1. Banana Fish
* Cartoon & Story ; YOSHIDA Akimi
* Publisher ; Shogakukan
* Magazined ; Flower Comics, 1985~94
* Total 19 volumes(all volumes are standardized to the original Tankoubon)
* Korean version; Sigong-Sa
* English version ; Viz Communication(only 3 volumes)
This manga begins at Vietnam, in war. At an US army post, a soldier suddenly shoots his colleagues in insane state. Others managed to capture him, then he murmured only a word, 'Banana fish....'
The drama of this manga is developed by a drug called 'Banana fish' after about 10 years from beginning. Frankly speaking, art-style is never good, but they say the auther originally wanted to become novelist - so, this manga is famous for her mastery skill at constructing vast and complex context effectly.
2. Black Jack
* Original title ; Burakku Jyakku[Black Jack]
* Cartoon & Story ; TEZUKA Osamu
* Publisher ; Akita Shoten, Kodansha(republished)
* Magazined ; Shounen Champion, 19th Nov. 1973 ~ 14th Oct. 1983
* Total 25 volumes
* Korean version; Haksan Munhwa-Sa(based on Kodansha)
* English version ; Viz Communication(only 2 volumes)
- Special Award by Japanese Cartoonists' Association(1975)
- The 1st Kodansha Manga Award(1977)
Black Jack(his original name is HAJAMA Kuro) is an illegal, but very talented surgeon and called "God's hand". He asks his customers very much operation fee, for he 'operates in danger of his life' for the patients. He hates to be tied by the traditional rules of the normal medical worlds, therefore remains unlicensed though being suggested to grant him the medical license. Black Jack's real face is covered under the money ; he always tries his best for his patients and shares the pains with them.
One of Tezuka's best works, whose basic premise has been very frequently copied by other medical mangas or those of other genres, like 'Gallery Fake'. Tezuka was a doctor in medicine himself, so depicts certain operations quite graphically.
Tezuka said the title 'Black Jack' came from an a pirate's face and that it has no relation with the card game of the same name at the preface of the Tankoubon release. If you'd like to know more about Tezuka, consult Frederik L. Schodt's 'Dreamland Japan; Writings on Modern Manga'. It introduces his life and good reviews about his works.
3. Doraemon
* Cartoons & Story ; FUJIKO F. Fujio
* Publisher ; Shogakukan
* Magazined ; Korokoro Comic, 1970 ~ 1991
* Total 45 volumes
* Korean version; Daiwon Publishing Co.
- Grand Prix, 1st Tezuka Osamu Manga Award by Asahi Newspaper(1997)
From 1970, although for children, perhaps most popular in Japan not only children but also adults. Doraemon, blue robotic cat from 22th century, became a friend of NOBITA Nobi, who are very dull, weak at sports, and never good at school. Doraemon helps his friend with inventories of 22th century from his pocket... Brilliant imagination! Now, Doraemon is deserved to be called almost national representative character of Japan.
In Korea, illegal copy had once been titled Tongzamong after 'tonggle(round)', 'zari(very short)', and 'mongtang(short and thick)'. Tongzamong was far more proper than original name in Korean, which was very smart translation!
4. Glass mask
* Original title ; Garasu no Kamen
* Cartoon & Story ; MIUCHI Suzue
* Publisher; Hakusensha
* Magazined; Hana to Yume, Jan. 1976~ (hiatus after 1997)
* Present 41 volumes
* Korean version; Daiwon Publishing Co.(as Bunkoban edition, present 23 volumes)
KITAJIMA Maya was from poor family and had nothing special, but very much absorbed in stage and TV-drama. One day former great actress, TSUKIKAGE Chigusa, realized her hidden talent and asked her to become actress. Maya left her home and was tutored by Tsukikage. Maya's début was very impressive and overwhelmed spectators, and impresario HAYAMI Masumi, young and cold-minded president of Taito Entertainment, became her fan and began to send her a purple rose bouquette. Tsukikage's 'legendary stage-play' The Crimson Goddess was the aim of everyone, Hayami, Maya, and her talented rival HIMEKAWA Ayumi. Maya and Ayumi was double-casted as Hellen Keller in Taito Entertainment's plan 'The Miracle Man'(and Ayumi's mother was HIMEKAWA Utako, a famous actress and Chigusa's former pupil). Maya enchanted more spectators by her spontaneity to win Japanese Academy Reward for supporting actress at last. At the rewarding party, Tsukikage declaired openly one of the two young actresses would succeed The Crimson Goddess of hers, and the race between them was began from then on...
Not frequent manga seriously depicting stage with absorbing power of reader. After the middle of 1997, serializing new story was stopped and publishing Tankoubon was very slow-paced. {Image ; Youngrok LEE}
5. The rose of Versailles
* Original title ; Berusaiyu no Bara
* Cartoon & Story ; IKEDA Riyoko
* Publisher; Shueisha
* Magazined; Margaret, Spring 1972~Aug.1973
* Total 10 volumes
* Korean version ; Daiwon Publishing Co.
At the end of 18th century, stories on young peoples living in France right before the French Revolution. Because there was not a son in Jarjais family, Count Jarjais had her youngest daughter Oscar costumed as a man and serve as the guard of royal families. Austrian Queen, Maria Theresia, had her youngest daughter Marie Antoinette marry Louis XVI in political considerations, but she fell in forbidden love with Hans Axel von Fersen, a Swedish Count...
Charm of this manga is in well balanced mixing of historical real factors such as French revolution, love in normal shoujo mangas, and various image of human characters such as queen, her guard Oscar, Oscar's lover André, revolutionist, and mean woman who dreams to become aristocrat. The Golden Era of vanity, Rococo era is backgrounded, and royal family and aristocrats such as Madame Ponpadoure and Antoinette, parties, royal luxurious tastes, and Oscar - powered by same status to men - are enough to satisfy girls. {W}
6. The firebird(Pheonix)
* Original title; Hi no Tori
* Cartoon & Story ; TEZUKA Osamu
* Publisher ; Asahi Sonorama, Kodansha(republished; 1977~80, left image; Jul. 1978~Sep.1995)
* Magazined ; Manga Shounen(1954), Shoujo Club(1956~57), COM(1967~71),
Manga Shounen(1976~81), Wild Age(1986~1988)
* Total 16 volumes(remain unfinished)
* Korean version; Haksan Munhwa-Sa
Tezuka's most profound and ambitious work, dealing with man's quest for immortality, ranging from the distant past to the far future. It remains unfinished. According to the master himself, this was his lifework. He began drawing it in the fifties and it wasn't finished yet in 1989. It appeared very irregularly and for many years Tezuka stopped drawing Phoenix. {P}
In Korea, animation version seemed to be aired on TV many years ago ^^. Recently, Haksan Munhwa-Sa began to publish Tezuka series based on Kodansha's version.
7. Poe's family
* Original title; Po no Ichizoku
* Cartoon & Story ; HAGIO Moto
* Publisher ; Shogakukan
* Magazined ; Flower Comics, 1972
* Total 5 volumes
- Shogakukan Manga Award(1975)
In referring to the history of shoujo manga, this historical work has not been omitted. From the end of 19th century to the beginning of next, a boy's story who became vampire by another boy. His family(Pampanela) must live on blood and the rose essence to obtain everlasting life. The love story of this family... {P, S}
Nearly 30 years after, this work is always chosen as a masterwork of shoujo manga by its originality.
8. Devilman
* Original title ; Debiruman
* Cartoon & Story ; NAGAI Gou
* Publisher ; Kodansha
* Magazined ; Shounen Magazine, 1972
* Total 5 volumes
After many years, demons (Nagai calls them daemons) are awakening. Fudo Akira is convinced by his best friend to participate in an occult ritual which would allow the merging of a daemon with himself, giving him the powers of a daemon but the mind of a human being. Various battles ensue as daemons try to destroy mankind... {P}
The author, famous for Mazinger Z to Koreans, Nagai's represenative work.
9. Emperor of the sunrise land
* Original title ; Hi izuru tokoro no tenshi
* Cartoon & Story ; YAMAGISHI Ryohko
* Publisher; Hakusensha
* Magazined; LaLa, 1980~84
* Total 11 volumes
- Ranked as 2nd in total shoujo manga in 1991 by vote
Highly praised and classical shoujo manga. Yamagishi succeeded greatly in descripting Japanese old history to add shounen-ai(love of boys, homesexual alluding) and supernatural elements, and this manga is said to 'became classical already even before ink of the last page was dry' {P, T}
10. Asakiyumemishi
* Cartoon ; YAMATO Waki
* Story ; MURASAKI Shikubu(978~1016)
* Published ; Kodansha
* Magazined ; Mimi, 1979~93
* Total 13 volumes
Manga based on Japanese famous and highly praised novel by female writer MURASAKI Shikubu, 'Genji Monogatari(Genji's tales)'
ps. Genji Monogatari ; Novel in Japanese Heian era(794~1192). Prince HIKARU Genji, who was beautiful and talented, and his families were depicted in this novel as 54 chapters. Divided by 3 parts, the first is comprised of 33 chapters from Kirizubou to Fujinouraha, the second 8 ones from Wakanaué to Maroboshi, and the third 13 ones from Niounomiya to Yumenoukibashi, some parts of which is often said not to be written by Murasaki. Through three generations of aristocrat's society, she described love and agony, ideality and reality, keen eye to real life, and spirits of Zen to seek real life. She utilized most of novel's freedom in form so as to reveal gracious life of noblemen and their emotions. This work is called the utmost peak not only in Heian era but also in all Japanese novels. [from Donga Encyclopedia]
11. Tomorrow's Joe
* Original title ; Ashita no Joe
* Cartoons ; CHIBA Tetsuya
* Story ; TAKAMORI Asao
* Publisher ; Kodansha
* Magazined ; Shounen Magazine, 1968~?
* Total 20 volumes
* Korean version; Seoul Munhwa-Sa.
YABUKI Joe is a young man, living in slum. One day, ex-boxing coach Tanpei saw his instinctly brilliant speed and power to beat many gangs, beginning to try to train Joe. Tedious case sent him to jail, where promising boxer RIKIISHI Toru knocked him out by a fist blow, in Joe's trying to flee. Joe knew what was boxing by virtue of Rikiishi and Tanpei, only aiming Rikiishi, beginned a boxer's life step by step...
Slum's dark atmosphere, and Joe's desperate behavior to escape from there is even frightening readers. This work is deserved to read once up to now and classical manga in the 60s. In Korea, perhaps there are no 30s that don't know the comics title Hurricane Joe. Aired on TV, and license version as this title.
12. Toma's heart
* Original title ; Toma no Shinzou
* Cartoons & Story ; HAGIO Moto
* Publisher ; Shogakukan
* Magazined ; Flower Comics, May~Nov. 1974
* Total 3 volumes
Dorm of Gymnasium in Germany, the end of 19th century. A boy named Toma passed away, who was loving Yuri Smore. After a while, Eric entered the class, who resembles Toma very much. Do Eric have any relationship with mysteries around Toma's death?
This manga is considered as a beginning of almost all the shounen-ai mangas, and one of the three masterworks by Hagio in 1970s. {P, S}
13. Mr. Veterinarian
* Original title ; Dobutsu no o-Isha san
* Cartoon & Story ; SASAKI Noriko
* Publisher; Hakusensha
* Magazined; Hana to Yume[Flower and Dream], Jan.1988~1994
* Total 12 volumes
* Korean version; Daiwon Publishing Co.
- Ranked as best 10, by voting of Comic Box in 1990
Depicting the students' lives of Department of Veterinary Science in Hotkaido University, very popular (shoujo) manga. Instead of more or less unindividual hero, brilliant supporting roles and pets & animals to pet hospital become spices of this representative manga in shoujo genre. Thorough reportings of Dept. of Vet. Science are based and this manga included the life in Hotkaido, Sasaki's native land, where it snows very much.
14. Slam Dunk
* Cartoon & Story ; INOUË Takehiko
* Publisher ; Shueisha
* Magazined; Shounen Jump, 1990~98
* Total 31 volumes
* Korean version; Daiwon Publishing Co.
The biggest hit work in sports manga of 1990s. SAKURAGI Hanamichi begins basketball in order to become friends with AKAGI Haruko, and his natural talents and heavy training by his colleagues and experienced coach [and his red hair, and his unusual behaviors!! ^^ ] lead him to a very promising player. It's said that Sakuraki's model is Denis Rodman, an NBA's eminent player and expert of rebound.
Even in Korea, this works is said to open new era of comics, too. So important and mega-hit work.
15. Candy Candy
* Cartoon ; IGARASHI Yumiko
* Story ; MIZUKI Kyoko
* Publisher ; Kodansha
* Magazined ; Nakayoshi, 1975~79
* Total 9 volumes
If a Korean were to be a student in 1970s, she(or he) should know Candy Candy and its TV logo song. Candy is representative work of similar status IKEDA Riyoko's The Rose of Versailles and Orpheus' Window. Grown up in an orphanage house 'Pony's house', adopted as a daughter of 'William grandfather' and taught in school, attending World War I as a nurse, etc. - her life from orphan to mature woman is connected as a drama(this story-develepment style had once been copied by a Korean TV drama).
Candy's biggest enchantment is Candy's brave confronting to ijimé(annoying someone by group, very cruel in some cases and Japanese social problem. Another case in manga is that Choko does it to Miyuki in Happy! by URASAWA Naoki) and optimistic minds. And the surrounding good-looking men - frail Anthony, Terius, mysterious 'William grandfather' Albert later marrying Candy - are fittest to traditional men's images in shoujo mangas. Anyway, really they are stimulating girls'
16. Master Keaton
* Cartoon ; URASAWA Naoki
* Story ; KATSUSHIKA Hokusei
* Publisher ; Shogakukan
* Magazined ; Big Comic Original, 1988~94
* Total 18 volumes
* Korean version; Daiwon Publishing Co.
Ex-SAS(Special Air Services, England) member and archeologist, Daiichi Hiraga Keaton lives on insurance investigator, which gives him various cases to solve. This manga does not figure him as only detective, but also his humanistic views to nature, family, and cultural factors. Scriptor Katsushika's ability is very outstanding to read this manga, but Urasawa's pictures are at very high level, too. Master Keaton is extended work of his former one Pineapple army, but various viewpoints to characters and human minds are excellent even in all the mangas I have ever read.
Urasawa has already succeeded in lighter themes(The dancing policeman and Yawara!), but Master Keaton was a turning point to him and greatly succeeded in the style. In Korea, this manga is very highly recommended by many manga readers. If you like manga and can read Japanese, I think Keaton is one of the musts.
17. Akira
* Cartoon & Story ; OHTOMO Katsuhiro
* Publisher ; Kodansha
* Magazined ; Young Magazine, 1982~90
* Total 6 volumes(Wide-ban)
In 2023, future Tokyo is controlled by government's computer and brilliant with luxury, but delinquent bike gangs run at every night. While Tetsuo runs at highway, he found a child, strangely old-look. The child was a mormot of government, which calls 'Akira project'. Suddenly government's military helicoptor arrived and Tetsuo had himself captured in uncomprehesible treatment...
Plenty in violences, and chaos around supernatural power and future energy is overwhelming readers, specially at the scene of the fusion of Tetsuo and Akira and their growing. Akira means the energy when human evolution is in its supreme state. {W}
18. Nausicaä of the Wind Valley
* Original title ; Kaze no Tani no Naushika
* Cartoon & Story ; MIYAZAKI Hayao
* Publisher ; Tokuma Shoten
* Magazined ; Animage, Feb. 1982 ~ Mar. 1994
* Total 7 volumes
* Korean version ; Haksan Munhwa-Sa
* English version ; Viz Communication(all volumes)
All the civilizations was destroyed by the war '7 days of fire'. There were the great flooding of the sea of corruption after the war, and the flooding deceased almost all the technologies to the level of 19th century. The ecological system was greatly changed, which caused population decrease. Some kingdoms struggles each other. Nausicaä is a princess of a small nation named 'Wind Valley', and can communicate with all creatures. She even loves huge insects 'Ohmu' hated by others. She confronts with other nations and kings who only utilize creatures by the tools for war in order to save all the mankind. Her only two weapons are - her own ability and blue dress dyed by Ohmu's blood.
This work is very famous for animation, but its some settings are different from manga version. In special, the ending is almost the opposite style. Very high fame and highly recommended animation, and manga.
Daiwon CI, Korean copyrighter of the works by Studio Ghibli, selected this work for the first Korean screen release in the Ghibli's works. Nausicaä is the third Japanimation screened in Korea, started on 30th Dec. 2000. { Image ; Nausicaa.net }
19. Odd one's out[Children away from home]
* Original title ; Hamidashikko
* Cartoon & Story ; MIHARA Jun
* Publisher ; Hakusensha
* Magazined ; Hana to Yume, 1975 ~ 81
* Total 13 volumes(bunko 6 volumes)
(Under petition of synopsis quotation ; but I received no reply. So, I had to quote PRISM)
Mihara's best known work, about orphaned and abandoned children. Seen from the perspective of today, the drawing style may seem cutesy and hopelessly out of date, but the stories are grim and thoughtprovoking. Very good, and very sad. {P}
20. Galaxy Express 999
* Original title ; Ginga Tetsudo 999
* Cartoon & Story ; MATSUMOTO Reiji
* Publisher ; Shogakukan, 1977~
* Present 20 volumes
* Korean version; Daiwon Publishing Co.(on serializing)
* English version ; Viz Communication
A sterile land in the future. Poor mother and son are walking, surrounded by nothing. Suddenly cyborgs appears, killing boy's mother without any hesitation. They carry her while saying "Nowadays, who has a natural body untouched? Good for decoration of wall". The boy, TETSURO Hoshino, is tortured by mother's sudden death. Maetel, a beautiful and mysterious woman, appears and tells Tetsuro that he will be able to get immortal life as cyborg if he travels with her to Andromeda nebula by Galaxy Express 999. Tetsuro gets on the train and begins to travel so as to obtain immortal life, with not knowing what fortune will wait for him...
Galaxy Express 999 is a masterwork to achieve the balance between imagination and message. Wherever they travel, there are strange planets to make their stories, which interestingly tell Tetsuro's growing and give more friendship to Maetel. {W}
The original series has been republished and Matsumoto restarted drawing a sequel to the Galaxy Express series which began serializing in Big Gold from september 1996 onwards. In this series, Tetsuro and Maetel go on a journey again, but this time there is no return to earth as she is destroyed after a short while. {P}
21. Please save my earth
* Original title ; Boku no Chikyuu o Mamotte
* Cartoon & Story ; HIWATARI Saki
* Publisher; Hakusensha
* Magazined; Hana to Yume[Flower and Dream], 1987~94
* Total 21 volumes
* Korean version; Daiwon Publishing Co.
Seven alien scientists are sent to moon to observe earth. But their homestar is destroyed by war. When disputing over whether they have to go to earth, mysterious infectious disease starts to kill them. Shion avoided it in spite of himself and had to live 9 years more than his 6 colleagues. All of them are reincarnated as Japanese, and Shion(KOBAYASHI Lin) is 9 years younger than others because of it. As they grows, their anterior lives as alien begin to appear in their dreams. Lin plans something by using machines of moon, and attacks others to achieve the aim by his supernatural power...
Japan, moon, and their native planet are textured by background of the story. The story, imagination, love in traditional shoujo manga, and good-looking characters enchant girls. Animation version is said to be good. Korean version's title was My love Alice(heroine, Mokulen at anterior life and incarnated as SAKAGUCHI Arisu), but corrected to the original one at the second edition's release in 2001.
22. Aim for the ace!
* Original title ; Esu o Nerae!
* Cartoon & Story ; YAMAMOTO Sumika
* Publisher; Shueisha
* Magazined; Margaret, 1972~80
* Total 18 volumes
At first, Oka Hiromi joined the Nishikou Tennis club because she wanted to be like her idols Ryuuzaki Reika and Toudou Takayuki. But she turns out to be a horrible player. However, the Coach Munakata sees that there is some potential in this girl anyway and starts training her, which soon creates a lot of envious people. Hiromi has to endure a lot of things but in the end she can show them all that she is good anyway...
This is only the very basic story - there are many characters and twists that make this manga very readable. A classic sports-manga for reason, with a wonderful focus on characters and relations rather than sports and beautiful with artwork. The manga caused tennis to become highly popular in Japan. {Image ; from a Japanese personal homepage, text ; P}
23. Patariro!
* Original title ; Patariro!
* Cartoon & Story ; MAYA Mineo
* Publisher; Hakusensha
* Magazined; Hana to Yume[Flower and Dream], 1979~
* Present 70 volumes
* Korean version; Daiwon Publishing Co.(only up to 9th volume)
Patariro is a prince of Marinella, virtual kingdom. It is famous for its much amount of diamond production. Patariro is always threatened by international diamond connection because he made independent sales network, neglecting the connection. Jack Bankram, major in English M16, saves Patariro whenever he meets assassins of the connection. Patariro is eccentric, noisy, and so puerile. Bankram is called 'bishounen-killer', and all the bishounen who saw him falls in love with him.... -.-
The great success of this manga is due to its dexterous parody of all tides in various manga genres, such as shounen-ai, old Japanese background, 007 series, detective novel(Malaihi is perhaps adapted from a character in Secret of 813, in 'Arsène Lupin' series by Maurice LeBlanc), and even Glass mask published by same publisher. I think Patariro is for only momentary fun, but that not for owning.
24. Maison Ikkoku
* Original title ; Mezon Ikkoku
* Cartoon & Story ; TAKAHASHI Rumiko
* Publisher; Shogakukan
* Magazined; Big Comic Spirits, Oct. 1980~Apr. 1987
* Total 15 volumes
* Korean version; Seoul Munhwa-Sa
* English version ; Viz Communication
'Maison Ikkoku' is very old apartment, of which inhabitants are very weird. GODAI Yusaku, preparing for university entrance exam, is always called 'loafer'. Akemi is alcoholic woman and tends to get almost naked ^^. Yotsuya likes to bore the wall between his and Godai's room 'only to communicate with Godai'. While Godai yells "I can't stay here any more because of you inhabitants!" after he gets very bad point at a exam, a young beauty enters the door and says she is the new manager of the house. Right after, Godai says "When did I say I would go out?" ^^ But there is a dark shadow of late husband at the back of the new manager Kyoko, moreover good-looking and rich tennis coach Mitaka intervenes them...
Ikkoku's people, Godai and Kyoko's neighbors are developing 'systems of love equations of high order' ^^ , in which love between Godai and Kyoko is centered. At first the atmosphere is more or less 'too' comic and drawing is not so realistic, but changed to romance and more realistic soon. Takahashi's skill that she twists reader's expectation a bit have readers make laughter. It is said that there is many factors from the author's personal experience in the background of this manga. In my opinion, this work is far better than Ranma 1/2. I think one who likes Meg Ryan's movies will enjoy this manga. Korean version was titled as Doremi House(How strange!).
25. Angels of laughter[Michael]
* Original title ; Warau Mikaeru
* Cartoon & Story ; KAWAHARA Izumi
* Publisher; Hakusensha
* Magazined; Hana to Yume[Flower and Dream], Feb. 1987~?
* Total 3 volumes
Fumio, Kazuo, and Yuzuko are students of famous girl's school 'St. Michael'. They cooperate to make their too serious school happy and gay. High-sense highteen comedy! {H, T}
26. Poem of wind and tree
* Original title ; Kaze to Ki no Uta
* Cartoon & Story ; TAKEMIYA Keiko
* Publisher; Shogakukan
* Magazined; Flower Comics, Jan.1976~84
* Total 17 volumes
"People blame Takemiya for starting a genre of homosexuality. But I think Kaze to Ki no Uta is different from any other bishounen(beautiful boy) manga. The author of Patariro is certainly influenced by Takemiya's work. When I finished reading Kaze to Ki no Uta, I couldn't stop crying...it's really good." {P}
The shounen-ai classic that was the first commercial shoujo manga to show two boys in bed...and they weren't sleeping. Heart-rending and beautiful.{T}
A long topical drama audaciously portraying love and sex as seen through the lives of two handsome youths at the French La Comprado Academy in the latter half of the 19th Century.
27. JoJo's bizarre adventure
* Original title ; JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken
* Cartoon & Story ; ARAKI Hirohiko
* Publisher; Shueisha
* Magazined; Shounen Jump, 1987~99
* Total 63 volumes
Violent, strange saga spanning four continents and four generations. Araki's ideas are stretched increasingly thin, but there is still plenty of action and new concepts to sustain the interest of demanding Shounen Jump readers. Each part of Jojo can be read more or less independently, and has its own atmosphere and storytelling/art style.
The first volume is set in England, 1880, with Jonathan Joestar ('Jojo'), an aristocrat's son, and his stepbrother rival, Dio Brando, who plans to usurp Jojo's inheritance. Dio puts on an Aztec mask and turns into a vampire. To defeat Dio, Jojo learns 'hamon' [ripple], a kind of yoga, and the stage is set for their final showdown.
28. Attention, students!
* Original title ; Seito Shokun!
* Cartoon & Story ; SHOUJI Youko
* Publisher; Kodansha
* Magazined; Shoujo Friend, 1977~83
* Total 24 volumes
At a junior high school, KITASHIRO Naoko(nicknamed Nakki) transferred. She is very active at everything, and shines like a precious stone in the class. Four classmates and one senior were binded and 'Naughty club' was made. Their relations are between love and friendship. Nakki's dark side - twin sister's death, first love, and other sadness to love help her be mature, and so her club members. After several years, she went to college of education and was sent to a school as an apprentice teacher. She greets her students "Attention, students!", as she transferred to the junior high school before several years..
Typical highteen manga. If you'd like to remind your past student days, you can enjoy it.
29. OZ
* Cartoon & Story ; ITSUKI Natsumi
* Publisher; Hakusensha
* Magazined; Jets, 1990~92
* Total 4 volumes(Bunkoban)
* Korean version; Daiwon Publishing Co.
On 15th October 1999, suddenly a nuclear depot was attacked, and the World War III broke out. It was realized as mistake and mutual attack was ended after only 40 minutes, but 1000 megatonnes of nuclear explosion already destroyed main industrial zone in the world thoroughly. Moreover, nuclear winter(the fire makes huge amount of dirst, which bars and reflects sunlight, so it considerably decreases sunlight to reach earth surface), made almost all of the plants dead and 60% of survivals starve or be frozen to death. America was mainly divided to 6 nations.
22 years after(2021), genius at bionics(but only 16-year-old), Filicia Epstein comes to Sabana to find her uncle. Skilled and experienced mercenary sergent Motou bodyguarded her, but her uncle died of heart failure and left a message to Filicia he wanted her to meet her elder brother Lyon. In the way, they found a strange cybernoid named 1019, which they followed to go to OZ the ideal city where Lyon is. But something strange was occurred, so they began to suspect what was OZ...
This work succeeded by combination of Messages of cyborg's hope to be human being in spite of only programmed like man and of technologies abused by distorted man, and of traditional love in shoujo manga. The title, of course, is a parody of 'The wizard of Oz'. It's worth to be read once.
30. Touch
* Cartoon & Story ; ADACHI Mitsuru
* Publisher; Shogakukan
* Magazined; Shounen Sunday, 1981~87
* Total 26 volumes
* Korean version ; Daiwon Publishing Co.
UESUGI Tatsuya and Kazuya are twins, and they have been friends with a next-door girl named ASAKURA Minami, of an age to them. Younger Kazuya, skilled at sports(specially baseball) and study, is very popular at school, but Tatsuya not at all because he does not endeavor. So it is said that 'Kazuya has all the good points of the twins'. Suddenly Kazuya passed away by a trafic accident, which changed Tatsuya and Minami's life very much. Tatsuya began to train himself so as to be in charge of his late brother's position(ace pitcher) in the baseball team...
ADACHI Mitsuru's representative work from now on, but picture is not good(recent H2 is not so better, either. Anyway, it's far from first class) in my opinion and main characters' looks are so similar' ^^ So, I'd not like to recommend.
31. Astroboy[Atom, the iron arm]
* Original title ; Tetsuwan Atomu
* Cartoon & Story ; TEZUKA Osamu
* Publisher ; Koubunsha, Kodansha(republished; Oct.1979~Jul.1981)
* Magazined ; Shounen, Apr. 1951 ~ Mar. 1968
* Total 18 volumes
* Korean Version ; Haksan Munhwa-Sa(on publishing)
Originally about a 100,000hp robot in shape of a boy. Made into a phenomenally successful TV series in the early '60s, and remade into another TV series in 1982. It even ran in newspapers for a while. Atom is the prototype of all modern robot characters. {P}
This is one of the biggest hit work in 'The God of manga' TEZUKA Osamu's. This work influenced on all Japan vastly, and it is even said that this work awakened 'The Comics empire' Japan. There are almost none that don't know Atom in the people between in his(or her!) late 20s and middle 30s in Korea.
32. Iron, muscle, and concrete
* Original title ; Tekkon Kinkurito
* Cartoon & Story ; MATSUMOTO Taiyo
* Publisher ; Shogakukan
* Magazined ; Big Comic Spirits, 1993~94
* Total 3 volumes
Kuro believes in pure strength, Shiro in pure spirit. The brilliant action of the two naughty boys begins as they headed for the licentious area of Takaramachi. {S} The street is full of the meaningless things, and more or less strangely distorted. The two boys, also, do almost meaningless violent behaviors only if they would want to....
ps. In original title, Tekkin Konkurito is expressed as Tekkon Kinkurito. Of course this is author's meaningless trick, but the title was Iron, muscle, and concrete in Shogakukan's homepage. In meanings, it's right to be 'Ferro-concrete', I guess. Which one is right?
33. Dragon Ball
* Cartoon & Story ; TORIYAMA Akira
* Publisher ; Shueisha
* Magazined ; Shounen Jump, 1985~95
* Total 42 volumes
* Korean Version ; Seoul Munhwa-Sa.
The hero of this manga is Son Gokuu. Begins somewhat 'cutely' like the previous work Dr.Slump, but goes more violent as the volumes progress. Son Gokuu knows himself is not humane but alien from Cyer planet in fighting, sent to the earth in order that Cyereans could conquer the earth. However, Son Gokuu fight for the earth because he deeply loves the earth...
Dragon Ball is a representative blockburster of late 1980s and early 1990s. Circulation in Japan was more than 100 million volumes.
34. Parasitic Beast[Parasyte]
* Original title ; Kiseiju
* Cartoon & Story ; IWAAKI Hitoshi
* Publisher ; Kodansha
* Magazined ; Afternoon, 1990~95
* Total 10 volumes
* Korean Version ; Haksan Munhwa-Sa
- Kodansha manga award(1993)
Suddenly mysterious 'parasytes' appeared. They finds men to enter his brain and made body supply nutrition to them. As the title image, parasytes can change their head to any shapes, which they use by knife and attack other victims. A parasyte tries to attack 17-year-old Shinichi through right arm, but it cannot but stay there because Shinichi hinders it from entering his head by pressing his arm tightly. It learns Japanese soon and cooperates Shinichi to survive from attack of other parasytes that hate parasytes not occupying brain. Shinichi calls it 'Righty', and they fight against other parasytes to save other men's life...
Combination of excellent imagination and thoughts on what's the human beings though its drawing is not so good. Recommended.
35. They were 11!
* Original title ; Juuichinin Iru!
* Cartoon & Story ; HAGIO Moto
* Publisher ; Shogakukan
* Magazined ; Bessatsu Shoujo, 1975(?)
* Total 1 volume
* English version ; Viz Communication
- Shogakukan Manga Award(1976)
Suspense filled science fiction(sci-fi) about a group of young trainees in space mixed with a little romance involving a character who has yet to belong to either gender.
Eleven candidates appear at the Space Academy to take their final examinations for a spaceship with a crew of ten. Antagonism and friendship mixes with suspicion and idle fears... a typical Moto Hagio SciFi scenario! {P, S}
36. Palm
* Cartoon & Story ; SHIN Tamaki
* Publisher ; Shinshokan
* Magazined ; Wings, 1983~
* Present 26 volumes
* Korean version; Daiwon Publishing Co.
Story of very strangely backgrounded people. Hero Carter Ohgus runs a private inquiry office though he was taught as a doctor. His able assistant James Bryan(Jake) was brooded up by bosses of gangs and spent several years in prison. Jake's friend(?!) Andrew Glasgow(a far kindman of Carter) has never went to school and lived at the African plains up to then, and the last member Angela Bernstein is a college student and sanest(^^) in them. Including normal detective story, homosexual love, telepathy, etc. Episodes are not chronically sequenced. More or less bizzare atmosphere. { Image ; HiTEL P.A.L.M. forum }
37. Those obnoxious aliens
* Original title ; Urusei Yatsura
* Cartoon & Story ; TAKAHASHI Rumiko
* Publisher ; Shogakukan
* Magazined ; Shounen Sunday, Oct.1978~Feb.1987
* Total 34 volumes
* Korean version; Seoul Munhwa-Sa.(on serializing)
* English version ; Viz Communication
Ataru Moroboshi, the unluckiest boy in the world, is randomly selected as Earth's champion to defeat an alien in a contest with the world at stake. A complete lecher, he agrees when he finds the contest is tag and the quarry is the beautiful alien princess Lum. After many humiliating misses (no one told him Lum could fly), his long-suffering, unnaturally-strong "girlfriend" Shinobu promises to marry him if he wins. He does, and declares that he will be married, which the aliens take as a proposal. So he ends up engaged to a jealous alien every boy desires, while chasing every other girl in town, not to mention the galaxy.
The series appeared in a boy's magazine but has had its biggest fanbase with high school and college students. Overall, it appeals to a somewhat older public than Ranma does. The major bonus points of the series are its large cast of whacky characters, the flavor of romance, science fiction and humour. For the reader who hasn't got a good knowledge of Japanese legends, tales... the many cultural references in Urusei Yatsura may make lecture of it harder.
The title is a pun. "Urusei" means "noisy/obnoxious" and "yatsura" is slang for "people". But Takahashi wrote "sei" as "star", so that "Urusei" could be read as "planet Uru". Thus, the title means both "Noisy people" and "Uru-planet people". {P}
This is Takahashi's the first big-hit work, and later works also greatly succeeded from Maison Ikkoku and Ranma 1/2 to the latest Inuyasha. She is one of the richest woman in Japan, and a member of the '100 million-seller' mangaka club.
38. Sazaesan
* Cartoon & Story; HASEKAWA Machiko
* Magazined ; Fukunichi Newspaper in Kyushu(1946~49),
Asahi Newspaper(1949~74)
* Total 45 volumes
A family manga depicting normal housekeeper Saza?s life, mainly serialized as 4-cut on Asahi newspaper(one of the most famous paper in Japan). Almost national manga by only its eminence - perhaps in best 3. HASEKAWA Machiko became the first famous female mangaka by this one, and said to be milestone of manga with TEZUKA Osamu after WWII. She was awarded as National Medal of Honor after death, most honorable award in Japan.
However, the present widespeard popularity of this manga is mainly from TV anime. Aired for more than 20 years, it is proud of the audience rating of more than 20% and already became a feature on Sunday evening. A Japanese younger than 30s perhaps only knows this manga by anime. Because serialized on newspaper, there are many episodes reflecting the daily topics of the appearance day. Therefore, only manga is somewhat difficult to understand now, but never neglectable as this manga set up the classical style of the home-manga genre that everyone(from children to old peoples) can enjoy.
39. Here is the police box in front of Kameari Park, Katsushika-Ku
* Original title ; Kochira Katsushika-Ku Kameari kouen mae hashutsuzo
* Cartoon & Story ; AKIMOTO Osamu
* Publisher ; Shueisha
* Magazined ; Shounen Jump, 1976~
* Present 127 volumes
* Korean version ; Seoul Munhwa-Sa.(on serializing, started at 51st volume)
Policeman Ryotsu is the hero of this manga. His main interest is not 'to protect citizens from crimes' but 'how to earn more money'. This trouble-maker cob met a witch luckily by accident, and he decoyed her to earn money, even doing time-traveling with her... ^^
Typical slap-stick comedy. Korean version is released this year. Its first volume is Japanese 51st one, for perhaps Japanese first volume is too old.
40. Fist of the Northstar
* Original title ; Hokuto no Ken
* Cartoon ; HARA Tetsuo
* Story ; Buronson(penname of FUMIMURA Shou)
* Publisher ; Shueisha
* Magazined ; Shounen Jump, 1984~89
* Total 27 volumes
* Korean Version ; Haksan Munhwa-Sa(on serializing)
The World War III destroyed all the world, after which the world became the one that violence governs. Kenshiro, master of Hokuto shinken, wanders to protect the weak and gets rid of the gangs. He has 7 scars of which shape is same to 7 stars in Great Bear constellation on his breast by his friend...
Classic of action manga genre and the action is worth to be seen from now on, but there is so many 'absurd' factors as "You'll be dead after a minute..." ^^
41. Announcement to Adolf
* Original title ; Adorufu ni tsugu
* Cartoon & Story ; TEZUKA Osamu
* Publisher ; Bungeishunju, Kodansha(republished; Jun.~Oct. 1996)
* Magazined ; Shuukan Bunshun, 6th Jan. 1983 ~ 30th May 1985
* Total 5 volumes
* English version ; Viz Communication(all 5 volumes)
- Kodansha Manga Award(1986)
As children in Tokyo in the 1930s, the Jewish Adolf Kamil and the German-Japanese Adolf Kaufmann became friends. But as Kaufman became a fan of Nazi(and Adolf Hitler, the third Adolf in this manga) after being sent to Germany by his late father, all the Jews became his enemies. Moreover, his Japanese mother Yukië returned to Japan after marrying Japanese reporter TOGE Sohei and Elisa Gutheimer, his former lover and saved from ghetto by himself, married Adolf Kamil in Japan. These had Kaufmann almost nemesis to Toge and Kamil. The secret document on Hitler's birth was sent to Japan in Wagner's statue, so Kaufmann, Toge, and other characters began to trace it. Kaufmann and Japanese secret polices was trying to arrest Toge... The three Adolfs and Toge were bonded to a string, called the 'destiny' of the most terrible insanenesses in 20th century.
42. Golgo 13
* Original title ; Gorugo Saatin
* Cartoon ; SAITO Takao
* Story ; different writer by volumes
* Publisher ; Leed, 1968~
* Magazined ; Big Comic, 1968~
* Present 121 volumes
* Korean version ; Ahsoen Media(on releasing)
This classic work is about a mysterious assassin with the codename Golgo 13 (derived from Golgotha, the hill on which Jesus Christ was crucified). Golgo uses a sniper rifle to take out people of various non-Japanese races (and often of international political importance). Each volume has complete stories so you don't miss anything by not reading from #1--you only get bits and pieces of Golgo's identity in each volume anyway. 'The Professional' was the name used in the translated anime version. {P}
This work is the longest magazined one in the 'Drama manga genre'.
43. From Eroica with Love
* Original title ; Eroika yori ai o komete
* Cartoon & Story ; AOIKE Yasuko
* Publisher ; Akita Shoten
* Magazined ; Princess, 1976~88, 95~
* Present 26 volumes
* Korean version ; Creative Media(on releasing)
In case you've just wandered in here and aren't sure what it's all about, From Eroica with Love by Yasuko Aoike, which has gained a following in the English-speaking world. It has a mostly European setting and concerns the adventures of a British earl, Dorian Red Gloria, who moonlights as an international art thief using the alias "Eroica", and his opposite number, a German NATO intelligence agent named Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach. Dorian is flamboyant, swashbuckling, hedonistic, and cheerfully indifferent to most of society's conventions; he's also openly homosexual. Klaus is uptight, conservative, duty-driven, bad-tempered, and so repressed that he probably doesn't know himself what his sexual orientation is, but he does give some indications that he's not entirely immune to Dorian's attractions.
44. There comes the modern girl
* Original title ; Haikara-san ga tooru
* Cartoon & Story ; YAMATO Waki
* Publisher ; Kodansha
* Magazined ; Shoujo Friend, 1975~77
* Total 7 volumes
The tomboy Benio is force-married to the lieutenant Shinobu who is from a wealthy family. At first Benio doesn't get along with the distinguished way of life of this family at all. Later Shinobu is send to fight in Russia and Benio makes her own way... as an emancipated woman in Tokyo of the 1920s! One of Shoujo Friend's first long sellers. A hilarious comedy that'll make you laugh out loud more than just a few times. Many fascinating characters, situations and a very good artstyle. A part of the last volume is actually a "Bangaihen" with more stories of Haikara-san that tell of what happened to some of the characters from the story.
45. Captain
* Cartoon & Story ; CHIBA Akio
* Publisher ; Shueisha
* Magazined ; Bessatsu Shounen Jump, Feb. 1972 ~ Feb. 1979
* Total 28 volumes
One day, TANIGUCHI Takao entered the baseball team of Sumiyai junior high school in Tokyo after transferring from Aoba school, which was famous for its skilled baseball team. Taniguchi was not more than bench-warmer at Aoba, but it was rumored that he must be good player because he had been the member of the Aoba. Taniguchi was busy persuading others that he was never a good player, but could not but start to train himself and became the captain next year...
46. Swan
* Original title ; SWAN [Hakuchou]
* Cartoon & Story ; ARIYOSHI Kyoko
* Publisher ; Akita Shoten[originally Shueisha]
* Magazined ; Margaret, Nov. 1976. ~ 1981
* Total 21 volumes
* Korean version ; Haksan Munhwa-Sa
Ballet is one of the important material in shoujo manga, which is easy to treat fantasy that any women dreamed in the young ages, and it has as distinguished appeal as any other materials. This is typical 'Growing-up' manga, which well describes competition and love of ballerinas, and the heroine obscure at first becoming mature and beautiful in spite of adversity. The ballet version of basketball[Slam Dunk], stage drama[Glass mask], tennis[Aim for the ace!], and boxing[Tomorrow's Joe] in 'growing-up' manga genre.
47. Papa told me
* Cartoon & Story ; HARUNO Nanaë
* Publisher ; Shueisha
* Magazined ; Young You, 1987~
* Present 26 volumes
* Korean version ; Seoul Munhwa-Sa
Story of a novelist and his daughter, Chisé-chan, student of an elementary school in Tokyo. Because Chisé's mama died when Chisé was very young, papa takes care of her. She loves papa so much that she carries papa's photo at magazine interview instead of those of idol stars, and thanks very much for papa's working at home because she can be with papa almost all the day...
Classified such category as Baby and me by RAGAWA Marimo, Genius professor Yanagisawa's life by YAMASHITA Kazumi, depicting normal life of a family. Cute art-style and more or less for female taste. I think this work will not be interesting to male manga fans who likes hard-boiled action.
48. Ping-Pong
* Cartoon & Story ; MATSUMOTO Taiyo
* Publisher ; Shogakukan
* Magazined ; Big Comic Spirits, 1996~98
* Total 5 volumes
* Korean version ; Seju Munhwa-Sa
Master of cut(TSUGIMOTO Makoto), master of swift attack(penholder gripper HOSHINO Yukata, nicknamed Peco), master of drive(KONG Wenga, from China), and present No.1 in all-Japan, KAZAMA Ryoichi... Peco lost his ablity because he had never trained, only depending on his genius. But he restarted training after seeing his best friend Tsugimoto's wonderful growth. At Inter highschool league, Peco was never spotlighted on the contrary to Tsugimoto. But he won and won.... who will be the winner? The high school students defy their ultimate capabilities at the fastest sports in the world, table tennis.
Matsumoto's drawing style is very impressive, and he shows very dynamic description of this fast sports. Though not so long, this manga is full of tension, and characteristic drawing style. Deserved to be read once.
49. Mari and Shingo
* Original title ; Mari to Shingo
* Cartoon & Story ; KIHARA Toshië
* Publisher ; Hakusensha
* Magazined ; Hana to Yume, 1979~84
* Total 13 volumes
Centered on bishounen Mari(mixed-blooded) and his friend Shingo. They entered celebrated middle school, Jido-ei, and classed a song club, of which members were not able to train themselves due to a beauty's preventing... Shingo went to travel out of dorm because of many worries, and lived with an on-the-road company, but he ended it to return(but the travelling helped his growth). Mari and Shingo went to Europe for study, but World War I made them escape to Swiss. After the period, Shingo returned to Japan and Mari stayed in Europe, where he heard the news of Kanto Great Earthquake[cf. This earthquake almost completely destroyed Tokyo and Yokohama, and made about 100,000 victims on 1923]...
Romance, dreams, tears, and friendship of boys in 'old golden era'.
50. River's Edge
* Original title ; Ribaasu Ejji
* Cartoon & Story ; OKAZAKI Kyouko
* Publisher ; Takarajimasha
* Magazined ; Cutie, Mar. 1993 ~ Apr. 1994
* Total 1 volume
The story is set at a high school near the river. WAKAKUSA Haruna has a boyfriend. She sleeps with him but she doesn't love him very much. KOYAMA Rumichin, one of Haruna's close friends, sleeps with a married man to get money. YAMADA Ichiro is gay. He is dating TAJIMA Kanna to hide the fact that he is gay, which Tajima does not know. Yamada's classmates including Haruna's boyfriend are always bullying him(ijimé). One day they lock him in a locker. Haruna saves him and they become friends.
YOSHIKAWA Kozuë has worked as a fashion model since she was very young. She always eats a lot and vomit it immediately after that. Yamada loves to see a corpse that he discovered in the bush. Seeing it gives him courage. The corpse is his treasure. One day he went to see the corpse and he met Yoshikawa there. They sometimes go to see the corpse together from that day forward.
Haruna's boyfriend gets Rumichin pregnant. They make a quarrel in the bush and he strangles her. When Haruna is in Yoshikawa's place, Yamada gives Yoshikawa a call. Yoshikawa tells Haruna what Yamada stated. "He discovered a new corpse. He tells us to come to see it. He's going to bury it in no time. Your friend, the girl with a long hair. Your boyfriend has killed her."
They can't see the new corpse in the bush. Rumichin was strangled and only got unconscious temporarily. Everyone but Haruna's boyfriend is disappointed. Around the same time, Tajima kills herself accidentally. She's been jealous of Haruna. Tajima has failed to set Haruna's house fire and burned herself. Later, Yamada tells Haruna he often sees Tajima's ghost. "I very much prefer the dead Tajima to the living one." {P} { Image by Y.Okumura }
Okazaki depicts a face of modern lives vividly, and this work is called her most famous one which directly dissected ijimé, sexual desire, jealousy, corpse-loving, and 'eating-vomiting syndrom' of Japanese high school students.
50. Lupin III
* Original title ; Rupan Sansei
* Cartoon & Story ; Monkey Punch
* Publisher ; Futabasha
* Magazined ; Manga Action, 1967~
* Total 14 volumes
* Korean version ; Creative Media(on releasing Lupin IIIY)
There is no men in their thirties not to know 'Bizarre thief Lupin' in Korea. Gentleman thief Arsène Lupin is a famous character by French author Maurice Leblanc(and Sherlock Holmes appears in the series more than twice by a tribute to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). Of course, the starting point of this manga is the novel, but similar factor is no more than that Lupin III is French, only its basic settings, and not caught in stealing. So, the atmosphere of this manga is very much different from the original.
Lupin III, whose face is more or less similar to that of a monkey, steals all he needs with his partners Jigen(master of guns) and Goemon(swordman). And Fujiko - he said she is 'his woman of fortune' - is important, also. Lupin III is master of treating women(^^) but can't touch Fujiko, who is near competitor more than his sweetheart or colleague. The background tone of this manga alludes sexual scenes by Lupin III and many women frequently. Lupin III said at a scene after seeing Fujiko's purse ; Fujiko must be kidnapped! She never minds sleeping with anyone, but never gives up her purse. ^^
Surely interesting to men who likes spy or detective manga, but drawing is out of mode. In Korea, licensed version of Lupin IIIY is released this year. I think it is recently made, by weaponries and used holograms, etc.
http://myhome.naver.com/fischer/50best/21-30E.htm