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きりひと讃歌 [Kirihito Sanka] #1-4
Ode to Kirihito
It may or may not be contagious. There seems to be no cure for it. Yet, Monmow Disease, a life-threatening condition that transforms a person into a dog-like beast, is not the only villain in this shocking triumph of a medical thriller by manga-god Osamu Tezuka. Said to have been the personal favorite of the artist, who held a degree in medicine, and surprisingly attentive to Christian themes and imagery, Ode to Kirihito demolishes naive notions about human nature and health and likely preconceptions about the comics master himself.
From pregnant vistas of the Japanese countryside to closed rooms full of sin and redemption, Tezuka astounds for more than eight hundred continuous pages, his art in turn easefully concise and flamboyantly experimental, his inquiry into our most repugnant instincts and prospects for overcoming them unflinchingly serious. Incorporating elements of the often lurid and adult-oriented “gekiga” style for the first time, Tezuka entered into his fruitful late period with this work.
A promising young doctor, Kirihito Osanai visits a remote Japanese mountain village to investigate the source of the latest medical mystery. While he ends up traveling the world to discover what it takes to be cured of such a disease, a conspiracy back home attempts to explain away his absence. Hinging upon his fate are those of his loved an unstable childhood friend and colleague trapped between factions of the medical establishment that nurtured him; a fiancée emotionally transformed by Kirihito’s mysterious disappearance; and a stranger who becomes his guardian angel, a sensual circus-act performer with volatile psychological secrets.
From plutocratic Taipei and racially divided South Africa to backwater Arabia and modern Osaka, ambition and desire beckon “normal men” to behave uglier than any beast. Riveting our attention on deformity and its acceptance like The Elephant Man by David Lynch, Ode to Kirihito examines the true worth of human beings through and beyond appearances.
From pregnant vistas of the Japanese countryside to closed rooms full of sin and redemption, Tezuka astounds for more than eight hundred continuous pages, his art in turn easefully concise and flamboyantly experimental, his inquiry into our most repugnant instincts and prospects for overcoming them unflinchingly serious. Incorporating elements of the often lurid and adult-oriented “gekiga” style for the first time, Tezuka entered into his fruitful late period with this work.
A promising young doctor, Kirihito Osanai visits a remote Japanese mountain village to investigate the source of the latest medical mystery. While he ends up traveling the world to discover what it takes to be cured of such a disease, a conspiracy back home attempts to explain away his absence. Hinging upon his fate are those of his loved an unstable childhood friend and colleague trapped between factions of the medical establishment that nurtured him; a fiancée emotionally transformed by Kirihito’s mysterious disappearance; and a stranger who becomes his guardian angel, a sensual circus-act performer with volatile psychological secrets.
From plutocratic Taipei and racially divided South Africa to backwater Arabia and modern Osaka, ambition and desire beckon “normal men” to behave uglier than any beast. Riveting our attention on deformity and its acceptance like The Elephant Man by David Lynch, Ode to Kirihito examines the true worth of human beings through and beyond appearances.
832 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1970
37 people are currently reading
1599 people want to read
About the author
Osamu Tezuka
2,128 books1,294 followersDr. Osamu Tezuka (手塚治虫) was a Japanese manga artist, animator, producer and medical doctor, although he never practiced medicine. Born in Osaka Prefecture, he is best known as the creator of Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion. He is often credited as the "Father of Anime", and is often considered the Japanese equivalent to Walt Disney, who served as a major inspiration during his formative years. His prolific output, pioneering techniques, and innovative redefinitions of genres earned him such titles as "the father of manga" and "the God of Manga."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
March 26, 2025
There is no bigger name in manga (Japanese comics) than Osamu Tezuka, who is best known worldwide as the writer, illustrator, and creator of Astro Boy (Tetsuwan Atomu), but is far, far, far more than that. A prolific artist and writer who had a medical degree, this hardworking and talented fellow who helped shape the Japanese animation industry also wrote and drew the far superior (and more adult) Black Jack manga series and a vast array of other significantly more challenging works, and I rank him amongst my favorite cartoonists of all time, a list that includes Chester Gould, Carl Barks, Jack Kirby, Jim Starlin, Frank Miller, Chester Brown, Junji Ito, Yuichi Yokoyama, Michael DeForge, and Chris Ware.
At this time, my favorite pieces by Tezuka are ‘Phoenix: Future’ and ‘Ode to Kirihito’. The latter is a very ambitious and somber work from the Tetsuwan Atomu creator, the contents of which would have to be toned down in some areas to even land in an R-Rated film. Yet I’d never describe his bold approach as gratuitous—it is simply unfettered.
The concept of ‘Ode to Kirihito’ quite bizarre: A patient in a hospital is slowly turning into a dog. The doctors—including the titular medico Kirihito—refer to this canine degeneration as Monmow’s disease and the sprawling quest that ensues is one in which the disease, the failings of individuals, trust, the politicization of the medical industry, religion, familial obligations, and many other issues are explored. The journey is massive, surprising, emotional, ambitious, morally complex, and even harrowing at times.
And like almost all of the great works by master cartoonists, the art and the story in ‘Ode to Kirihito’ are indivisible. The design of the characters and their expressiveness yield as much characterization as the story and the characters’ actions. Tezuka’s style is certainly cartoonish when compared to many illustrators of serious stories, and while this shows his fondness for Disney’s incredible craft tint stylist Floyd Gottfredson and also facilitated the creation of so much work, I feel Tezuka’s style yields a very immediate type reading experience. The simply drawn characters and their actions and their emotions are almost instantly impressed upon the reader because of their iconic nature, and various characters are also quickly identifiable without confusion. The panel layouts change throughout to fit the story, as evidenced when Tezuka deploys his skills in animation—see the stunning and emotive sequence on page 115—but always the style choices support the emotional content of the story. The afflictions of the main characters and the tension of final sequences are the end result of this clean, clear, and expressive style as well as the extremely good writing.
The premise of people turning into dogs could easily have been silly, but Tezuka’s passion and artistry and scientific mind make this allegory uncommonly powerful, and it ranks amongst my favorite works of fiction, drawn or otherwise.
My top 25 favorite comics and graphic novels:
1. Rusty Brown – Chris Ware
2. The Dark Knight Returns – Frank Miller & Klaus Janson
3. Watchmen – Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
4. Sin City – Frank Miller
5. Wimbledon Green – Seth
6. Baby Boom – Yuichi Yokoyama
7. Birds of Maine – Michael DeForge
8. Bad Gateway – Simon Hanselmann
9. Dick Tracy (1942-1945 / 1956-1957) – Chester Gould
10. Sin City: That Yellow Bastard – Frank Miller
11. Batman Year One – Frank Miller & David Mazzuchelli
12. Building Stories – Chris Ware
13. Ode to Kirihito – Osamu Tezuka
14. Phoenix Volume 2: Future – Osamu Tezuka
15. The Eternaut – Juan Garcia Lopez & Hector Oesterheld
16. Maus – Art Spiegelman
17. Swamp Thing (Earth to Earth) – Alan Moore
18. Dear Billy – Garth Ennis & Peter Snejbjerg
19. Ice Haven – Daniel Clowes
20. Dreadstar – Jim Starlin
21. Donald Duck: Trail of the Unicorn – Carl Barks
22. Prince Valiant – Hal Foster
23. Shiver – Junji Ito
24. Prison Pit – Johnny Ryan
25. Kamandi – Jack Kirby
At this time, my favorite pieces by Tezuka are ‘Phoenix: Future’ and ‘Ode to Kirihito’. The latter is a very ambitious and somber work from the Tetsuwan Atomu creator, the contents of which would have to be toned down in some areas to even land in an R-Rated film. Yet I’d never describe his bold approach as gratuitous—it is simply unfettered.
The concept of ‘Ode to Kirihito’ quite bizarre: A patient in a hospital is slowly turning into a dog. The doctors—including the titular medico Kirihito—refer to this canine degeneration as Monmow’s disease and the sprawling quest that ensues is one in which the disease, the failings of individuals, trust, the politicization of the medical industry, religion, familial obligations, and many other issues are explored. The journey is massive, surprising, emotional, ambitious, morally complex, and even harrowing at times.
And like almost all of the great works by master cartoonists, the art and the story in ‘Ode to Kirihito’ are indivisible. The design of the characters and their expressiveness yield as much characterization as the story and the characters’ actions. Tezuka’s style is certainly cartoonish when compared to many illustrators of serious stories, and while this shows his fondness for Disney’s incredible craft tint stylist Floyd Gottfredson and also facilitated the creation of so much work, I feel Tezuka’s style yields a very immediate type reading experience. The simply drawn characters and their actions and their emotions are almost instantly impressed upon the reader because of their iconic nature, and various characters are also quickly identifiable without confusion. The panel layouts change throughout to fit the story, as evidenced when Tezuka deploys his skills in animation—see the stunning and emotive sequence on page 115—but always the style choices support the emotional content of the story. The afflictions of the main characters and the tension of final sequences are the end result of this clean, clear, and expressive style as well as the extremely good writing.
The premise of people turning into dogs could easily have been silly, but Tezuka’s passion and artistry and scientific mind make this allegory uncommonly powerful, and it ranks amongst my favorite works of fiction, drawn or otherwise.
My top 25 favorite comics and graphic novels:
1. Rusty Brown – Chris Ware
2. The Dark Knight Returns – Frank Miller & Klaus Janson
3. Watchmen – Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
4. Sin City – Frank Miller
5. Wimbledon Green – Seth
6. Baby Boom – Yuichi Yokoyama
7. Birds of Maine – Michael DeForge
8. Bad Gateway – Simon Hanselmann
9. Dick Tracy (1942-1945 / 1956-1957) – Chester Gould
10. Sin City: That Yellow Bastard – Frank Miller
11. Batman Year One – Frank Miller & David Mazzuchelli
12. Building Stories – Chris Ware
13. Ode to Kirihito – Osamu Tezuka
14. Phoenix Volume 2: Future – Osamu Tezuka
15. The Eternaut – Juan Garcia Lopez & Hector Oesterheld
16. Maus – Art Spiegelman
17. Swamp Thing (Earth to Earth) – Alan Moore
18. Dear Billy – Garth Ennis & Peter Snejbjerg
19. Ice Haven – Daniel Clowes
20. Dreadstar – Jim Starlin
21. Donald Duck: Trail of the Unicorn – Carl Barks
22. Prince Valiant – Hal Foster
23. Shiver – Junji Ito
24. Prison Pit – Johnny Ryan
25. Kamandi – Jack Kirby
November 8, 2020
I think most western cultures have pretty similar expectations when it comes to story telling. All that Joseph Campbell mythic hero stuff seems to show up. I guess most modern western cultures originated with the Greeks and Romans, so maybe we all still share a common sensibility. Whether reading something written in France, Poland, Germany, or whatever, an American like myself can pretty easily figure out who the protagonists and/or antagonists of a story are based on their actions.
This isn't necessarily true of Asian storytelling. For instance, early on in this book, Ode To Kirihito, one of the main characters rapes his best friend's finance. You'd likely think he's being set up as the bad guy. But for most of the rest of the book, he is selflessly trying to find his missing friend. But later he rapes that girl again. And then he rapes a nun and impregnates her and then jumps in front of a moving truck. I think he might rape someone else before that, but all these rapes are getting mixed up in my head. There's also another character that rapes (and kills) a girl, and there is a girl that ties up a man for weeks and tries to force him to have sex with her. So that's a lot of rapes for a comic book. I guess that's my point. I also want to point out that none of the rape victims seem very upset about getting raped.
So this is just one major example of how cultural differences can make it hard to follow a story. But the fact is I can't be sure if these differences are as big as they seem, or if a bad English translation just makes them seem so. I'll never know how close the translation comes to the intentions of the original author. But I am pretty sure that the guy that translated this isn't a very good writer. For instance in one sequence picked by randomly opening to a page, A sex crazed girl is shown caressing the protagonist while secretly slipping nooses over his wrists and ankles. How does he respond? He says "Very clever. Pretending to caress me while slipping nooses over my wrists and ankles." I'm assuming (read: hoping) that the original Japanese doesn't contain this kind of redundant exposition. When working on this type of material it would probably be a good idea to hire a translator who is also a decent writer or maybe a translating /writing team. A great example of this is Banana Yoshimoto's Kitchen translated by Megan Backus. Miss Yoshimoto's subsequent books had different translators and were, in my opinion, less successful because of it. Ode To Kirihito may have benefited from a better translator.
If it seems like I'm being a dick, I'm really not trying to do so. There really is a lot to enjoy about this book, it just seems like saying, "I liked it" and then moving on would be a waste of energy. Spending 35 minuted pretending to have a legitimate opinion and understanding of literature is almost certainly a better way for me to spend my time.
This isn't necessarily true of Asian storytelling. For instance, early on in this book, Ode To Kirihito, one of the main characters rapes his best friend's finance. You'd likely think he's being set up as the bad guy. But for most of the rest of the book, he is selflessly trying to find his missing friend. But later he rapes that girl again. And then he rapes a nun and impregnates her and then jumps in front of a moving truck. I think he might rape someone else before that, but all these rapes are getting mixed up in my head. There's also another character that rapes (and kills) a girl, and there is a girl that ties up a man for weeks and tries to force him to have sex with her. So that's a lot of rapes for a comic book. I guess that's my point. I also want to point out that none of the rape victims seem very upset about getting raped.
So this is just one major example of how cultural differences can make it hard to follow a story. But the fact is I can't be sure if these differences are as big as they seem, or if a bad English translation just makes them seem so. I'll never know how close the translation comes to the intentions of the original author. But I am pretty sure that the guy that translated this isn't a very good writer. For instance in one sequence picked by randomly opening to a page, A sex crazed girl is shown caressing the protagonist while secretly slipping nooses over his wrists and ankles. How does he respond? He says "Very clever. Pretending to caress me while slipping nooses over my wrists and ankles." I'm assuming (read: hoping) that the original Japanese doesn't contain this kind of redundant exposition. When working on this type of material it would probably be a good idea to hire a translator who is also a decent writer or maybe a translating /writing team. A great example of this is Banana Yoshimoto's Kitchen translated by Megan Backus. Miss Yoshimoto's subsequent books had different translators and were, in my opinion, less successful because of it. Ode To Kirihito may have benefited from a better translator.
If it seems like I'm being a dick, I'm really not trying to do so. There really is a lot to enjoy about this book, it just seems like saying, "I liked it" and then moving on would be a waste of energy. Spending 35 minuted pretending to have a legitimate opinion and understanding of literature is almost certainly a better way for me to spend my time.
December 11, 2009
My second book read by Tezuka. I found it more complelling that Apollo's Song, but at this point I'm starting to wonder what his beef with women is: in both books the female characters are either sexual predators, or violent sexual victims...
March 11, 2021
Bestial. Descubriendo las obras maduras de Tezuka he quedado prendado de los argumentos que este hombre era capaz de construir. Aqui nos cuenta la fenomenal historia de un hombre que investiga una extraña enfermedad que convierte a los hombres en perros y que acaba cogiendo la enfermedad y afrontando un viacrucis tratando de ayudar y a traves de la medicina superar todas las dificultades. Me ha encantado. Quiero mas Tezuka please.
August 25, 2022
What I thought was going to be a more-or-less normal horror comic ended up being something totally different and much, much stranger. Part medical thriller, part Christian parable, part huge, globe-spanning, old-fashioned epic. I thought it was incredible and suspenseful and above all fun, but what I couldn’t stop thinking about was how difficult its characters are and how it refused to coddle you by coding anyone explicitly good or evil. Some of the ostensible good guys in the story do some truly horrible evil stuff, and instead of ending it with a “and X went to prison and died alone and sad because of his crimes,” the story just moves forward and forces us to kind of sit with the idea that evil people do plenty of good, selfless things and good people are capable of 100% icy unambiguous evil. Feels like a rare thing for a book to make us reckon with a totally amoral world where people just do horrible stuff and the world keeps turning! Go off Osamu Tezuka, feel-bad king of comics.
August 16, 2008
I had a hard time getting through this book. Not only is it long with want-to-scratch-my-eyes-out-bad writing in some parts (particularly in the beginning), the writing is also EXTREMELY sexist and had me hating a vast majority of the characters (both male and female) just about the entire time. I'm giving it two stars because the plot itself is pretty interesting. I wouldn't say the plot even comes close to justifying everything that was horrid about the book though.
March 28, 2025
Heldere, klare lijn. Spannend, deels maf verhaal.
July 24, 2007
I saw this in the comic book store, realized I had never read any Tezuka, so I picked it up. This is a very odd, rather amazing book, and no paltry little summary of mine will really do it justice, but here goes anyway: it's 1970s Japan, and group of high-flying doctors at a hostpital are investigating a condition called Monmow Disease. The stricken take on the appearance of dog men, growing hairy and developing elongated snouts, before dying. A good portion of the book is medical drama, tracking the disease to it's source, emergency medical procedures, etc. There's also a globe-trotting adventure component to it, a weird psycho-sexual storyline (well, several), comments on racism, Christianity, all depicted in some absolutely marvelous black and white linework.
This is one of the few comics works that feels like it was made by a master of the medium. The writing is fairly awful at times (possibly only in translation), but graphic elements, both the illustrations and narrative flow of the layouts, are genuinely wonderful and often novel (well, to this Western inexperienced reader).
This is one of the few comics works that feels like it was made by a master of the medium. The writing is fairly awful at times (possibly only in translation), but graphic elements, both the illustrations and narrative flow of the layouts, are genuinely wonderful and often novel (well, to this Western inexperienced reader).
October 2, 2015
The Best Manga I Have Ever Read. A story about an up and coming doctor who is sent away on assignment to a remote village to study a strange illness that turns a person's features into a dog's. Ode to Kirohito examines what happens when people become closed minded, prideful, and selfish and it's affects on the people around them. I am shit at reviewing anything, but Ode to Kirohito is a masterpiece from a master. Truly the High Water Mark when it comes to dramatic Manga.
December 6, 2008
Osamu Tezuka, Ode to Kirihito (Vertical, 2006)
Every once in a while I come across a graphic novel that just makes my jaw drop—Bone, Black Hole, and now Ode to Kirihito. This monstrous (832 pp.) graphic novel is not only absorbing enough that you won't want to put it down, but has as much character development, plot, and action as any print novel, and a great deal more than most. Ode to Kirihito may be Tezuka's magnum opus—and given that Tezuka is considered the godfather of manga in Japan, that's saying something.
Osanai Kirihito is a young doctor who has more scruples than his boss. This makes him a liability, so when the boss finds a way to both study a new disease and get Kirihito out of the way, he jumps at the chance, sending Kirihito to the village where the disease seems to have originated, thus almost guaranteeing he'll contract it. The disease essentially turns humans into animals. Soon enough, of course, Kirihito starts looking like a dog, and thus his travails begin. Meanwhile, Kirihito's old colleague, always more tractable, discovers that the boss' hypothesis on the disease, which Kirihito was supposed to reinforce, may not be entirely accurate, and so he heads off to Africa to gather more evidence. This throws him into a quandary; should he keep kowtowing to the boss in order to advance, or do what Kirihito would have done, and stand up to him?
This is just the tip of the iceberg. There's a great deal going on here, with many subplots, a raft of well-developed characters, and actions and reactions that feel completely realistic. Tezuka has created a wonderfully detailed world here, and the truly amazing thing about Ode to Kirihito is that, like all truly well-crafted graphic novels, it feels like we just don't spend enough time in that world. Eight hundred pages? Just a drop in the bucket. We could have followed Kirihito for thousands more.
Will definitely be on my ten best reads of the year list. An amazing book. **** ½
Every once in a while I come across a graphic novel that just makes my jaw drop—Bone, Black Hole, and now Ode to Kirihito. This monstrous (832 pp.) graphic novel is not only absorbing enough that you won't want to put it down, but has as much character development, plot, and action as any print novel, and a great deal more than most. Ode to Kirihito may be Tezuka's magnum opus—and given that Tezuka is considered the godfather of manga in Japan, that's saying something.
Osanai Kirihito is a young doctor who has more scruples than his boss. This makes him a liability, so when the boss finds a way to both study a new disease and get Kirihito out of the way, he jumps at the chance, sending Kirihito to the village where the disease seems to have originated, thus almost guaranteeing he'll contract it. The disease essentially turns humans into animals. Soon enough, of course, Kirihito starts looking like a dog, and thus his travails begin. Meanwhile, Kirihito's old colleague, always more tractable, discovers that the boss' hypothesis on the disease, which Kirihito was supposed to reinforce, may not be entirely accurate, and so he heads off to Africa to gather more evidence. This throws him into a quandary; should he keep kowtowing to the boss in order to advance, or do what Kirihito would have done, and stand up to him?
This is just the tip of the iceberg. There's a great deal going on here, with many subplots, a raft of well-developed characters, and actions and reactions that feel completely realistic. Tezuka has created a wonderfully detailed world here, and the truly amazing thing about Ode to Kirihito is that, like all truly well-crafted graphic novels, it feels like we just don't spend enough time in that world. Eight hundred pages? Just a drop in the bucket. We could have followed Kirihito for thousands more.
Will definitely be on my ten best reads of the year list. An amazing book. **** ½
April 12, 2020
I had to DNF this (although I did skim through to the end).
I'm used to Tezuka getting very strange and weird at times, but this stretched it too far for me. Often times what was going on just made no sense, and characters often did things without much particular reason. The art was especially low quality for Tezuka, as often characters would look very different on just one page. Many times panels were drawn weirdly sketchy with no rhyme or reason as to what panels were cleaner, and what ones were messy.
Also early on there was a rape scene and the victim just didn't mention it afterwards, like it didn't affect her at all even though the act was obviously a rape and she was very upset during it. She didn't even consider going to the police or talking to someone. Just, next day she's all better I guess? The victim continued to hang out with the rapist too, even though she had no prior feelings for him and had no reason to be with him. The whole thing was just baffling. There did even seem to be much of a reason for the rape (and the other ones that happen, which were also fairly baffling for other reasons). just argh.
Overall, what I did properly read was neither enjoyable, nor interesting, minus the initial premise. I don't particularly recommend it unless you are a die-hard Tezuka fan and can stomach his more crazy and absurd side.
I'm used to Tezuka getting very strange and weird at times, but this stretched it too far for me. Often times what was going on just made no sense, and characters often did things without much particular reason. The art was especially low quality for Tezuka, as often characters would look very different on just one page. Many times panels were drawn weirdly sketchy with no rhyme or reason as to what panels were cleaner, and what ones were messy.
Also early on there was a rape scene and the victim just didn't mention it afterwards, like it didn't affect her at all even though the act was obviously a rape and she was very upset during it. She didn't even consider going to the police or talking to someone. Just, next day she's all better I guess? The victim continued to hang out with the rapist too, even though she had no prior feelings for him and had no reason to be with him. The whole thing was just baffling. There did even seem to be much of a reason for the rape (and the other ones that happen, which were also fairly baffling for other reasons). just argh.
Overall, what I did properly read was neither enjoyable, nor interesting, minus the initial premise. I don't particularly recommend it unless you are a die-hard Tezuka fan and can stomach his more crazy and absurd side.
September 20, 2016
Osamu Tezuka is a fucking nationalist imperialist racist.
March 18, 2024
i can’t believe that this 50 year old comic written by a man born in 1928 doesn’t pass the bechdel test
January 10, 2023
A crazy ride worth taking your time with
June 20, 2022
The incurable Monmows disease transforms humans into dog-like beings. First the face, later the rest of the body. The disease also leads to a craving for raw meat until the sufferers finally die of lung failure after a few months.
Young intern doctor Kirihito Osanai is sent to the mountain village Doggoddale, despite the wish of his fiancée Izumi, to investigate the source of the latest medical mystery.
I guess this is who they call the manga no kamisama (God of manga).
My first Tezuka that I've read and definitely not my last one. This very very odd medical mystery-thriller couldn't be more multifarious. It's a medical detective story intervened in an existential crisis with lots of drama and multiple characters. One thing that left me baffled is the way that rape was handled here. Multiple women got sexually assaulted and it didn't seem like it affected them in any way. They were absolutely unnecessary and the manga would do just fine, I mean way better without them. Makes me question Tezukas views on women.
Young intern doctor Kirihito Osanai is sent to the mountain village Doggoddale, despite the wish of his fiancée Izumi, to investigate the source of the latest medical mystery.
I guess this is who they call the manga no kamisama (God of manga).
My first Tezuka that I've read and definitely not my last one. This very very odd medical mystery-thriller couldn't be more multifarious. It's a medical detective story intervened in an existential crisis with lots of drama and multiple characters. One thing that left me baffled is the way that rape was handled here. Multiple women got sexually assaulted and it didn't seem like it affected them in any way. They were absolutely unnecessary and the manga would do just fine, I mean way better without them. Makes me question Tezukas views on women.
January 3, 2017
What's it like to lose your humanity? To be retrogated into a being that seems so primal and destructive that no one, not even your friends or loved ones, feels safe around you. In the graphic manga "Ode to Kirihito" by Osamu Tezuka, we see the instance of this through the character Kirito Osania, a brilliant doctor who loses everything when he contracts the disease, monmow, which transforms him into a half man, half beast.
The story is really interesting in that, it illustrates human's quick response to judge and ostracized things and people they don't understand. In the manga Kirihito is beaten, imprisoned and judged based on his looks. At one point he's even sold as a circus act, which tries to force him to sleep with a dog. Ode of Kirihito is basically a reflection of mankind's greed, pride and envy, which lead to most of the characters' destruction in the story. Throughout the plot Kirihito travels though Asia, facing ridicule and strife due to his appearance and the constant loss of loved ones throughout his journey. This causes him to swear vengeance on the one's who caused his pain.In the end however, he manages to accept his condition and move on with his life, finally finding peace again with his profession.
The art in the story is very volatile. I as a reader found it a bit comical sometimes to see this constant shift. However, as the story progressed I began to understand the style of the artist. When dealing with certain important scenes and change of attitude, Tezuka makes his drawing more define and solid. When dealing with comical outbursts he changes to a more light handed approach.
There are some issues I have with the manga and particularly with the character Urube. In more the one instance he has raped two women. Yet he is revered in the end as some sort of hero in the end. A kind and misunderstood soul. I found it a bit disgusted with this character at times and I couldn't feel any sympathy towards him at all, even when he develops schizophrenia and gets hit by a bus. In addition it's really painful to hear one of his rape victims fall in love with him. Not only that but after he professes his 'love' for her he ends up raping another woman. The women in the manga were basically extremely objectified, and while it may be within the Japanese's norm to have the women as subservient to the men I believe women should be treated with more respect.
The story is really interesting in that, it illustrates human's quick response to judge and ostracized things and people they don't understand. In the manga Kirihito is beaten, imprisoned and judged based on his looks. At one point he's even sold as a circus act, which tries to force him to sleep with a dog. Ode of Kirihito is basically a reflection of mankind's greed, pride and envy, which lead to most of the characters' destruction in the story. Throughout the plot Kirihito travels though Asia, facing ridicule and strife due to his appearance and the constant loss of loved ones throughout his journey. This causes him to swear vengeance on the one's who caused his pain.In the end however, he manages to accept his condition and move on with his life, finally finding peace again with his profession.
The art in the story is very volatile. I as a reader found it a bit comical sometimes to see this constant shift. However, as the story progressed I began to understand the style of the artist. When dealing with certain important scenes and change of attitude, Tezuka makes his drawing more define and solid. When dealing with comical outbursts he changes to a more light handed approach.
There are some issues I have with the manga and particularly with the character Urube. In more the one instance he has raped two women. Yet he is revered in the end as some sort of hero in the end. A kind and misunderstood soul. I found it a bit disgusted with this character at times and I couldn't feel any sympathy towards him at all, even when he develops schizophrenia and gets hit by a bus. In addition it's really painful to hear one of his rape victims fall in love with him. Not only that but after he professes his 'love' for her he ends up raping another woman. The women in the manga were basically extremely objectified, and while it may be within the Japanese's norm to have the women as subservient to the men I believe women should be treated with more respect.
February 3, 2019
A slight letdown after the brilliance of Buddha series by Tezuka, this is a more mundane medical investigation into a paranormal endocrinal syndrome which manifests in isolated tribal populace. With a reasonable core plot point to build upon, the story follows a natural reveal pattern before drawing to a natural conclusion.
Tezuka's distinctive style comes through. In particular, almost all of his heroines are attractively sketched and handsomely presented, and some of these, less frequently, are deviants and sexual perverts. 'Original sin' (sic) is depicted with allusions like a bright light, while there are liberally many panels of female nakedness. (Mustve been good for business, i suppose /s ).
An interesting character here is one of the sub-heroes whose placement in the otherwise largely ternary evil-flourishing/pious-suffering/commons-clueless metric is not straightforward. (similar to buddha where one of the original disciples keeps flirting with both sides). Usual tropes such as low life deviants being 'shown the light', the virtue of selfless kindness that is the unjustly long-suffering reclusive and (self) shunned hero , his faithful and handsome betrothed waiting for his return, (a lot of) christian commandments (entire lines copied and repeated as ideals, using which demi-heroes have to persevere through tough situations) feature throughout. Overall this has piqued my interest into reading a semi-academic commentary on mass media discourse in Japan comics from 1970s to the present. Or maybe I'm thinking too much abt an adrenaline adventure for teens, complete with drawings of boobs?
Tezuka's distinctive style comes through. In particular, almost all of his heroines are attractively sketched and handsomely presented, and some of these, less frequently, are deviants and sexual perverts. 'Original sin' (sic) is depicted with allusions like a bright light, while there are liberally many panels of female nakedness. (Mustve been good for business, i suppose /s ).
An interesting character here is one of the sub-heroes whose placement in the otherwise largely ternary evil-flourishing/pious-suffering/commons-clueless metric is not straightforward. (similar to buddha where one of the original disciples keeps flirting with both sides). Usual tropes such as low life deviants being 'shown the light', the virtue of selfless kindness that is the unjustly long-suffering reclusive and (self) shunned hero , his faithful and handsome betrothed waiting for his return, (a lot of) christian commandments (entire lines copied and repeated as ideals, using which demi-heroes have to persevere through tough situations) feature throughout. Overall this has piqued my interest into reading a semi-academic commentary on mass media discourse in Japan comics from 1970s to the present. Or maybe I'm thinking too much abt an adrenaline adventure for teens, complete with drawings of boobs?
July 31, 2022
Wanted to like this more than I did. I suppose I could bump it up a star for its age, but I won't. That said it was cool to finally read something by the Godfather of Manga - it's been a long time coming. You can really see his medical background with this work (and apparently with another long-running series, Black Jack).
Spoilers: One particular element of this story that really drags it down for me is how Dr. Urabe, Kirihito's rival, receives sainthood by the end of it all, even though he's a rapist. These women are on the receiving end of neglect in general, but there's no justice for them as Urabe's victims, and one of them even falls "in love" with him and bears his child. It's messed up. But don't worry! At least Urabe won't be around to be daddy.
Spoilers: One particular element of this story that really drags it down for me is how Dr. Urabe, Kirihito's rival, receives sainthood by the end of it all, even though he's a rapist. These women are on the receiving end of neglect in general, but there's no justice for them as Urabe's victims, and one of them even falls "in love" with him and bears his child. It's messed up. But don't worry! At least Urabe won't be around to be daddy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2011
The story idea was interesting (a mysterious disease distorts humans' features into those of dogs), but the execution, not so much.
First off, the book was entirely too long. The character design was inconsistent. The illustrations ranged from more realistic scenes to those that were childlike and cartoony. I disliked the manner in which the female characters were presented. They were either psychos in disguise or so weak they couldn't help but fall in love with their rapists. What was with all of the sexual assaults in this book, anyway? The black characters were also drawn as offensive stereotypes.
First off, the book was entirely too long. The character design was inconsistent. The illustrations ranged from more realistic scenes to those that were childlike and cartoony. I disliked the manner in which the female characters were presented. They were either psychos in disguise or so weak they couldn't help but fall in love with their rapists. What was with all of the sexual assaults in this book, anyway? The black characters were also drawn as offensive stereotypes.
May 31, 2016
Clocking in at 800 pages, you'll still be able to read this one in a sitting or two. This is my first taste of Osamu Tezuka, and it won't be the last.
Only word of warning is that this was written in 1970s Japan, so it does objectify women a bit. But if you can get past that - you'll find a tale unlike any other. From Monmow disease to themes of xenophobia and the divide between rural and citified Japan, Ode to Kirihito deserves your attention.
Only word of warning is that this was written in 1970s Japan, so it does objectify women a bit. But if you can get past that - you'll find a tale unlike any other. From Monmow disease to themes of xenophobia and the divide between rural and citified Japan, Ode to Kirihito deserves your attention.
January 23, 2020
Probably calling it quits on this one (with one volume to go!) Haven't touched it in months and have no desire to. Kirihito's story bored me to tears, though Urabe's story is actually pretty interesting, in a compulsive rapist trying to help his missing friend while dealing with his overbearing boss's inane obsession that caused Kirihito's problem in the first place kind of way. Kirihito's story started off fine in the remote mountain village, and his floof-haired sidekick is fun to look at, but it was downhill from there. If I ever pick this up again I'll just read Urabe's sections to find out what happened to the nun.
March 3, 2010
What is this book? Epic. Disturbing. Gripping. Complex.
What is this book about? Deformity. Bravery. Sacrifice. Monmow virus. Religion. Medicine. Hubris. Sex. Beauty. Hypocrisy. Treachery.
What else is this book about?
A hero, Kirihito; an investigation of a disease that appears to be endemic in a remote region of Japan; people who risk everything to bring the truth to light; people who risk everything to do what is right.
And. . . Monmow disease turns its victims into dog-people.
Read on!
What is this book about? Deformity. Bravery. Sacrifice. Monmow virus. Religion. Medicine. Hubris. Sex. Beauty. Hypocrisy. Treachery.
What else is this book about?
A hero, Kirihito; an investigation of a disease that appears to be endemic in a remote region of Japan; people who risk everything to bring the truth to light; people who risk everything to do what is right.
And. . . Monmow disease turns its victims into dog-people.
Read on!
March 18, 2023
This is a very very odd book full of contradictions. It’s an epic saga that pivots around a medical mystery while asking questions like what does it mean to be human, or what is the purpose of religion, how important are a persons external appearance to his/her perceived worth etc
It is a dark read though, too dark for me at this point in my life. I am getting soft it seems. Sexual violence is used casually to further the plot along, lots of pretty naked women and bad stuff happening to them. It was upsetting. It’s gory too. Those afflicted with monmow disease look strange and unsettling but what I loved was they pushed to the side, instead were the main players in the story.
The plot gets thin many many times, as do the medical specifics but there’s a certain visceral terror that Japanese culture embraces that is unique to this book. Overall I am glad to have read it.
It is a dark read though, too dark for me at this point in my life. I am getting soft it seems. Sexual violence is used casually to further the plot along, lots of pretty naked women and bad stuff happening to them. It was upsetting. It’s gory too. Those afflicted with monmow disease look strange and unsettling but what I loved was they pushed to the side, instead were the main players in the story.
The plot gets thin many many times, as do the medical specifics but there’s a certain visceral terror that Japanese culture embraces that is unique to this book. Overall I am glad to have read it.
February 20, 2024
This manga, was something I’ve never before seen. Not only was it horrifying in a grounded way, but it’s so relevant in today’s current events. Not only does it speak on a multitude of issues, but the way it utilizes it to convey the story and continue the narrative is absolutely astounding, it took me longer to read this than I would’ve liked but the fact that I was glued to the pages every time is a testament to how good this mangaka’s work is. I hope to pursuit others of his too as I’m all but impressed.
March 1, 2021
Ode to Kirihito might be one of the most physically and visually disturbing I’ve ever read. In times like these it feels more cutting; Kirihito is about an unexplaned illness and the search for a cure. That this illness causes the patient’s body to grow hair and change shape into that of a dog should not deflect from Tezuka's intentions here. The novel discusses illness, disability and physical deformity (and prejudice towards it) as a whole. Tezuka doesn't distinguish between the Monmo sickness he has invented and real life conditions like diabetes. It is a treatese on human society and our relationship to our body and our mortality, as well as our perspectives of bodily aesthetics and corporal beauty. It is also a book of ethics and science, discussing the moral role of the medical profession. Corruption is at the heart of everything evil that happens in Kirihito, the lust for power and success that overrides concern for human life. Mixed in with this is a sense of the spiritual, of the doctor, nurse or nun standing for something higher, a saintly mission to protect the human race.
If that sounds a bit too much that's because it is. Kirihito is a long, intense and difficult graphic novel, albeit wrapped up in very mainstream storytelling. It is captivating from the word go and steamrollers through 800+ pages with barely a pause for breath. At times it mirrors the crash bang of high action Hollywood movies, at others it's like a dark, mysterious and tense crime thriller. Always there is a sense of horror and claustrophobia. Echoes of moral horror tales like Frankenstein and Jeckyl and Hyde sounds throughout the telling, all the way to modern movies like The Fly and the unccountable pandemic apocalypse movies and books that haunt our 21st century consciousness. It's non-stop and frequently heart stopping. The artwork is suitably tense as well, openly graphic and revels in a sense of horror and violence. Tezuka, a huge influence in Japanese comic art, has his own distinctive style. In particular his characters are memorably drawn. He eeks out emotion and agony from the faces of his protagonists who drip with sweat and glare with hatred with awfully human expression. There are moments when it's too overpowering, and there are plot elements that are too unbelievable (Kirihito's plane being hijacked in a typical out of the frying pan into the desert hot fire situation) but if allow for these exaggerations and dramatic poses, Ode to Kirihito is a breathless piece of entertainment.
Kirihito Osanai is researching the Monmow illness when his studies cause him to contract the same sickness. A series of events, manipulated by his corrupt boss, Dr Tatsugaura, who is using false research to stake his claim on the position of president of the medical association, sends Kirihito, now in dog-form, to Taiwan. He then begins his semi-religious path of suffering back to Japan in order to take his revenge on Tatsuguara. Meanwhile, his colleague Urabi is investigating Kirihito's disappearance and the holes in the research indicating Monmow to be an infectious disease. He travels to South Africa and meets a nun who has Monmow and, after bringing her to Japan for treatment, falls in love with her. Urabi is beset with unexplaned schzophrenic episodes during which his rage leads him to rape the women he loves. This problematic part of Urabi's character is perhaps the most disturbing part of the book, particularly in the fact that both women (Kirihito's fiance and the nun, Sister Helen) accept Urabi as a friend after the act. One of the fascinating aspects of Ode to Kirihito is Tezuka's view of human defects and his desire not to judge. Yet Urabi's crimes are judged by his own conscience, and Tatsuguara is condemned almost Biblically by a plague of his own making. The crimes and defects are almost entirely masculine. The female character, although one of the main strengths of the storyline, are victims of violence and perversity. The women who love Kirihito, despite his physical appearance, also suffer violence and death - the end of the circus performer, who's act is to become a human tempura, is one of the most gutwrenching scenes in the entire book.
At the heart of the story is Kirihito's battle with himself and his confidence in his purpose. The ending is thrilling in a very Hollywood way but it leaves everything open as regards his future and the success of his love life. The bad guys get their comeupance and most of the good guys find meaning and direction in their lives. But the shadow of Monmow and humanity's response to it hangs like a curse over the story. I was left feeling cold and lonely. What hope is offered is crushed by the perverse actions of a few men. Ode to Kirihito shows a world where violence and sexual desires are tools with which men can achieve their goals. Tezuka seems to what to offer a world of acceptance, where people are not judged for the sicknesses that plague their bodies and their minds, but I couldn't be certain how much the author himself believed that message. This is a powerful graphic novel, relevant to today's world in many ways, but it is certainly an uncomfortable ride. 7
If that sounds a bit too much that's because it is. Kirihito is a long, intense and difficult graphic novel, albeit wrapped up in very mainstream storytelling. It is captivating from the word go and steamrollers through 800+ pages with barely a pause for breath. At times it mirrors the crash bang of high action Hollywood movies, at others it's like a dark, mysterious and tense crime thriller. Always there is a sense of horror and claustrophobia. Echoes of moral horror tales like Frankenstein and Jeckyl and Hyde sounds throughout the telling, all the way to modern movies like The Fly and the unccountable pandemic apocalypse movies and books that haunt our 21st century consciousness. It's non-stop and frequently heart stopping. The artwork is suitably tense as well, openly graphic and revels in a sense of horror and violence. Tezuka, a huge influence in Japanese comic art, has his own distinctive style. In particular his characters are memorably drawn. He eeks out emotion and agony from the faces of his protagonists who drip with sweat and glare with hatred with awfully human expression. There are moments when it's too overpowering, and there are plot elements that are too unbelievable (Kirihito's plane being hijacked in a typical out of the frying pan into the desert hot fire situation) but if allow for these exaggerations and dramatic poses, Ode to Kirihito is a breathless piece of entertainment.
Kirihito Osanai is researching the Monmow illness when his studies cause him to contract the same sickness. A series of events, manipulated by his corrupt boss, Dr Tatsugaura, who is using false research to stake his claim on the position of president of the medical association, sends Kirihito, now in dog-form, to Taiwan. He then begins his semi-religious path of suffering back to Japan in order to take his revenge on Tatsuguara. Meanwhile, his colleague Urabi is investigating Kirihito's disappearance and the holes in the research indicating Monmow to be an infectious disease. He travels to South Africa and meets a nun who has Monmow and, after bringing her to Japan for treatment, falls in love with her. Urabi is beset with unexplaned schzophrenic episodes during which his rage leads him to rape the women he loves. This problematic part of Urabi's character is perhaps the most disturbing part of the book, particularly in the fact that both women (Kirihito's fiance and the nun, Sister Helen) accept Urabi as a friend after the act. One of the fascinating aspects of Ode to Kirihito is Tezuka's view of human defects and his desire not to judge. Yet Urabi's crimes are judged by his own conscience, and Tatsuguara is condemned almost Biblically by a plague of his own making. The crimes and defects are almost entirely masculine. The female character, although one of the main strengths of the storyline, are victims of violence and perversity. The women who love Kirihito, despite his physical appearance, also suffer violence and death - the end of the circus performer, who's act is to become a human tempura, is one of the most gutwrenching scenes in the entire book.
At the heart of the story is Kirihito's battle with himself and his confidence in his purpose. The ending is thrilling in a very Hollywood way but it leaves everything open as regards his future and the success of his love life. The bad guys get their comeupance and most of the good guys find meaning and direction in their lives. But the shadow of Monmow and humanity's response to it hangs like a curse over the story. I was left feeling cold and lonely. What hope is offered is crushed by the perverse actions of a few men. Ode to Kirihito shows a world where violence and sexual desires are tools with which men can achieve their goals. Tezuka seems to what to offer a world of acceptance, where people are not judged for the sicknesses that plague their bodies and their minds, but I couldn't be certain how much the author himself believed that message. This is a powerful graphic novel, relevant to today's world in many ways, but it is certainly an uncomfortable ride. 7
July 20, 2023
Ode to Kirihito has aged really well, due to its writers sense of morality, and impeccable artistry. I can’t imagine there was anything else like it when it was originally published (1970-1971).
April 14, 2021
Masterful storytelling. I will definitely steal from this.
April 28, 2016
This was my second Tezuka work I've finished, after "Message to Adolf," and like that, I found it pretty darn entertaining overall if one just accepts its silliness. Its flipped format becomes noticeable when one sees the Japanese character's traditional clothing, but I otherwise thought the translation was fine--but I'm not exactly expecting nuanced speech when it comes to manga. I think what pushed the book off my suspension bridge of disbelief was either a naked woman dying by being covered in tempura batter and dropped in a vat of oil (which was supposed to be tragic!), or the fact that the character who does pretty appalling things to women is forgiven by both of them and nobody is really bothered by what he's done, and then he's hit by a truck because he actually has schizophrenia, don't-'cha-know. As with any author, Tezuka's still a "product of his time," and this book has a lot of issues that modern readers have learned to question and not just merely accept--such as the good ol' fridging and objectification of women, flippant attitude towards sexual assault (though I do think some of his visual metaphors are pretty creative and tasteful in conveying the horror of it), caricatures of other races (particularly of native Africans--while trying to make a point about white supremacy in South Africa), and the like.
However, I do think Tezuka's art is striking, varying from cartoonish to hyper-realistic, and the full-page spreads of the scenery are beautiful. I also think the story succeeds in conveying the politics surrounding being a doctor in modern Japan, and how providers are constrained by the system they're in and all that bureaucratic gobbledygoop that gets in the way of caring for patients as people, a theme furthered in Tezuka's "Black Jack" work. Tezuka's medical background also helps inform much of the character's actions so as to avoid plunging the work into pure ridiculousness, at least, until the main character is left sobbing over a ball of tempura containing the body of a Chinese, afro-wearing, sex-crazed, circus performer who assaults him. Rest in peace, "The Human Tempura."
However, I do think Tezuka's art is striking, varying from cartoonish to hyper-realistic, and the full-page spreads of the scenery are beautiful. I also think the story succeeds in conveying the politics surrounding being a doctor in modern Japan, and how providers are constrained by the system they're in and all that bureaucratic gobbledygoop that gets in the way of caring for patients as people, a theme furthered in Tezuka's "Black Jack" work. Tezuka's medical background also helps inform much of the character's actions so as to avoid plunging the work into pure ridiculousness, at least, until the main character is left sobbing over a ball of tempura containing the body of a Chinese, afro-wearing, sex-crazed, circus performer who assaults him. Rest in peace, "The Human Tempura."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2014
I know very little about the Japanese culture, but when you read a manga comic as disturbing and delightful as Ode to Kirihito, you’re bound to keep all your confusions and questions aside and enjoy the beguiling black shapes, lines and figures that have been skillfully illustrated. Most will agree that a plethora of widely known graphic novels, despite being high on aesthetics, fail to deliver a storyline/plot. But not only does Ode to Kirihito (OTK) boast expressive, thoughtfully-put visuals but also a complex, exciting and intricately woven plot. OTK is a stunner in more than one way- it will leave you disturbed, delighted, satisfied, scared and teary eyed all at the same time. I initially had a problem accepting the image of Japanese women Tezuka painted, but if you closely study most Japanese authors (e.g Murakami), you’ll brazenly accept this image to be a deep-seated part of the Japanese culture; for it is known to be a healthy mix traditional and modern values.
I finished the novel in all of 4 hours and my life suddenly seems at a standstill. I don’t know about most readers/lovers of manga, but OTK has certainly made me hungry for more of Tezuka. If not for the storyline, I’d definitely buy works of his for the spellbinding graphics. If you’re wondering what I mean, just close your eyes and try to picture a human tempura (a naked human being dipped in batter then in hot, boiling oil) then tally your image with that of Tezuka’s in OTK. You’ll be amazed to see how different two similar looking brains can function. I’ll miss you dearly, OTK.
I finished the novel in all of 4 hours and my life suddenly seems at a standstill. I don’t know about most readers/lovers of manga, but OTK has certainly made me hungry for more of Tezuka. If not for the storyline, I’d definitely buy works of his for the spellbinding graphics. If you’re wondering what I mean, just close your eyes and try to picture a human tempura (a naked human being dipped in batter then in hot, boiling oil) then tally your image with that of Tezuka’s in OTK. You’ll be amazed to see how different two similar looking brains can function. I’ll miss you dearly, OTK.
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