The Maker Speaks
Kochi Kame
The Record of Our Times?
The Record of Our Times?
Hello, everyone. Today I'm talkin'about a Japanese manga Kochi Kame written by Akimoto Osamu. Kochi Kame is an abbreviation of Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo. It's usually called Kochi Kame for short in Japan.
How much popular is it in Japan? you might wonder. Do you know Kochi Kame? why not ask Japanese adult men in the street? Probably, most of them say yes.
Kochi Kame has a long history because it started in 1976 and finished in 2016. 40 years! It means that Kochi Kame saw the Cold War end, Japanese technocrats introduce the consumption tax, and the Tohoku Earthquake happen. Kochi Kame had also seen the long history of Japan.
It's published the 200 volumes. But don't you be afraid. Basically it goes as a sequence of one off stories, which means any of the comics can work as your entrance. You can enjoy enough if you first take the volume 80, I believe.
Kochi Kame's main character is Ryotsu Kankichi, a Japanese policeman who looks like a mountain gorilla. He was born and has grown up in Tokyo. The police office Ryotsu belongs to is also standing in the Katsushika district, Tokyo.
What am I talking about? I mean that it has kept real scenes of Tokyo, Japan for 40 years. I think that it works as a chronicle of our culture. When you get interested in Japanese cultural history, reading Kochi Kame would bring you to the better place.
For instance, in a story of Kochi Kame volume 89, the rice riot happens. It really went on in 1993 Japan.
Kochi Kame finished in 2016. Reasonable is that. The author Akimoto Osamu is old enough. Thank you so much, Akimoto.
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Kochi Kame has a long history because it started in 1976 and finished in 2016. 40 years! It means that Kochi Kame saw the Cold War end, Japanese technocrats introduce the consumption tax, and the Tohoku Earthquake happen. Kochi Kame had also seen the long history of Japan.
It's published the 200 volumes. But don't you be afraid. Basically it goes as a sequence of one off stories, which means any of the comics can work as your entrance. You can enjoy enough if you first take the volume 80, I believe.
|
What am I talking about? I mean that it has kept real scenes of Tokyo, Japan for 40 years. I think that it works as a chronicle of our culture. When you get interested in Japanese cultural history, reading Kochi Kame would bring you to the better place.
For instance, in a story of Kochi Kame volume 89, the rice riot happens. It really went on in 1993 Japan.
Kochi Kame finished in 2016. Reasonable is that. The author Akimoto Osamu is old enough. Thank you so much, Akimoto.
About Kochi Kame
・Written by Akimoto Osamu
・Published by Shuei-sha
・Original Run: 1976 June – 2016 September
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