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Free Fukushima Anime Event, Manga Lecture at Japan House London in July

Japan House London has announced two further manga-related events in July.

On Tuesday July 2, there will be an event entitled "Our Road to Recovery: An Anime Studio in Fukushima". The event is free, but must be booked at the above link. There are two sessions available; one from 3.30 p.m. to 5 p.m., and one from 6.30 p.m. to 8 p.m., followed by a drinks reception

The talk is described as follows:

"In 2014, producer, director and screenwriter Yoshinori Asao established the animation studio Fukushima Gainax (now known as Gaina Co., Ltd.) with the aim of reinvigorating his home prefecture Fukushima which had been severely damaged by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The studio has since brought many tourists to the region through its animations which introduce the appeal of Fukushima and Tohoku to the world, and accompanying manga and animation museum.

In this event, Yoshinori Asco explores the role that animation has played in the recovery and revitalisation of Fukushima and introduces a screening of two of his studio's representative works that have been specially subtitled in English for this event at Japan House.

Gaina's first television animation, ‘Omoi no Kakera’ (Fragments of Feelings) tells the story of an energetic junior high school student who lives with her father in temporary housing in a seaside town in Tohoku after her mother passed away during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

The anthology style animation ‘Mirai e no Tegami’ (Letter to the Future) (25 minutes) conveys the light and shadows of everyday life in Fukushima after the earthquake and tusnami through ten stories based on the real-life experiences of ordinary people living in the prefecture.

On Thursday July 18, there will be a talk given by Paul Gravett called "Manga Innovations". Again, the event is free, but must be booked at the link. It is described as follows:

"Modern manga is said to have developed from a fusion of Japan's distinctive traditions with cartooning influences imported from the West. Out of these elements, many creators in Japan have devised exciting new approaches to storytelling in words and pictures, from Osamu Tezuka, the ‘God of Manga’, to Naoki Urasawa today. In his illustrated lecture, Paul Gravett, a historian and curator specialising in international comics art, explores some of these inspiring innovations, which are transforming how the medium is created and consumed worldwide."

Japan House London is also running a free Naoki Urasawa exhibition until July 28. Urasawa's manga include 20th Century Boys, Monster, Pluto, Master Keaton and Yawara.