James Nicoll Reviews

Showa: A History of Japan is Shigeru Mizuki’s epic autobiographical historical manga covering the reign of Japanese Emperor Hirohito. First serialized from 1988 to 1989, Zack Davisson’s English translation was published in four volumes: Showa 1926 – 1939 (2013), Showa 1939 – 1944 (2014), Showa 1944 – 1953 (2014), and Showa 1953 – 1989 (2015).

1922: the Mura family’s least promising son, Shigeru, is born. He is given a front row seat to many lamentable events.

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Shigeru Mizuki’s 1973 Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths, is a stand-alone historical tragedy manga. Titled Sōin Gyokusai Seyo! in the original Japanese, the 2011 English translation¹ is by Jocelyne Allen.

Imperial Japan sent Private Murayama and others off to New Britain island in Papua New Guinea, there to join the Baien Battalion in tropical isolation.

New Britain proves something less than a paradise.

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