Imperial Japanese Army stationed in
Manchuria. Responsible for several actions designed to advance Japan's control of Manchuria.

112 Sports festival: Sports festivals remain a popular event for Japanese children. Part pageant,
part track meet, they are an important part of the year that every child looks forward to.

| 523
| the Shinkokugeki (New National Theater) ushering in a new phase in Japanese drama.

39 Showa First: Japan's era names are taken from the current reigning Emperor, and advance
on the New Year regardless of how much time has passed. Because the Taisho Emperor died
in December, the first year of the Showa period lasted only a few weeks. A person’s age was
calculated in the same way, so a child born in January and a child born in December would both
be considered two years old on the New Year. 4

46 Ryunosuke Akutagawa: (1892-1927) b. Tokyo. The most important writer of the Taisho pe-
‘ag Studied under Soseki Natsume. His distinguished works include The Nose, Yam Gruel, and
Rashomon.

48 JOAK: The call sign of the Tokyo Broadcast Company. Osaka’s was BK and Nagoya’s was CK. The
announcer always said this call sign at the beginning and end of each day’s broadcast.

49 NHK (Nippon Hoso Kyokai): August 20, 1926: The Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya broadcasting
companies combined into a single, incorporated company called Japan Broadcasting
Corporation.

53 Soseki Natsume: (1867-1916) b. Tokyo. Writer. English scholar. He wrote many famous
books such as /am a Cat, Botchan, and Sanshiro. He is widely considered to be Japan’s greatest
writer.

54 Hideyo Noguchi: (1876-1928) b. Fukushima Prefecture. Bacteriologist. A world-famous

scientist recognized for his study of infectious germs.

54 Kanzo Uchimura: (1861-1930) b. Tokyo. Religious activist. Promoted non-denominational

Christianity. He wrote How | became a Christian.

59 Sazae: Sazae are a type of sea-snail, called a turban shell in English. They are a prized
delicacy in Japan, although not normally as gigantic as Mizuki draws them here. One sazae fits
in the palm of your hand.

60 Yokai: Literally “bewitching apparition,” yokai is a generic term for Japan's ghosts and mon-
sters. There are myriad yokai, from beasts like the kappa water imp to Betobeto-san, who is the
embodiment of strange feelings and phenomena.

60 Sazae-oni: A yokai version of the sazae.

62 Tenjoname: Literally “ceiling licker,” the tenjoname is one of Japan’s yokai. The tenjoname
sneaks into houses at night and, as the name implies, licks the ceiling.

63 Fox wedding: In traditional Japanese folklore, foxes are magical, shape-changing animals,
Their weddings are held at times when it is raining, but the sky is cloudless. It is said to be dan-
gerous for humans to venture outside when a fox wedding is being held.

68 NonNonBa is muttering the mantra for Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of medicine. Like many
mantras, the mantra is a Japanese interpretation of the original Sanskrit, and translates roughly
to “Om. Heal. Heal Hail to You. Heal.”
of
84 Giichi Tanaka: (1864-1929) b. Yamaguchi Prefecture. Politician. Major General. President
t party. Became Prime Minister in 1927. Resigned in 1929 in protest
the Constitutional Governmen
of the Zhang Zuolin assassination.

522
172 Constitutional Democratic Party: 1927. Osachi Hamaguchi becomes Prime Minister. During o
the Showa period, they were opposed by the Friends of Constitutional Government Party (Found-
ed 1900, dissolved 1940).

179 Kijuro Shidehara: (1872-1951) b. Osaka Prefecture. Diplomat. Politician. Prewar Foreign
Minister. Post-war Speaker of the House of Representatives. Remained active in politics after
resignation.

186 Betobeto-san: A yokai that personifies the feeling of something invisible walking behind
you late at night. According to folklore, ifyou step aside and say “After you, Betobeto-san” the
yokai will pass you by.

196 Yutaka: There is some sad irony to Yutaka’s story, as his name is written with the kanji for
“abundance.” .

212 Kosaburo Tachibana: (1893-1974) b. Ibaraki Prefecture. Philosopher. Agricultural Japan

advocate. Administered Aikyo Private School. Founder of the Farmer’s Self-Government Alliance.
In 1932, he was jailed for his role in the May 15 Incident.

212 Seikyo Gondo: (1868-1937) b. Fukuoka Prefecture. Philosopher. Advocated the Agricultural
Japan doctrine, as well as self-sufficient agriculture and farmers. He went into politics, influenc-
ing many young military officers and supporting nationalism.

212 Agricultural Japan doctrine: Belief that the heart of Japan is its farming communities and
agriculture, and that wealth of the nation springs from the farm.

246 Nakamura Incident: June 1931. Imperial Japanese Army Captain Shintaro Nakamura is cap-
tured with three subordinates. Disquised as Mongolians, they were gathering intelligence. They
were later determined to be spies and executed by firing squad.

249 Seishiro Itagaki: (1885-1948) b. lwate Prefecture. Kwantung Army General. Chief of the
Intelligence Section in Manchuria. War Minister. Planned the Mukden Incident with Lieutenant
Colonel Kanji Ishiwara. Hanged as a Class-A war criminal in Tokyo.

249 Kanji Ishiwara: (1889-1949) b. Yamagata Prefecture. Kwantung Army Lieutenant Colonel. Army
General Staff Chief of Operations. Played a leading role in the Mukden Incident with Seishiro Itagaki.

262 Toshishiro Obata: (1885-1947) b. Kochi Prefecture. Army Lieutenant General. Minister
of State in the Higashikuni cabinet. Genius of the Kodoha Imperial Way faction. Recognized
authority on the Soviets.

262 Kodoha Imperial Way Faction and Toseiha Control Faction: Early Showa period: The Army
was divided by two political factions. The Kodoha had no official organization, but was a loose
group of junior officers with the goal of establishing a military government led by the Emperor.
The Toseiha was the moderate opposition group, with more seasoned officers working to unify
the bickering factions.

263 Tetsuzan Nagata: (1884-1935) b. Nagano Prefecture. Army Lieutenant General. Central
figure in the Toseiha Control Faction. 1935: Murdered with a sword by Lieutenant Colonel Saburo
Aizawa. Posthumously promoted as a recognition of his contribution.

270 Bon Odori: A ritualized dance performed every summer all over Japan in celebration of
Obon, the Festival of the Dead. The dance has its roots in the belief that the honored dead return

525
124 Combined fleet: In the old Japanese Imperial Navy, the entire fleet combined into one force.

126 Mototsugu Goto: (1565-1615) b. Unknown. A famous warrior from Osaka who fought for the Toyo-
tomi clan. Known for both his wisdom and his valor, he was a popular figure among school children.

126 Maresuke Nogi: (1849-1912) b. Tokyo. Army General. After the death of the Meiji Emperor,
he committed ritual suicide with his wife by seppuku as part of a samurai tradition of following
your master in death.

126 Heihachiro Togo: (1848-1934) b. Kagoshima Prefecture. Navy Admiral. With General Nogi,
he fought in the Russo-Japanese war where they were distinguished for service. They were fa-
mous military figures in prewar Japan.

129 Kiyomasa Kato: (1561-1611) b. Aichi District. Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s vassal during the Warning
States period. One of the Seven Spears of Shizugatake, and fictionalized in the book Slaying a
Tiger. A popular figure for children.

129 Masashige Kusunoki: (1294-1336) b. Unknown. A General and loyal retainer of Emperor
Go-Daigo during the Southern Court period. Known for his great wisdom and bravery. Used as
an example of courage in prewar Japan.

134 Zeppelin: A type of rigid airship, zeppelins were pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand
von Zeppelin around the turn of the twentieth century. During its trip around the world, to the
delight of Japanese citizens, the Graf Zeppelin stopped in Tokyo.

136 Erotic grotesque nonsense: Like punk in the West, erotic grotesque nonsense was a social
movement that influenced fashion, art, and public attitudes. The movement was based on nihil-
istic hedonism, and a celebration of deviancy and the ridiculous.

137 Tange Sazen: A fictional ronin, or masterless samurai, created by Kaitaro Hasegawa under
the pen name Hayashi Fubo. Portrayed by movie star Denjiro Okochi, the Tange Sazen films were
popular with prewar audiences.

137. The ninth Olympics: Held in Amsterdam in 1928. Two athletes, Mikio Oda and Yoshiyuki
Tsuruta, win Japan’s first gold medals. Everyone in Japan was deeply affected.

144 Zaibatsu: Literally translated as “fmancial cliques,” zaibatsu were massive conglomerate com-
panies that comered several markets and controlled Japan’s economy. They were dismantled after
the war, although you can still find some of the remains of the zaibatsu in modem Japan.

155 Osachi Hamaguchi: (1870-1931) b. Kochi Prefecture. Politician. Liberal Democratic Party
President. Prime Minister 1929-1931. Shot in the head at Tokyo station in 1930. He died of his gun-
shot wound the following year.

155 Junnosuke Inoue: (1869-1932) b. Oita Prefecture. Financier. Bank of japan president.
Minister of Finance in the Hamaguchi cabinet. Assassinated in 1932.
pub-
168 Shonen Club: Founded in 1914. A well-edited publication loved by Japanese boys and
the
lished by Kodansha Press, the magazine serialized novels, comics, and supplements. After
war, it was renamed Boys’ Club. Publicatio n was suspended in 1962.
nations.
170 10:10:6 Ratio: This ratio limited Japan’s Naval capabilities in respect to the Western
have six.
By treaty, for every ten tons of battleship owned by the U.S. and the UK, Japan could

524
government willing to utilize its power.
E
Hie
371 Shumei Okawa: (1886-1957) b. Yamagata Prefecture. Public figure. Played a leading role
in the right-wing militarists, and advocated for government reform. Charged as a Class-A war
criminal, but faked mental illness leading to his case being dropped.

384 Tsuyoshi Inukai: (1855-1932) b. Okayama Prefecture. Politician. Prime Minister. Constitutional
Protection Movement. Director of the Friends of Constitutional Government party. Murdered in
1932 during the May 15 Incident.

388 Ee ja nai ka (Isn't it great?): During 1867 at the end of the Edo period, people said money
and amulets from the Ise Grand Shrine came falling from the sky. Entire communities abandoned
their work and moved around in wild dances, all the while chanting “Ee ja nai ka” or “Isn’t it
great?” The mania spread from Kansai to Shikoku, from Tokaido to Kyushu, and even to Edo.

401 Damia: (1889-1978) b. Alsace-Lorraine. French singer Marie-Louise Damien. She sang in
the chanson réaliste style. Her big hits were “Gloomy Sunday” and “You Don’t Understand How
Other People Feel.”

404 The League of Nations: After World War |, the League of Nations was established as the first
international peace organization. However, the League was weak from the start as many coun-
tries refused to join. The League was dissolved in 1946, and the United Nations was founded.

409 Yosuke Matsuoka: (1880-1946) b. Yamaguchi Prefecture. Politician. Diplomat. 1933: Japan’s ©
chief delegate during the withdrawal from the League of Nations. Later became Foreign Minister.
Charged as a Class-A war criminal in Tokyo, but died of illness in prison.

410 Adolph Hitler: (1889-1945) b. Upper Austria. German politician. Leader of the Nazi Party after
Paul von Hindenburg. 1934: Appointed Chancellor of Germany and Fiihrer, became a dictator and
engineered the Holocaust. During Germany’s defeat in World War Il, Hitler committed suicide.

417 Yukitoki Takigawa: (1891-1962) b. Okayama Prefecture. Legal theorist. 1933: Dismissed as a
Marxist during so-called Takigawa Incident. Several professors resign in protest. After the war,
returns to Kyoto University as president.

418 Muneki Minoda: (1894-1946) b. Kumamoto Prefecture. Nationalist. Vigilant academic cen-
sor. Accused Yukitoki Takigawa.

419 Ichiro Hatoyama: (1883-1959) b. Tokyo. Politician. After the war, party president of the Lib-
eral Party and the Democratic Party. 1954: Inaugurated as Prime Minster. Worked to repair ties
between Japan and the Soviet Union.

420 Tatsukichi Minobe: (1873-1948) b. Hyogo Prefecture. Constitutional scholar. Doctor of Law.
Tokyo University professor. Defended himself against attackers of his Emperor Organ Theory.

420 Emperor Organ Theory: Tatsukichi Minobe’s theory argued that the Emperor was akin to
one of several organs that gave life to the body of Japan. The theory was controversial because
it demoted the Emperor from being the most important thing in the country to simply one of its
constituent parts.

422 Takiko Mizunoe: (1915-2009) b. Hokkaido Prefecture. Actress. Producer. Prewar Shochiku
Girls Revue star who played male roles. An influential speaker. Post-war, she produced movies
and was a TV talent.

527
every summer, and the living are obliged to provide food and entertainment for them.

281 Xinhai Revolution: 1911. After the Wuchang Uprising, insurrections spread across the whole of
China until the entire country was in revolt. The Qing Dynasty fell, and in January 1912, Sun Yat-sen
became the temporary president of the Republic of China, with its capital established in Nanjing.

293 Ma Zhanshan: (1885-1950) b. Jilin Province. Chinese military bandit. During the Mukden
Incident, he fought the Kwantung Army. Briefly defected to Manchukuo. However, he soon raised
the flag of revolution and fought in anti-japanese campaigns.

294 Jiro Tamon: (1878-1934) b. Shizuoka Prefecture. Army Lieutenant General. Second Divisional
Commander. Active in the Mukden Incident.

295 Zhang Xueliang: (1901-2001) b. Fengtian Province. Member of the Fengtian military party.
Zhang Zuolin’s eldest son. Fought against Japan after the Mukden Incident. Formed a united
front with Chiang Kai-shek after the Xi'an Incident.

305 Mochi: A popular Japanese food made from pounded rice gluten. It is used in various dishes,
or filled with sweet bean jam for a snack.

311 Kunio Yanagita: (1875-1962) b. Hyogo Prefecture. Japan’s most famous folklorist.
Researched and recorded many popular folktales.

319 Puyi: (1906-1967) Last emperor of China's Qing Dynasty. Also called the Xuantong Emperor.
Emperor of Manchukuo. Captured after the war and returmed to China.

324 Nineteenth Route Army: Stationed near Shanghai in arrangement with the Chinese military.
30—35,000 soldiers. They were elite troops, deeply opposed to the Japanese.

330 Koga Dentaro: (1880-1932) b. Saga Prefecture. Regimental Commander, Cavalry twenty-seventh
regiment. Died in battle in Jinzhou on January 9, 1932.

347 Norakuro: Debuted in the January 1931 issue of Shonen Club. Created by comic artist Suiho
Tagawa. Norakuro was a black-and-white dog named Kurokichi and a soldier in the Fierce Dogs
Brigade. Norakuro got several promotions in rank over the comic. Known for its wit and sense of
humor, Norakuro was typical of children’s comic strips during the mid-Showa period.

348 Adventures of Dankichi: Debuted in the May 1934 issue of Shonen Club. Created by Keizo
Shimada. A popular story about a boy journeying in the South Seas with his clever mouse com-
panion, Kariko. Japanese children loved Dankichi’s wisdom.

351 Kanji Ishiwara: (1889-1949) b. Yamagata Prefecture. Army Lieutenant General. Leader and
strategist of the Mukden Incident with Seishiro Itagaki.
expert
356 Kenji Doihara: (1883-1948) b. Okayama Prefecture. Army General. The army’s resident
in the Mukden Incident. After the war, hanged as a Class-A war criminal in Tokyo.
on China. Active
nary. Politician.
368 Sun Yat-sen: (1866-1925) b. Guangdong Province. Chinese Revolutio
of the Three
Provisional president of the Republic of China after the Xinhai Revolution. Advocate
Principles of the People. Played a leading role in the moderniza tion of China.

Kingoro Hashimoto, in
370 Sakurakai: A military reform group founded by Lieutenant Colonel
future and wanted a military
the summer of 1930. Members were apprehensive about Japan’s

526
 424 Saburo Aizawa: (1889-1936) b. Iwate Prefecture. Army Colonel. Military reformist. Bureau
chief. Killed Nagata Tetsuzan with a sword. 1936: Executed by firing squad.

424 Jinzaburo Masaki: (1876-1956) b. Saga Prefecture. Army General. Leading figure in the
Kodoha Imperial Way Faction. Court-martialed on February 26. Tried as a Class-A war criminal,
jailed for two years.

426 Onisaburo Deguchi: (1871-1948) b. Kyoto Prefecture. Second leader of the Omoto-kyo
religion and an important spiritual leader.

430 Ikki Kita: (1883-1937) b. Niigata Prefecture. Nationalist. Wrote An Outline Plan for the
Reorganization of Japan. The book influenced the young officers in the Kodoha, leading to sev-
eral coup d’état attempts. He was executed for his role in the February 26 Incident.

434 Mitsugi Nishida: (1901-1937) b. Tottori Prefecture. Nationalist. Disciple of Ikki Kita. Resigned
from Army as a Major General. Afterward, advocated nationalism among the private citizens, as
well as being a spiritual leader to young army officers. Executed with Ikki Kita for their roles in
the February 26 Incident.

435 Keisuke Okada: (1868-1952) b. Fukui Prefecture. Admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Prime Minister during the February 26 Incident. Near the end of World War II, played a role in
overthrowing Tojo Hideki’s cabinet.

439 Shigeru Honjo: (1876-1945) b. Hyogo Prefecture. Army General. Aide-de-camp to the
Emperor of Japan. Committed suicide near the end of the war. His diary was published posthu-
mously as Honjo’s Diary, and remains a precious resource for the history of the period.

441 Rebellion: The specific use of the word “rebellion” marked a major change in the Japanese
government’s outlook. Previous coup d'état attempts had been treated like the actions of high-
_ spirited children who were to be admired for the purity of their ideals. The officers involved
would receive light punishments. However, with the use of the word rebellion it is clear the gov-
ernment felt that enough was enough.

443 Revere the Emperor, Restore the Military: The insurgents paraphrased this from a similar slo-
~ gan used during the Meiji Restoration, when the Shogun was ousted and the sacred Emperor was
once again set on his throne. Indeed, the insurgents of the February 26 Incident referred to their
cause as the Showa Restoration. In this incidence, however, the Emperor declined to be “restored.”

456 Mao Zedong: (1893-1976) b. Hunan Province. Chinese politician. Philosopher. Revolution-
ary. Commander of anti-Japanese forces during the Second Sino-Japanese War. President of the
People’s Republic of China. Chairman of the Communist Party of China.

461 Zhou Enlai: (1898-1976) b. Jiangsu Province. Chinese politician. Revolutionary. With Mao
Zedong, a leader of the Chinese Communist party. First Premier of the People’s Republic of China.
Achieved great strides for China as Foreign Minister.

504 Southern Expansion Doctrine: Japanese political doctrine stating that Southeast Asia and
Pacific Islands were in Japan's sphere of influence, and encouraged economic and territorial
- expansion there.
Army
513 Hideki Tojo: (1884-1948) b. Tokyo. War Minister. Prime Minister during World War Il.
Staff. Successor to Tetsuzan Nagata as leader of the Toseiha
Minister. Chief of the General
Control Faction Nagata. Hanged as a Class-A war criminal in Tokyo.

528
RELEVANT FACTS suicenu Mizuki
1912

January 1 After the successful Xinhai Revolution, Sun Yat-sen founded the Republic of China in f
southern China. It was Asia’s first republic.

February 12 The Qing Dynasty, also called the Manchu Dynasty, officially ended after 300 years
in power,

March 11° The provisional constitution of the Republic of China was written, and Shikai Yuan
was elected the Provisional President. At the same time, private armies sprung up all over China —
and held their territory. Japan asserted itself on the world stage and confronted the great world
powers, further intensifying nationalism.

July 30 The Meiji Emperor passed away. His son became the new Emperor, and the Taisho period
began.

1914

July 28 World War | began.

August 23 Japan entered the war. Japan allied with China against Germany, and attacked the
German settlement at Jiaozhou Bay. Separated from the main theater of war in Europe, Japan
expanded its influence in China and increased exports. This led to an economic boom in Japan.
Many were drunk on money and power, and a new class emerged—the super-rich.

1917

March 15 The Russian Revolution began. The Tsar and his family were executed, ending 300
years of Romanov rule.

November 7 Vladimir Lenin, leading the Bolshevik Party and the Petrograd Soviets, overthrew
the government. The battle was not over, as counter-revolutionaries and outside forces drew the
country into a long war. japan also sent forces on March 5, 1918, to support counter-revolutionaries
during the Siberian Intervention. After heavy losses in money and lives, with no real gains, japanese
forces withdrew four years later.

1918

September 29 Takashi Hara was inaugurated Prime Minister of Japan, and formed his first
cabinet. He was the first commoner to ever be appointed Prime Minister. Previously, the office
had been monopolized by members of the powerful Satsuma and Choshu clans, hailing from
Kagoshima and Yamaguchi Prefectures, respectively.

November 11 World War | ended. Japan’s wartime boom economy led to rapid inflation. Prices,
especially of rice, rose steeply, and citizens were forced to adjust to hardships. Unable to afford
their staple food, rice riots raged through the country.

531
October 10 In China, Nationalist party member Chiang Kai-shek was named Chairman of the
National Military Council of the Republic of China. Following the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the
country had been split apart by warlords. Each of these warlords controlled their own territory,
mainly in northern and central China. In 1926, Chiang Kai-shek had launched the Northern Expe-
dition, in an effort to purge these warlords and unify the country. On June 4, 1928, the Japanese —
military assassinated the warlord of Manchuria Zhang Zuolin. Zhang’s son Zhang Xueliang took
control of Manchuria and united with the Republic of China. '

1929

October 24 The New York stock exchange crashed and the Great Depression began. The United
States’ economic plunge dragged down Europe and Japan as well, and the Depression became
truly global. The Great Depression ended with the beginning of World War II.

1930

April 22 Japan, the United States, England, France, and Italy signed the London Naval Treaty. On
April 22 of the same year, Japan ratified the treaty. To advance both world peace and business,
warships were limited both in size and the number of armaments they could carry. The treaty
was a Carry-over from the 1921 meetings in Washington and the Geneva Conferences in 1922. The
treaty angered the military and right-wing groups in Japan, and led to retaliation and action
from ultranationalist groups.

1931

September 18 The Mukden Incident. Japan had taken over the southern branch of the Chinese
Far East Railway, located in northern China, following their victory in the Russo-Japanese War.
Japan secured the right to manage and protect its interests along the line. In service of this,
Japan stationed the Kwantung Army, though they were ostensibly only guards for the train line.
While the Japanese government struggled with economic hardship and domestic problems, the
increasingly powerful and autonomous army saw a way to fulfill the Meiji era slogan “Enrich the
country, strengthen the military.” They believed that taking Manchuria could be a lifeline to
Japan, but they lacked pretense for the attack. At the same time, anti-Japanese sentiments were
spreading in China, and tensions were rising. After the Mukden Incident, Japan invaded China,
which set off the Second Sino-Japanese War, which later, essentially, merged with World War I.

533
ay

6So
a

1920

March 15 In the Tokyo stock market, stock prices experienced a major crash. The post-war
Depression of 1920 began. The prices for cotton and raw silk plummeted. A rush to withdraw
savings all over the country led to a run on the banks. During the wartime boom, Japan’s
exports had increased dramatically; however, internally the country still lacked purchasing
power and production infrastructure, and teetered close to economic hardship. When the Amer-
ican economy stalled after the war and orders fell, Japan's outlook was somber.

1922

February 1 Elder statesman Prince Aritomo Yamagata died at the age of eighty-three. A man
whose career stretched across the Meiji and Taisho periods, Yamagata had a powerful voice in
the worlds of politics, business, and the military. A field marshal in the Imperial Japanese Army
and twice Prime Minister, Yamagata is considered to be one of the architects of early modern
Japan. His ideas of militarism and authoritative government dominated political thinking well
past his death.

October 31 In Italy, Benito Mussolini took power in a coup d’état and became Prime Minister.
This was the birth of Fascism. Around this time in Germany, Adolph Hitler began his rise to power
as leader of the Nazi party. On April 4 of that year, in the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin was ap-
pointed General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party. These three
later walked parallel roads to dictatorship.

1923

September 1 The Great Kanto Earthquake. For details about the earthquake and its political and
fmancial effects, see pages 13—26. In the chaos that followed the earthquake, numerous Koreans
and Socialists were killed, both by the police and the army, as well as by average citizens. These
murders were a heartbreaking event that will never be forgotten.

1925

March 5 The General Election Law was passed. Previously, according to the Meiji period Lower
House Election Law (1889), any male over twenty-five and who paid national taxes of over fifteen
yen was eligible to vote. This was a large amount of money, and excluded many middle class
men and most rural citizens. The newly introduced General Election Law made voting available
to all men twenty-five years or older, regardless of income. Women would not gain the vote in
Japan until 1945.

1926
and the
December 25 The Taisho Emperor passed away. His son became the new emperor,
Showa period began.

1928
amidst
February 20 Japan's first General Election. Giichi Tanaka was inaugurated Prime Minister
pressure and governme nt vote fixing. In spite of governme nt interfer-
allegations of political
member Isao
ence, eight proletariat candidates were elected, among them was Socialist Party
Party members Yamamoto Senji and Mizutani Chozaburo . As a reaction,
Abe and Labor-Farmer
the Public Secu-
on March 15, 1,600 members of the Japan Communist Party were arrested under
rity Preservation Law, which became known as the March 15 Incident.

532
 This book is presented in the traditional Japanese manner and is meant to be read from right to
left. The cover at the opposite end is considered the front of the book.

To begin reading, please flip over and start at the other end, making your way “backward”
through the book, starting at the top right corner and reading the panels (and the word
balloons) from right to left. Continue on to the next row and repeat.
of the genre and is one of the most famous Ry

and respected cartoonists in the history of

- the manga medium. He is a member of the
~ Japanese Society of Cultural Anthropology and
has traveled to over sixty countries to engage
in fieldwork based on spirit folklore. Mizuki
and his wife are thesubjects of a popular daily
television drama currently airing in Japan.
Mizuki is the recipient of many awards, in-
cluding the Best Album award for NonNonBa
and the Heritage Essential award for Onward
Towards Our Noble Deaths (Operation Mort) at
the Angouleme International Comics Festival,
the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Special Award,
the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun, the Shiju
Hosho medal of honor, and the Kodansha
Manga Award. His hometown of Sakaiminato
has honored him with the Shigeru Mizuki
International Cultural Center and Shigeru
Mizuki road, a street decorated with bronze
statues of his GeGeGe no Kitaro characters. The
works of Mizuki have been published in Japan,
South Korea, France, Spain, Taiwan, and Italy.
 This book
purchased
with donations
made to the
GiveBIG
for Books

Foundation
www.foundation.spl.org
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Showa 1926-1939: A Hist leading up to World War
ume deals with the period
eth-century Japan. This vol Great Depression. Mizuki's
historical portrait of twenti no mic hardships caused by the
and othe r eco city.
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streets and abandoned gra was just a few years old, so his earl
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- When the Showa era beg umi Otoko (Rat Man), Mizuki
earl iest even ts of the time . With his trusty narrator Nez for you ng aud ien ces and matur
- the e, and indeed compelling,
mak ing it pala tabl toward
the realm of the personal, zati on that led up to World
War Il, Mizuki's stance
cri bes the mili tari
sacre clearly pain ts the
readers alike. AS he. des —his portrayal of the Nanjing Mas
n dow nri ght crit ical told
war is thoughtful and ofte
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wa 1926-1939 is a beautifu
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incident (a disputed topi
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“history that tracks how tec eth century.
ign policy in the early twenti
a role inshaping Japan's fore
manga.’
master of both realism and
n's greatest illustrators, a
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higeru Mizuki is one of Japa
—Globe and Mail
at times bitterly
S OUR NOB LE DEA THSIS - “ a powerful, maddening and
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funny war story—a revealing
Kois NPR
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