Tezuka Osamu Revival of the God of Manga

Some said “Tezuka Osamu is old-fashioned.” But he drove off such views with the mega hit of Black Jack. Here we share the last message of the great artist who kept being the top through his life. 

“I did change my direction several times without shame. But before making such decision, I always got neurotic. I got so many complexes, took my frustration on people around me, faced the ultimate dilemma, and finally accommodated the majority. ”

(by Tezuka Osamu)

“Of course, my longtime fans hurled abuse at me and left. They thought I betrayed them”

 (by Tezuka Osamu)

In 1973, Mushi Production went bankruptcy.

“I got an avalanche of letters from my readers. They claimed I got suck in a rut. What matter I wrote, I received a poor reputation. Besides, my assistant got caught up in Gekiga. I felt like it's the end of the world. Actually I went to a psychiatry at Chiba University to undergo a mental evaluation.” 

(by Tezuka Osamu)

Later, Tezuka called the days his “winter”. Actually people thought Tezuka's popularity was almost over.

One editor-in-chief offered Tezuka the last chance to write a work for his magazine with a thought to witness Tezuka's ending by himself. The work, however, did not mark the end.  Instead it changed the trend of manga. Tezuka's “winter” was finally over.

Black Jack (1973-1983)

“Black Jack” was started as a one-shot, self-contained work so that it could be discontinued anytime it lost popularity. 

The work, however, was well-received among readers as something innovative since most of manga works then were serials.   

Readers who read manga as a part of their daily life must have liked this new self-contained style since they didn't need to worry about the rest of the story.

“I wrote Black Jack based on my limited and anachronical medical knowledge I obtained 40 years ago when I was a medical student. So I don't want today's medical students read the work seriously. Still they like the work.  

Why? I think it's because the work features motivations of life, meaning it's about life and death. Probably that stimulates today's young people.”  (by Tezuka Osamu)

In 1974

Black Jack is a story of life and death depicted through eyes of a mysterious but genius surgeon. It may be said that the work was the culmination of basic themes Tezuka pursued since his debut with “Jungle Emperor”.

And here, the serialization of another great work, the culmination of Tezuka's Sci Fi and romantic mysteries, was started.

Three-Eyed One (1974-1978)

As if an homage to Conan Doyle, the author of the classic Sci Fi “The Lost World”, Tezuka named his two main characters Sharaku Hosuke and Wato, punning on Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson. 

Tezuka made Sharaku and Wato challenge the secret of supernatural powers and ancient civilizations, successfully revitalizing the tradition of his own manga -stimulating  curiosity toward the unknown- again in the realm of boy's comics.

“Children are basically the same in any time.” 

“We sometimes detour or deviate thanks to our curiosity, which certainly is a waste of time but helps you somehow in the future.”

(by Tezuka Osamu)

In 1977

As he regained his popularity, his creativity came back to life again. He restarted the serialization of his life work “Phoenix” which he had left off for a long time. 

In 1977, Tezuka was engaged in the serialization of six works: Black Jack, Three-Eyed One, Buddha, Phoenix, Unico and MW, all at the same time.  

Tezuka manga entered the 2nd golden age.

“Once I said to parents and children authors, 'If manga artists cultivate their skill and ability more, manga could be a rival of literature', which made them upset. 

One children author angrily said to me, 'Manga never can be a substitute of literature'.”

(by Tezuka Osamu)

“The generation grown up with and immersed in manga was somehow inspired by manga.  A part of manga works they read in childhood, even if it's only a very small part of them, must have be embedded in their memory, affecting their philosophy of life.

 I, therefore, believe mang should not be something depressing. 

 I hope it's something positive filled with hopes.”

 (by Tezuka Osamu)

Eulogy to Kirihito

“I only ask one thing of you. Don't be frightened when you see my face. I'm a human being. There is absolutely nothing to fear.”

The Stories of Three Adolfs

“The ones riling people up about which race is inferior and which is superior are just a tiny handful of big shots.”

AYAKO

“Don' cry, ayako… Th' darkness be yer domain! Ya live on, ya hear?”

MW

“No reason. I just want to.”

Tezuka's Ancestor Dr. Ryoan

“The new era is approaching.  It's just around the corner. Ride on the tide of the Pacific!”

In 1989

Tezuka was ill, still his rich imagination never ran out.  He kept writing Gringo, Ludwig B and Neo Faust till he finally died in the hospital.  

He was not told about his stomach cancer while he did not ask people around him how bad his condition was.  

But in Neo Faust, he depicted a man who noticed his terminal cancer by himself, without being told by people around him.

“People have long tended to believe that manga characters exist in real life. Actually I often receive compelling letters from readers begging Black Jack to come and cure their illness, though Black Jack is just a doctor appearing in my manga work.”

(by Tezuka Osamu)