Meaningful Japanese manga?

by Lee on 2/7/2008

in Books, Religion

The appearance of religious figures in manga isn’t all that uncommon, with Osamu Tezuka’s Buddha series in particular covering in comic form the story of Siddhartha.

The more recently released ‘Saint Young Men’ by Hikaru Nakamura on the other hand takes a somewhat less serious approach, with Buddha renting an apartment in present-day Tokyo.

japanese manga

A situation made all the more surreal by the fact that he shares the place with another famous fella, Jesus Christ.

japanese manga

Perhaps to allow them to blend in somewhat, they are a suitably stylish pair — with Jesus even boasting a T-shirt that boldly proclaims, “Dad, Me and the Holy Spirit” (父と私と精霊) — although it is nice to see them both bearing their customary coiffures.

japanese manga

Living in the capital’s western suburb of Tachikawa, heaven knows what situations they will find themselves in, but it would certainly be interesting to see their stance on the south of the station’s somewhat seedier side.

japanese manga

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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }

1 edh 2/7/2008 at 5:12 pm

I wish Jesus would pull back his hair sometimes… The current length makes him look hippy-ish, ne?

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2 thomas 2/8/2008 at 7:52 pm

wow that would be a manga to read, i hope it gets translated. of course it’s going to raise controversy but meh

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3 Paul 2/8/2008 at 9:24 pm

Does Jesus take the thorns off when he goes to bed?
(I like his Prince-style moustache. I hope he doesn’t get sued by the diminutive purple person though.)

Also, Buddha should get those ears seen too, they’d be dipping in his tea every time he had a brew.

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4 Dana 7/1/2008 at 8:31 pm

ive read it already i swear it has to be read by everyone…but then its in nihongo…

about the thorns thing…when Jesus gets really happy roses grow from the thorns….and Buddha couldnt get his hair combed.

then Jesus loves his VAIO laptop and he swims in a pool with a floater…haha cool

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5 brandon 11/27/2008 at 6:33 pm

ooh! really fascinating story that should be read by everyone. If u want it in an english translation go to ONEMANGA.COM its there. or any other manga hosting site!

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6 Shiki 3/14/2009 at 6:55 pm

…………………..

Stupidest idea for a manga I’ve ever seen. Really, really stupid.

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7 Shikiweeaboo 6/11/2009 at 12:47 am

@Shiki

Yeah! All MANGA should be just like Naruto and Bleach! That’s the way of life! Ninjas ninjas DESU.

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8 Kat 8/30/2009 at 12:20 am

I actually really like this manga.Some people might find it offesive depicting religious figures in such a,mm, I guess a cosual fun matter. But, being raised in a Roman Catholic home, I don’t find it offesive at all and it’s just a really fun and freash idea for a manga and it’s a light read, nothing too serious and I like that compared to the grittier stuff I’m used to reading.

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9 Brano 10/11/2009 at 3:01 pm

These two guys deserve to be treated as a popstars, there are far more famous as some of present idols, so why not to have manga about them, in the end is it not a fiction, a fairy tales with great PR that these two are so famous…. IT IS POPCULTURE at it best….:)))))))…I am looking frwrd for POPES reaction, probably he should apear as well

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