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Japan As Viewed By 17 Creators
Dear Étienne, how's it going? I'm writing to invite you to Japan for two weeks in October. This was the beginning, a crossing of two cultures, French and Japanese, which was going to awaken many things in each one of the authors who participated in this adventure: a stay in Japan does not leave one indifferent. Eight stories from nine European authors result, in which all the exoticism of this elusive and mysterious country is depicted with imagination, humor and poetry. As if in response to these impressions of the artist-travelers, eight authors from the Archipelago portray their own Japan, the everyday one, that of modernity and that of legend. After reading this sentient collection of anecdotes and tales woven together from such different views, one desires nothing more than to visit and see for oneself some bit of the land of the Rising Sun.
254 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
7 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Moyoco Anno
142 books193 followersSee also: 安野モヨコ
Moyoko Anno (安野 モヨコ) is a Japanese manga artist and a fashion writer, with numerous books published in both categories. Her manga and books have attained considerable popularity among young women in Japan. Though she primarily writes manga of the josei demographic, her most popular series, Sugar Sugar Rune, (serialized in Nakayoshi) is targeted at primary school-aged girls. In a recent Oricon poll, she was voted the number eight most popular manga artist among females and thirteen in the general category. Her manga Happy Mania was made into a television series in 1998, followed by Hataraki Man in October 2007. Sakuran was made into a movie in 2006.
In the movie Japan Sinks, she has a cameo role alongside her husband; their characters were also married. The movie was directed by Shinji Higuchi, who, like her husband Hideaki Anno, is a co-founder of Gainax.
Anno won the 29th Kodansha Manga Award for children's manga in 2005 for Sugar Sugar Rune.
Visit her blog: http://www.annomoyoco.com/blog/
Moyoko Anno (安野 モヨコ) is a Japanese manga artist and a fashion writer, with numerous books published in both categories. Her manga and books have attained considerable popularity among young women in Japan. Though she primarily writes manga of the josei demographic, her most popular series, Sugar Sugar Rune, (serialized in Nakayoshi) is targeted at primary school-aged girls. In a recent Oricon poll, she was voted the number eight most popular manga artist among females and thirteen in the general category. Her manga Happy Mania was made into a television series in 1998, followed by Hataraki Man in October 2007. Sakuran was made into a movie in 2006.
In the movie Japan Sinks, she has a cameo role alongside her husband; their characters were also married. The movie was directed by Shinji Higuchi, who, like her husband Hideaki Anno, is a co-founder of Gainax.
Anno won the 29th Kodansha Manga Award for children's manga in 2005 for Sugar Sugar Rune.
Visit her blog: http://www.annomoyoco.com/blog/
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 23, 2019
Como en casi todos los volúmenes recopilatorios (de cortometrajes, de relatos...) el mayor problema de este compendio de historietas breves sobre Japón es su irregularidad. Hay de todo. Algunas de las 17 gustarán mucho al lector, otras le pasarán desapercibidas y otras no le gustarán nada.
La mezcla de autores franceses y nipones es curiosa, así como el hecho de que muchas de las historietas se localicen en lugares del Japón rural, ordenados de sur a norte. Es interesante que no estén centradas en la capital y que hagan referencia a la historia del país, a su cultura, mitología, así como a la visión que los extranjeros tenemos del mismo.
La mezcla de autores franceses y nipones es curiosa, así como el hecho de que muchas de las historietas se localicen en lugares del Japón rural, ordenados de sur a norte. Es interesante que no estén centradas en la capital y que hagan referencia a la historia del país, a su cultura, mitología, así como a la visión que los extranjeros tenemos del mismo.
April 4, 2017
Though I really liked the idea of this book, the actual stories were seriously underwhelming.
September 9, 2017
At first I classified this interesting book as a 'manga' one but, as far as I know, that should be something with episodes with action or theme of some heroes/heroines as pioneered and evolved successfully by those Japanese manga authors. Therefore, I've changed my mind and called it as a cartoon book especially developed from its 17 invited authors (9 European and 8 Japanese). Each has his/her own ways of drawing within 10-16 pages and we readers merely read/follow sequential captions. If you can read Dutch, French, Italian, Japanese and Spanish, I think you can contact some of your nearest bookstores for a copy or more.
I've enjoyed reading nearly all stories, I mean, more or less. For instance. I liked "The City of Trees" by Fabrice Neaud from his observant ways of looking at young people walking in an arcade (p. 198), he nobly expresses his admiration for another culture by saying, "..., then at least I am happy with the Japanese, who in their personal relations with others are extremely considerate, courteous, discreet, humble and self-effacing in public. The opposite of us, stupid louts with oversized egos." (p.204)
I think all visitors have done their best in sharing what they've experienced while traveling in Japan or presenting their own imaginings. Some drawings are subtly funny or a bit shocking, therefore (again), we readers need to be cool and follow his/her literary ventures in this 21st century. They've been, I think, meant for some tips of thought as well as textual means of cultural exposition via exceptional drawings for some better understanding/appreciation regarding the people and their culture in the land of the Rising Sun.
I've enjoyed reading nearly all stories, I mean, more or less. For instance. I liked "The City of Trees" by Fabrice Neaud from his observant ways of looking at young people walking in an arcade (p. 198), he nobly expresses his admiration for another culture by saying, "..., then at least I am happy with the Japanese, who in their personal relations with others are extremely considerate, courteous, discreet, humble and self-effacing in public. The opposite of us, stupid louts with oversized egos." (p.204)
I think all visitors have done their best in sharing what they've experienced while traveling in Japan or presenting their own imaginings. Some drawings are subtly funny or a bit shocking, therefore (again), we readers need to be cool and follow his/her literary ventures in this 21st century. They've been, I think, meant for some tips of thought as well as textual means of cultural exposition via exceptional drawings for some better understanding/appreciation regarding the people and their culture in the land of the Rising Sun.
March 31, 2025
Second Printing = 2007 = $25.00 / £13.99
At half-way, I won't delay to say that this parlay should be named "Japan et Frédéric Boilet" since, besides his submission and overall spearheading of the whole project, he's sexing Aurélia Aurita in her story and serves as the titular (pseudonym) main character of Guibert's while also being a big inspiration/mentor to Kan Takahama's work in general! I would bet that I could add more to that in the last half.
Speaking of Moon Jelly's (Aurita) story, she draws herself nude with blank breasts even though all of the other women are areo¤nipped.
What sort of theory could we reach about her physiointimacy psychology?
Based on her appearance across all (not just the best) of the pictures in her image search, I've decided that Kan Takahama is the MACOSAN*!
->Most Attractive Cartoonist Of Sequential Art Narrative
I finished years later mostly from the bulk of Neaud's tedious reading that was good but scuttled me a few times. The best was the final since Davodeau used a personal experience that he wrote as the Japanese man he spent a few days with- brilliantly!
At half-way, I won't delay to say that this parlay should be named "Japan et Frédéric Boilet" since, besides his submission and overall spearheading of the whole project, he's sexing Aurélia Aurita in her story and serves as the titular (pseudonym) main character of Guibert's while also being a big inspiration/mentor to Kan Takahama's work in general! I would bet that I could add more to that in the last half.
Speaking of Moon Jelly's (Aurita) story, she draws herself nude with blank breasts even though all of the other women are areo¤nipped.
What sort of theory could we reach about her physiointimacy psychology?
Based on her appearance across all (not just the best) of the pictures in her image search, I've decided that Kan Takahama is the MACOSAN*!
->Most Attractive Cartoonist Of Sequential Art Narrative
I finished years later mostly from the bulk of Neaud's tedious reading that was good but scuttled me a few times. The best was the final since Davodeau used a personal experience that he wrote as the Japanese man he spent a few days with- brilliantly!
December 1, 2017
“Tutto ciò che evoca e ispira il Giappone”
Questo libro contiene sedici storie Autoconclusive di sedici autori, otto autori d’origine francese e otto nativi giapponesi, uniti per rappresentare con le loro storie e i loro tratti, il Giappone in ogni sua sfaccettatura, e si presenta con due differenti modi di vedere il Giappone, come turista o come nativo, le impressioni cambiano notevolmente. Ogni autore ha la sua città o paese da descrivere tramite una storia autobiografica o di fantasia e ognuno degli autori ci mette tutto loro stessi e tutto quello che hanno visto in quindici giorni o nei loro viaggi precedenti al progetto. Molte di queste storie, a parer mio, sono fatte molto bene tra cui spicca il nome del compianto maestro Taniguchi, il suo inconfondibile tratto e i ricordi che evoca, ma tra quelli belli ci sono anche alcuni autori francesi che, vuoi per la storia o per i disegni semplici mi sono rimasti nella memoria, mentre altre storie erano di un pesante o non mi hanno preso cosi tanto da tenermi incollato alla storia ed è stato molto difficile mantenere la concentrazione. Per quanto riguarda i disegni erano molto diversi gli uni dagli altri e con diversi stili ma tutto sommato ogni disegno riusciva almeno a tenere la mia concentrazione sui livelli standard (sono maestri dopotutto!!).
Questo libro è un viaggio non solo nel paese chiamato Giappone ma nelle sue mitologie, conoscendo i loro usi e costumi e il come guardano il nostro occidente.
Do un fortissimo 7 sia alle storie che al disegno.
Questo libro contiene sedici storie Autoconclusive di sedici autori, otto autori d’origine francese e otto nativi giapponesi, uniti per rappresentare con le loro storie e i loro tratti, il Giappone in ogni sua sfaccettatura, e si presenta con due differenti modi di vedere il Giappone, come turista o come nativo, le impressioni cambiano notevolmente. Ogni autore ha la sua città o paese da descrivere tramite una storia autobiografica o di fantasia e ognuno degli autori ci mette tutto loro stessi e tutto quello che hanno visto in quindici giorni o nei loro viaggi precedenti al progetto. Molte di queste storie, a parer mio, sono fatte molto bene tra cui spicca il nome del compianto maestro Taniguchi, il suo inconfondibile tratto e i ricordi che evoca, ma tra quelli belli ci sono anche alcuni autori francesi che, vuoi per la storia o per i disegni semplici mi sono rimasti nella memoria, mentre altre storie erano di un pesante o non mi hanno preso cosi tanto da tenermi incollato alla storia ed è stato molto difficile mantenere la concentrazione. Per quanto riguarda i disegni erano molto diversi gli uni dagli altri e con diversi stili ma tutto sommato ogni disegno riusciva almeno a tenere la mia concentrazione sui livelli standard (sono maestri dopotutto!!).
Questo libro è un viaggio non solo nel paese chiamato Giappone ma nelle sue mitologie, conoscendo i loro usi e costumi e il come guardano il nostro occidente.
Do un fortissimo 7 sia alle storie che al disegno.
June 16, 2017
This book was a promising idea. Unfortunately, some of the stories are rather underwhelming. While this is to be expected that not all stories will be interesting to everyone, I found myself being bored by more than half of these. Still, it is an interesting graphic novel to discover one or two authors you may not know.
November 25, 2019
Un recueil avec, comme toujours, des histoires qui m'ont touchées plus que d'autres, mais que je ne regrette pas d'avoir redécouvert, 15 ans après la première lecture que j'en avait faite. Malgré les visions très différentes proposées par les 17 auteurs, j'ai reconnu l'ambiance du pays que j'aime tant dans la plupart d'entre elles, et j'ai pu y retrouver des auteurs que j'apprécie par ailleurs.
September 25, 2019
Verhalen van wisselende kwaliteit. Wel vijf sterren vr het acerbische verhaal over Japanners en Franse japannabe's in Tokyo vn Joann Sfar, een absolute topper! Het verhaal in Kyoto gaf me om persoonlijke reden ook een korte duw in de maag.
May 7, 2023
Cool but some stories are too short
January 24, 2024
Comme presque toutes les anthologies certaines histoires sont excellentes et d'autres, bof!
December 31, 2025
Od fantastičnih do putopisnih, priče o Japanu iz pera gostujućih i domaćih stripaša.
March 19, 2017
Lots of different stories by various artists. I liked it.
April 18, 2013
Japan As Viewed By 17 Creators is a collaborative project ending with a collection of short stories. The theme: Japan. The authors: nine European and eight Japanese mangaka. I was skeptical of the use of Japan on the cover, but I was wrong. Overall, I liked the diversity, the goals, the discovery of several very talented mangaka, and even several of the short stories.
The artwork is very diverse, from the photo-realistic work of Frederic Boilet (Yukiko's Spinach) to the Craig Thompson-esque lines of Aurelia Aurita, going through the traditional manga of Jiro Taniguchi (The Walking Man, A Distant Neighborhood) and the more modern realistic drawings of Kan Takahama. Of course, there's the occasional more-text-than-drawing of Emmanuel Guibert or the cartoon-of-cartoons style of Joann Sfar (whose piece is otherwise very entertaining), but overall the art is accomplished, varied, and just delightful.
The stories are surprisingly good, for example the culturally intolerant yet extremely funny story of Joann Sfarr, the requited love stories of Frederic Boilet and Aurelia Aurita, the great little story of Etienne Davodeau, etc. Perhaps the least inventive are the straightforward explorations of the Japanese culture, such as the dry reporting of Fabrice Neaud.
Go and read this, you will probably want to find out more. Or just visit Japan.
The artwork is very diverse, from the photo-realistic work of Frederic Boilet (Yukiko's Spinach) to the Craig Thompson-esque lines of Aurelia Aurita, going through the traditional manga of Jiro Taniguchi (The Walking Man, A Distant Neighborhood) and the more modern realistic drawings of Kan Takahama. Of course, there's the occasional more-text-than-drawing of Emmanuel Guibert or the cartoon-of-cartoons style of Joann Sfar (whose piece is otherwise very entertaining), but overall the art is accomplished, varied, and just delightful.
The stories are surprisingly good, for example the culturally intolerant yet extremely funny story of Joann Sfarr, the requited love stories of Frederic Boilet and Aurelia Aurita, the great little story of Etienne Davodeau, etc. Perhaps the least inventive are the straightforward explorations of the Japanese culture, such as the dry reporting of Fabrice Neaud.
Go and read this, you will probably want to find out more. Or just visit Japan.
October 25, 2014
Como toda recopilación, es prácticamente imposible dar en el clavo con todas las elecciones y más si se llega, como en este caso a 17 historias sobre Japón de autores franceses y japos, pero en términos generales me han gustado bastante. Hay un poco de todo:
- Manga delicado a lo Miyazaki, como CIELO DE VERANO, de Jiro Taniguchi o HISTYORIA DE LA PLAYA de Tan Takahama.
- La deliciosa ¡AHORA YA ME PUEDO MORIR! de Aurélia Aurita
- Osaka 2034 que parece de Miguel Brieva, pero es de un par de franceses que no conozco (no es que conozca muchos tampoco).
- Me ha encantado la didáctica (no es la única con este tufillo) EN LA CALLE AMOR de Frédéric Boilet, por el diseño gráfico y por lo interesante y bien contado que está el sistema de reciclaje de basura tokiota.
- Incluso un Joann Sfar que parece Álvarez Rabo, pero políticamente correcto (vamos que se queda en na).
- Y hasta un tal Frederic Lemercier que se cree más artistazo de lo que es.
Bueno, me lo miré hace algunos años y para escribir esto solo l he mirado por encima así que se me escaparán cosas pero para hacerlo gratis, creo que no ha estado mal la reseñilla.
Un abracete para los amantes del cómic.
- Manga delicado a lo Miyazaki, como CIELO DE VERANO, de Jiro Taniguchi o HISTYORIA DE LA PLAYA de Tan Takahama.
- La deliciosa ¡AHORA YA ME PUEDO MORIR! de Aurélia Aurita
- Osaka 2034 que parece de Miguel Brieva, pero es de un par de franceses que no conozco (no es que conozca muchos tampoco).
- Me ha encantado la didáctica (no es la única con este tufillo) EN LA CALLE AMOR de Frédéric Boilet, por el diseño gráfico y por lo interesante y bien contado que está el sistema de reciclaje de basura tokiota.
- Incluso un Joann Sfar que parece Álvarez Rabo, pero políticamente correcto (vamos que se queda en na).
- Y hasta un tal Frederic Lemercier que se cree más artistazo de lo que es.
Bueno, me lo miré hace algunos años y para escribir esto solo l he mirado por encima así que se me escaparán cosas pero para hacerlo gratis, creo que no ha estado mal la reseñilla.
Un abracete para los amantes del cómic.
April 15, 2009
I was surprised by how much I would up enjoying this book. Short pieces by 17 different artists, half Japanese and the other half French, all of them writing about Japan. The result is an interesting mix of styles and viewpoints and a nice exposure to a lot of people whose work I wasn't at all familiar with. I got the book for the Taiyo Matsumoto piece, which was okay, but I actually enjoyed some of the other work more. A majority of the French contributions seemed to be of the "Oh, how wacky and different Japan is!" variety, but in a lot of cases that was okay and often amusing (one story details the author's search by bike through dark public parks at night looking for gay action, and lamenting how there's none to be found). The Japanese creators bring a weirder mix of fables, modern slice-of-life, and more abstract stories, but the overall balance works out pretty well.
October 7, 2017
I really loved this book, it's not to be considered a comic nor a light read, since it's a work of art composed from the point of view of each author and their way of understanding what Japan is. I love how differnt drawing styles can say so many different things about the same country and what each author is giving importance to.
Each author gave a different note about the relevant things they found while experiencing Japan, both foreigners and natives.
This book is not for everyone since I know most people won't get it, at least a bit of knowledge about current japanese society, pop culture and a bit about it's folklore is needed.
Each author gave a different note about the relevant things they found while experiencing Japan, both foreigners and natives.
This book is not for everyone since I know most people won't get it, at least a bit of knowledge about current japanese society, pop culture and a bit about it's folklore is needed.
March 31, 2016
17 different views of Japan, both from the inside and the outside. I loved the juxtaposition between the locals and the foreigners, each saw and focused on different things. Different schools of visual language contrasted nicely with each other: Japanese vs. French, Eastern vs. Western, photographic vs. impressionistic. Overall a very interesting collection of visual stories, I've marked most of the creators' names for further exploration.
August 27, 2016
I was rather disappointed, both by the drawings which I didn't really like, and also by the stories they helped telling.
If I were to try to share my love for Japan with friends, I would advise them to read this book, because after its reading they might be even less willing to get interested in this country, which has so much to offer.
If I were to try to share my love for Japan with friends, I would advise them to read this book, because after its reading they might be even less willing to get interested in this country, which has so much to offer.
December 3, 2014
A nice collection of work by Japanese or French artists with different insights or observations from various places in Japan, many with personal commentary or near memoir, and in a few cases ones that I simply didn't get. Which is common for me when I read Japanese literature too. But I did like it, especially the different styles.
August 3, 2008
Some of the stories/comics are really nice and touching. But some are a bit too weak in my opinion. Nice concept nonetheless, it really does give a glance of Japan as native and outsider throughout the compilation.
May 2, 2011
Czysta przyjemność czytania, która zostawia wielki niedosyt; uczta dla oczu; historyjki całkiem normalne i nie do końca...; kilka rzeczy, których nie dowiesz się z przewodników = 5 gwiazdek.
January 26, 2016
Some great stories, some others were not as great. The idea of collaborating to create a short story graphic novel is still phenomenal and I did enjoy my read.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews