Igaguri – Young Judo Master – Fukui Eiichi
Igaguri – Young Judo Master – Fukui Eiichi, translated and with an essay by Ryan Holmberg / ISBN 9781737826422 / 352-page paperback, 7.38 x 8 inches, published in 2024 by Bubbles / b/w printing though color images throughout the lengthy essay
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THE ORIGINAL MARTIAL ARTS MANGA! Starring a young judo prodigy who is as virtuous as he is strong, Fukui Eiichi’s Igaguri (1952-54) marks the true beginning of dynamic martial arts and sports comics in Japan. For the first time in English, read the manga that revolutionized shonen manga, reignited interest in judo among Japanese kids, and drove god of manga Tezuka Osamu mad with jealousy. With a dojo-busting essay about Fukui’s life and Igaguri’s impact by award-winning historian and translator Ryan Holmberg, this edition is a must-have for all manga fans!
Trailblazer of postwar shonen manga, Fukui Eiichi was born in Tokyo in 1921. After a career as an animator during and after World War II, Fukui redefined how manga were drawn and written with his best-selling Igaguri for the magazine Adventure King. Due to poor health and overwork, he died suddenly at the height of his career at the age of 33, yet his influence continues to shape martial arts and sports comics to today.
