Manga and anime are perhaps one of the last places you’d expect to hear about the harrowing Russo-Ukrainian tensions. Rather than fanning the flames of war, however, creators are not only creating art in support of Ukraine but are also calling for peace on all sides. This comes in the wake of the Japan Cartoonists Association’s statement on 28th February 2022, which according to Ken Akamatsu, has recently been translated into English and Russian. The original Japanese version can be found here.
The Russian and English versions of the statement on Russia's invasion of Ukraine released by the Japan Cartoonists Association on February 28, 2022, have been released.
May the prayers of our creators reach the people of the world.
Please share our message.#StopWar #NoWar pic.twitter.com/gazXGsqL6s— 赤松 健 ⋈（参議院議員・全国比例） (@KenAkamatsu) March 1, 2022
What’s rather interesting is how the statement is framed. The most overtly “political” thing about it would be the title, “Regarding the Russian Government’s Invasion of Ukraine.” Beyond that, however, the focus isn’t so much on condemning one side or the other. Instead, it’s on creators’ distress that a war is even happening at all, and how conflict goes against the spirit of manga, which is profoundly influenced by Japan’s experiences of the Second World War, as stated in the English version:
The prosperity of Japanese manga, which is widely loved all over the world, began with the end of World War II and the advent of an era in which manga could be drawn freely. The years of peace and warlessness are the foundation of today’s manga industry.
Many of the great predecessors who pioneered the rich and fertile world of Japanese manga were survivors of the brutal war, and their works are rooted in their heartfelt prayers and affection for a world where war will never happen again.
While their sympathies are undoubtedly with the plight of Ukrainians, it’s also emphasized how it gives pleasure to artists that manga is loved in Ukraine, as well as in Russia, and how all of its readers “are also heirs of the gene of the prayer for peace.” Ultimately, it’s a prayer that chastises neither side, yet longs for the compassion and empathy fostered by artistic expression to shine through.
Given the Association’s long pedigree, and includes the likes of Hajime no Ippo creator Jyoji Morikawa, and current chairman Machiko Satonaka of Lady Ann fame among its ranks, the statement carries quite some weight. It’s by no means the only one to have come out. Veteran art director Nizo Yamamoto, who grew up witnessing the lingering aftermath of the Second World War in Nagasaki, expressed his opposition to the conflict, and plans to make a “personal donation through UNICEF and draw a picture to sell, donating all the proceeds.” Meanwhile, voice actress Megumi Ogata, while talking about how warm-hearted and appreciative the Russian people had been during her last visit in 2019, mentioned the following:
I would like to express my deepest respect to all of you who are taking action in a country where it is so difficult to even speak.
I wish you all the best. I wish you all the best.
