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New Anti-Korean Manga Creates Tension Between Japan and Korea Date: 8/16/2005 |
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Japan seemed to have developed an enormous love affair for things Korean over the past couple of years, but now a manga has appeared on the market to suggest that things have not quite been as they looked on the surface, according to Shukan Shincho (05/11-18). "Kenkanryu," the manga whose title translates directly as "Hating Things South Korean," became a bestseller the moment it went on sale on July 26, topping charts run by Amazon Japan and other online bookstores. "Our first print was 30,000 copies and we have already ordered a second printing of 70,000 copies. It's already a 100,000 copy print," a spokesman for Shinyusha, publisher of the controversial book, tells Shukan Shincho. "Kenkanryu" tells the story of a Japanese high schoolboy who becomes interested in Japan-South Korean relations when the two countries co-host soccer's World Cup in 2002. He goes on to university, where he joins the history club and discusses with a group of Japan-born-and-raised Koreans prickly issues involving Japan and South Korea. The Japanese student accuses his country's leaders of kowtowing to Korean protests and paying out huge sums of money in connection with such issues as Japanese colonial rule and comfort women, the weekly says. It also puts a strong anti-Korean stance on its handling of disputes between the countries, such as the rightful ownership of the islands Japan calls Takeshima, as well as Japan's annexation of Korea in 1910. Korean media have been outraged by the manga; it's three largest newspapers already running pieces condemning it.Sharin Yamano, the little-known manga artist who created "Kenkanryu," is described as a man in his early 30s, whose star sign is Leo and blood of type B. He has written a love-comedy manga, but also worked stints as a designer and illustrator. He has gone on record as saying the work was inspired by ultra-nationalist comic writer Yoshinori Kobayashi. "Kenkanryu" comes with a belt loudly proclaiming it as: "A controversial work publishing companies deemed too dangerous to print." Indeed, several publishers turned it down before Shinyusha agreed to pick it up. "Yamano brought in the original work to publishing companies, but most of them turned him down, saying things like there would be big problems if he got any of his historical facts wrong and that the publishing company bosses would have to attend enlightenment lectures given by (Korean residents groups) Chongryun and Mindan," the editor of "Kenkanryu" tells Shukan Shincho. Other print media has also shunned the manga, with the Mainichi among the major newspapers to refuse to advertise "Kenkanryu." Byon Jil-il, managing editor of the Tokyo-based "Korea Report," says he is not surprised that a book like this has come onto the market. "Even I thought the South Korean boom that started with (Korean TV drama) 'Winter Sonata' was too much. The resistance to this boom has deep roots," Byon tells Shukan Shincho. "This manga has effectively tapped into this sentiment. And I think that's why it's selling so well." (By Ryann Connell) |
| Source: Mainichi Daily News |
