Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information From the densest of Japan's cities to its remote islands the shared desire to connect with others has blossomed into the unexpected success of what started as a purely urban endeavor Under the 100-Nin Kaigi (100-people conference) project an organizer invites five regional guests to each meeting to share their stories Once the total number of speakers reaches 100 over the course of 20 gatherings Since its 2016 inception in Tokyo’s Minato Ward the initiative has hosted meetings in upward of 100 locations nationwide with the number of participants totaling 50,000 the lasting connections forged between attendees may mean the project is a possible solution to Japan’s pressing challenge of re-energizing dwindling regional communities One recent event under the 100-Nin Kaigi was held on Sept 28 last year in a conference hall of the Ito-Yokodo supermarket chain’s Abiko branch in Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo As many as 79 individuals took part in the 20th Abiko 100-Nin Kaigi that Saturday afternoon Among the 10-minute stories was that of a young woman who works at a real estate agency along with a man who runs a beauty salon and sauna One particular speaker who plays rugby described himself as doubling as “an athlete and staff member” for a local sports team in his quest to connect his team with local communities and businesses icebreaker and networking sessions were interspersed between speeches sparking many animated conversations throughout the venue The aim was that both guest speakers and audience members had a chance to exchange business cards who made her appearance at the third gathering of the Abiko 100-Nin Kaigi as a civic activity group’s head “Any citizen has the chance to share their views on our town,” she said “Attending this event enables me to communicate with new people every time making it an exciting but enjoyable experience.” who is in her final year at the Faculty of Law of Chuo Gakuin University in Abiko The project has dramatically changed her life “I realized how much I love this town,” recalled Kato “My values have undergone a transformation.” The 100-Nin Kaigi was initially launched by Daisuke Takashima an official of the capital’s Minato Ward instructed Takashima to commit himself to the endeavor; Takashima worked at a company in the ward at the time “I wanted to know more about people who live nearby but are strangers to me,” said Takashima Each project may be themed around the region where it takes place such as Osaka’s Umeda and Chigasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture but could also revolve around other topics such as nurses and bicycles people increasingly resonated with the initiative on social media leading to a succession of chapters cropping up nationwide There appears to be a link between kicking off a 100-Nin Kaigi in an area and the revitalization of its local communities Following the conclusion of Shibuya Ward’s iteration a former project manager went on to found a new collaborative project with a regional bookstore promoting publications at restaurants and hotels it is predominantly the former presenters who are considering offering places for exchanges among residents on a regular basis even after the dissolvement of its local conference a tour was developed where 100-Nin Kaigi participants could also visit guests’ restaurants Takashima currently serves as an adviser to the 100-Nin Kaigi “People may increasingly recognize the significance and value of talking in person meaningful interactions and shared experiences amid advances in digitization in modern society,” he said the 100-Nin Kaigi framework’s accruing popularity on a nationwide scale is unbelievable Takashima initially expected to hold the 100-Nin Kaigi primarily in highly urban zones Takashima saw inquiries arrive from even Nagano A crowdfunding campaign was thus mounted for extending support to conference organizers in those rural areas the 100-Nin Kaigi began reaching out to citizens across the country in 2018 on March 22 and was proposed by Manami Kumagai the Iida native returned to her hometown from Nagoya following her divorce 15 years ago Her daughter is now a first-year high school student and Kumagai founded a “coaching” company a year and a half ago to help clients in achieving their personal goals through specialized training and guidance “I decided to organize the conference on my own out of a desire to create connections and build a sense of community,” said Kumagai while retracing the reason a 100-Nin Kaigi chapter was similarly launched by Hitomi Kondo The entrepreneur who relocated from Yokohama said Kumagai inspired her Kondo and Kumagai are working to “give birth to bonds among individuals of a wide variety of backgrounds.” “Each of the four inhabited islands in Oki is like an independent country,” said Furukawa “There actually is little interaction between them although the islets may appear to have close connections with one another.” Furukawa is looking to form mutual connections by rotating the 100-Nin Kaigi’s location between the four islands Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission Fuse-atelier is at it again with a beautiful new project — House in Abiko — located in Abiko The 80-square-meter residence is a concrete monolith The building sits on a soft foundation that required the use of stakes to support the concrete structure The angles and composition of the architecture seemingly creates both a disconnect and continuation within the space I am a proponent of the utilization of concrete as an architectural element There is a sense of peace and ambiance that is associated with this material I’m not a huge fan of the less-than-stable looking staircase but it becomes lost by the amazing view immediately behind it Leo Lei translates his passion for minimalism into his daily-updated blog Leibal. In addition, you can find uniquely designed minimalist objects and furniture at the Leibal Store FiiO'S sub-brand Snowsky has launched the Retro Nano user-friendly vinyl flattening machine that restores warped records to their original shape using precision heat technology Zaha Hadid Architects transforms public transit at the KAFD Metro Station in Riyadh with futuristic architecture Full of natural materials and respect for modern Swedish design the STOCKHOLM 2025 collection from IKEA debuts 96 new pieces You’ll always hear it from Design Milk first Our passion is discovering and highlighting emerging talent and we’re energized by and for our community of like-minded design lovers — like you Motoo Abiko (known under his artist’s pseudonym Fujiko Fujio A) is a living legend of manga in Japan. In 2018, an exhibition entitled FUJIKO FUJIO Ⓐ THE EXHIBITION – Ⓐ’s Weird and Amazing Collection was held at the Roppongi Hills observatory in Tokyo (Tokyo City View and the location was transformed into a ‘fun photo spot’ for the occasion they created their collaborative works under the pseudonym Fujiko Fujio The duo were behind one of the most iconic characters in manga and anime: Doraemon a robot-cat that travels from the future to help a young boy The pair separated in 1987 and Hiroshi Fujimoto steered his career towards manga for children while Motoo Abiko preferred to pursue dark humour It was from this point on that Hiroshi Fujimoto took the pseudonym Fujiko Fujio F. and Motoo Abiko took that of Fujiko Fujio A FUJIKO FUJIO Ⓐ THE EXHIBITION – Ⓐ’s Weird and Amazing Collection – (2018), an exhibition at Tokyo City View that took place from 19 October 2018 to 6 January 2019 FUJIKO FUJIOⒶ THE EXHIBITION -Ⓐ’s Weird and Amazing Collection- Iñigo Gutierrez’s Calligraphic Illustrations Traditional tattoos were strong signifiers; murderers had head tattoos The series 'Hysteric Ten' by photographer Sawatari Hajime revisits one of the most sulphurous relationships in Japanese art Nagisa Oshima made Sada Abe the heroine of his film defying the codes of 'pinku eiga' that make men the focus of attention This rice soup seasoned with miso is served by a monk to Ashitaka one of the heroes in Hayao Miyazaki's film we interviewed its founder and chief representative please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent By Katsuo Kokaji / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer “Two as one.” Fujiko Fujio was often introduced in this way This is because the name was a nom de plume shared by two cartoonists who had used it for collaborative works since their youth The duo worked together for 34 years until they dissolved in 1987 and became Fujiko Fujio A (Motoo Abiko) and Fujiko F Abiko never stopped talking about his fellow mangaka I never heard Abiko say a negative word about Fujimoto Affectionately using a polite title for him When Abiko was in the fifth grade of elementary school in Toyama Prefecture he met Fujimoto who came up to him and said With a shared admiration of mangaka Osamu Tezuka Abiko and Fujimoto kept drawing comics together Abiko once got a job at a newspaper company in Toyama Prefecture but was convinced by Fujimoto to move to Tokyo to become a mangaka Their last true collaboration was “Obake no Q-Taro,” which was serialized from 1964 they worked separately to release manga on their own but kept using the same pen name who never lost the playful mentality of a child and drew “Doraemon,” Abiko was always a pioneer He has been a symbol of the history of Japanese postwar manga Abiko drew a series beginning with the inaugural issue of Japan’s first weekly comic magazine His groundbreaking creations included work in the field of comic essays an early successful example of a boys’ comic featuring golf in “Pro Golfer Saru,” and the landmark black comedy manga “Kuroi Salesman” (The Black Salesman) which later changed its title to “Warau Salesman” (The Laughing Salesman) Abiko was a bar-hopper of superhuman strength who traveled alone and made manga out of his own experiences His autobiographical manga “Mangamichi” has become a bible for young people who aspire to become mangaka Abiko and I had a drinking session together “I’ve always wanted to do something Fujimoto couldn’t do.” he confessed: “When ‘Doraemon’ took the nation by storm I thought I had no choice but to become Mr “Why did Fujimoto die so early — even though he’d done nothing bad — while I am fooling around but staying in good health?” I felt that Fujimoto was snuggling up next to Abiko in spirit Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun Japan – Japanese electronics maker NEC Corp on Monday showed a “flying car,” a large drone-like machine with four propellers that hovered steadily for about a minute The test flight reaching 3 meters (10 feet) high was held in a gigantic cage The preparations such as the repeated checks on the machine and warnings to reporters to wear helmets took up more time than the two brief demonstrations The Japanese government is behind flying cars with the goal of having people zipping around in them by the 2030s Among the government-backed endeavors is a huge test course for flying cars that’s built in an area devastated by the 2011 tsunami quake and nuclear disasters in Fukushima in northeastern Japan a prefecture in central Japan that’s frequently used as a resort area by Hollywood celebrities also hopes to use flying cars to connect its various islands Similar projects are popping up around world A flying car by Japanese startup Cartivator crashed quickly in a 2017 demonstration Cartivator Chief Executive Tomohiro Fukuzawa said their machines were also flying longer lately NEC is among the more than 80 sponsor companies for Cartivator’s flying car group companies and video game company Bandai Namco Holdings The goal is to deliver a seamless transition from driving to flight like the world of “Back to the Future,” although huge hurdles remain such as battery life the need for regulations and safety concerns NEC officials said their flying car was designed for unmanned flights for deliveries but utilized the company’s technology in its other operations such as space travel and cybersecurity for “electric vertical takeoff and landing” aircraft a flying car is defined as an aircraft that’s electric which are like drones big enough to hold humans Flying cars also are being touted as useful for disaster relief ride-sharing and transportation network Uber is planning demonstrator flights in 2020 and commercial operations in 2023 Los Angeles and Melbourne as the first cities to offer what it calls Uber Air flights Dubai has also been aggressive about pursuing flying cars Japanese officials say Japan has a good chance of emerging as a world leader because the government and the private sector will work closely together passed away at the age of 88 at his home in Kawasaki City in Japan Abiko was best-known as half of the Fujiko Fujio manga duo The duo was best known for creating the popular manga series Doraemon which has since then become a Japanese pop culture icon Abiko’s career started with the manga UTOPIA the Final World War published in 1953 (under the duo’s pen name) Abiko first started his own manga series titled Futa-kun He is known for several manga titles including Ninja Hattori His latest solo work was PARman’s Passionate Days PARman’s is considered Abiko’s final work and a memoir before he announced a hiatus in 2015 was well known for his works that included Perman (1967) Fujimoto died in 1996 due to complications related to liver cancer and heart disease.The Fujiko Fujio duo employed different storytelling styles with Abiko using black humor in his writeups while Fujimoto focused on teen-centric themes The duo split up in 1987 due to creative differences and issues surrounding intellectual property and finance regarding their works Source: TBSAlso Read:Commemorating Manabu Oohashi: A Man of Animation Japanese Singer/Voice Actress Sayaka Kanda Passes Away at 35 speaks during an interview conducted by the Yomiuri Shimbun in Tokyo Renowned Japanese manga artist Motoo Abiko Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466 National Report Fans of the manga created by “Fujiko Fujio” realized early on from the different drawing styles that something strange was going on They decided there was a “white Fujio” and a “black Fujio,” given the stark differences in tone between the works The manga duo revealed after their partnership dissolved in 1987 that even though all their works were credited to Fujiko Fujio many were actually creations either of Fujiko Fujio A His manga and storylines were happy and healthy especially the widely popular "Doraemon" series with hints of black humor and the absurd mixed in such as in the manga series “The Monster Kid.” Although Abiko and Fujimoto knew each other from elementary school their personalities were totally different But their friendship lasted throughout their lives Even though Abiko’s works may have been dark he was a witty conversationalist and his manga ranged across different genres His work was popular with both children and adults and many were made into animation series shown on TV so he never particularly liked meat or fish as an adult He got a job with a local newspaper company after graduating from senior high school But he decided to tag along with Fujimoto when he moved to Tokyo Reflecting on the experience in later years “It was an adventure that was only possible because we were both in it.” He wrote about his friendship with Fujimoto as well as the other manga artists the two came to know while working and living in the Tokiwa-so apartment building in Tokyo in his “Manga Michi” (The way of manga) that would become his representative work He began the sequel “Ai…Shirisomeshi Koroni…” (When you know what love is) in 1995 Abiko considered their deaths to be like losing comrades in war They had all struggled to write a new page in manga history through their works while offering support and cheering each other on “I felt very sad at that time because it was like the end of an era,” Abiko said 43 years after Abiko began “Manga Michi.” The following year Abiko received the Asahi Special Prize under the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize for both works Although “Manga Michi” depicted young unknowns from rural regions who gathered at Tokiwa-so to chase their dreams of becoming popular manga artists the work was also a panoramic look at postwar Japan as it progressed from the ruins of war to achieve high economic growth and become an international titan in popular culture The work will live on as a contemporary myth of that time Doraemon gets bronze statue to mark 50th anniversary China dinosaur footprint named after Doraemon’s best friend As he prepares to kick off his final season the oldest debutant in J-League history wants to send a positive message to victims of bullying and discrimination highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic "I want to teach people using my life as a lesson," said Takamasa Abiko who set the record last year as a substitute forward for third-division YSCC Yokohama Abiko plans to retire at the end of the upcoming J3 season which will start on June 27 following a roughly four-month delay brought about by the public health crisis The Kanagawa Prefecture native first made headlines after quitting his job at age 39 to take one last shot at becoming a professional soccer player with help from a crowdfunding campaign Abiko moved to Brazil to play soccer and later tried out for the J-League but he quit the sport after failing to make a team Despite forging a career as an interpreter and soccer school director Abiko was nagged by the thought that he had given up on his dream too easily he dedicated himself to getting into shape fulltime and was eventually signed by J2 club Mito Hollyhock But he was unable to keep pace on the training ground and was cut from the squad without playing a game He eventually found a taker in YSCC Yokohama and became the J-League's oldest debutant when he came off the bench in March last year at 41 years one month and nine days -- breaking the record previously held by Brazilian great and former Japan manager Zico With an annual salary of just 120 yen ($1.1) Abiko is something of a cult figure among fans of the club But he has also drawn many detractors online Some have derided his soccer career as a publicity stunt while others have accused him of damaging the reputation of the league Abiko said he had been stung by the many critical comments posted on the internet such as "Does he have no pride?" or "he is not really a professional." The stream of negativity made him angry at a society in which people pursuing their dreams were so readily pulled down In addition to delaying the start of the J3 season the coronavirus crisis forced the cancellation of speaking engagements which would have earned Abiko around 200,000 yen per month His own situation brought into focus the difficulties facing many other people as a result of the crisis Reports about the bullying of people who had fallen ill with the coronavirus as well as the medical workers treating them reminded him of the online abuse he had suffered "Some people take out their stress on others by trying to hold them back With this season condensed into half a year he is determined to make his remaining time in the league count as a role model Foremost among his aims for the shortened season is his maiden goal as a professional His meager pay and modest lifestyle -- including living under his parents' roof -- might be far removed from the typical image of a pro soccer player but Abiko is proud to be living a life with no regrets I want to provide an example of someone who sticks to their guns and doesn't give up," he said To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible Stories of athletes trying to find new meaning in life after retiring from elite-level sports are serving as an inspiration for those who think they may be too old to switch paths a 42-year-old late bloomer who just ended a three-year soccer career a 48-year-old who made an unexpected bid to play pro baseball again after retiring in 2006 are shining examples of how to handle a midlife career crisis gracefully Abiko is now starting yet another career as a martial arts fighter and said he would aim to get onto a New Year's Eve fight card with RIZIN a successor to Japanese mixed martial arts promotion company PRIDE "I turned an old man's body into an athlete's Now I have to build a fighter's body," Abiko said when he addressed the media to announce his retirement on Dec "By taking up a new challenge I hope I'm giving people the nudge they need to be brave," he said YEAR IN PHOTOS: Sport goes on despite global coronavirus interruptions After working as an interpreter and soccer school director Abiko spent one season with second-division club Mito Hollyhock then eventually became the J-League's oldest debutant with J3 YSCC Yokohama in March last year at 41 years his annual salary was just 120 yen ($1.16) Abiko has no fighting experience but he said jokingly "Doing something foolish twice is important," adding that this is his way of combating stagnation and a sense of feeling trapped Shinjo has also allowed the general public to see him navigate his scary first steps back he "unretired" and this year took part in Nippon Professional Baseball's joint tryout after being away from the game for 14 years Shinjo became a celebrity star for the Hanshin Tigers and later the Nippon Ham Fighters after spending time with the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants in his 16-year professional playing career He moved to Bali shortly after retiring and tried his hand at things like motocross racing and airbrush painting and in November last year announced on Instagram he would take a shot at the "1 percent possibility" of returning to pro baseball His story did not have a fairy tale ending Shinjo told his followers he would give himself six days to receive an offer from one of the 12 NPB teams "I had faith in that 1 percent but today the possibility became zero percent and I have to say it is regrettable and pathetic," Shinjo said on Instagram apologizing to those who cheered him on and supported his comeback attempt Shinjo has yet to announce what comes next "I'm aware of my limitations now," he wrote "But I don't have regrets about trying at my age I hope this teaches everyone that there is joy in the process of trying new things." House in Abiko, Japan, is a three-story residence designed by fuse-atelier architects for a couple in their thirties who expressly requested an area of exposed concrete that recalls an exhibition gallery The designers have interpreted the desire of the young clients by designing a monolithic concrete structure whose distinctive architecture is determined by the combination of two projecting volumes of different shapes and sizes “The structure – explain Japanese architects from Fuse Studio – is located at the base of two plateaux resting on a soft foundation It was therefore necessary to use stakes to support the reinforced concrete structure contacting area to the ground was minimized and the number of stakes was reduced Accordingly the upper structure was cantilevered The walls in varying volumes and the roof slab were made into three-dimensional continuous slanted surface and the stress transmission was rationalized which became a characteristic form.” look out onto the street and have different characteristics: the largest with a floor to ceiling window the other entirely enclosed by exposed concrete The result is a façade characterized by cuts and geometric variations that give the structure a strong identity The multifaceted language of the exterior architecture continues inside the windows and the dynamic multi-angled geometry of the ceiling articulate a broad and sculptural vertical space that recalls an art museum in keeping with the desire of the commissioners By David Hosley(This is part of our ongoing series Lost Kinjo- a look at the more than 40 Japanese communities that disappeared after World War II It is supported by funding from the California Public Library Civil Liberties Project and the Takahashi Family Foundation.) This spring marks the 100th anniversary of the U.S which was primarily aimed at halting Japanese newcomers The Act’s impact greatly affected the new city of Livingston in California’s Heartland a place that later became the self-proclaimed Sweet Potato Capital of the World Before Livingston became incorporated in 1922 a visionary entrepreneur from Japan created a colony of settlers in the area and set it up so the immigrants who lived there avoided another great injustice—a series of California Alien Land Laws inaugurated in 1913 Man With A Grand PlanIt’s likely that a small number of Japanese immigrants came to northern Merced County prior to Kyutaro Abiko But it was the imagination and promotional genius of Abiko that greatly expanded the first-generation Issei presence in Livingston and several nearby farm towns Abiko was among the early Japanese settlers in California and then a contractor providing workers to the fast-growing California agricultural sector He was also interested in communications and started a Japanese language newspaper in San Francisco the Japanese American Industrial Corporation It became one of the largest labor contracting agencies in California As his enterprises grew Abiko observed the Issei community which was almost entirely composed of young men from the southern part of Japan he became concerned that too many Japanese immigrants were living dissolute lives in big cities on the West Coast Abiko became convinced they would be better off living in farming communities So he started to look for an opportunity to make it so in 1904 Abiko purchased 3,000 acres in northern Merced County with bank financing available over five years It wasn’t particularly attractive land by most agricultural standards The sandy soil was the eons old result of the Merced River with headwaters in Yosemite that ran through the Great Valley to the San Joaquin The colony would have a water supply that would irrigate fields aplenty Japanese farmers would grow crops where others thought there was no chance Abiko named his initial purchase Yamato Colony and set out to fill it with sojourners The new venture was advertised in his newspaper but also through his labor network by word of mouth and letters home to Japan The men who responded were looking for a better life and the expectation of most was that they would save a good part of their wages and be able to return to Japan to marry Abiko and his companies could market the colony sell tools and clothing needed to do the work and in some cases find them a place to live until they got their feet on the ground Japan was allowing more young men to leave for America Some of them brought funds to invest or saved enough by working as laborers to buy small farms His father Shozo came by boat to Seattle and continued to northern California where he was a farm worker Sometime after the famous earthquake had shaken northern California Shozo Kishi acquired property in Yamato Colony there were more than two dozen new landowners in the colony The newcomers relied on Livingston merchants for supplies After the land was prepared for the kinds of crops the Japanese wanted to grow— mostly grapes melons and eggplants—Abiko’s dreamland attracted a continuing steam of Japanese men and women One of them was Shozo Kishi’s picture bride Chiyoko Hashizume in 1910 Trains took their crops to markets as far away as Los Angeles The unique elements of the Yamato Colony’s Livingston Orchard and Vineyard Corporation allowed farmers to avoid the brunt of anti-Asian legislation in California which forbid Issei from owning property (more on this later) There was little sharecropping or use of rental systems that kept so many Japanese elsewhere in the Golden State from building capital While cooperatives like a farmer’s association were started mostly to provide price breaks on equipment and supplies and to jointly process products and sell them the growing Japanese community also made an important decision about competition in other areas of the local economy The Issei focused on agriculture while becoming an important revenue source for local merchants added diversity to the staples of northern Merced County agriculture Two Communities—One TownThere had been a settlement in northern Merced County since the 1870’s but it was unincorporated for the next 50 years It was situated on ancestral lands that had been home to Yokuts for at least ten thousand years starting before the Gold Rush and were all but absent by the time Japanese arrived and then went on to northern Merced County Chedester acquired 1,500 acres of land in the Livingston area where he diverted water from the Merced River and raised wheat came to the area in late 1871 and opened a store He applied for a post office the next year and added it to his operation An irrigation system was begun in the area and then Olds mapped out a new town and filed the plan at the urging of another newcomer which were intended for sale at one dollar each Livingston lost the “e” in its name at some point and sought to be named the county seat and most of the lots were returned to growing wheat immigration from Japan had been aided considerably by the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 which shut off a key source of farm laborers to the Central Valley 1% of the farmland in California was owned by Japanese Abiko had added to that number by starting the Yamato Colony near Livingston which was followed by extensions east in Cressey and Cortez Abiko provided an alternative to the hurly-burly of San Francisco farm labor and media holdings that reached throughout the Pacific Coast all came together in a great social experiment Sam Maeda recalls some of the first Japanese to come to Livingston were the Tanaka Maeda’s parents had lived in Winters and San Francisco and the earthquake got them thinking about the Yamato Colony Seinosuke Okuye’s farm was a landing spot for dozens of newcomers and his farm was a place young Japanese could get a foothold that might lead to ownership The newcomers started out as field hands and learned planting and irrigation skills while hopefully saving part of their pay Okuye’s farm eventually had 13 houses for the immigrant workers and played a catalytic role in the colony’s advancement Skirting The Alien Land Law Without knowing it Kyutaro Abiko provided a safeguard against a potential death knell for the long-term growth of the Japanese American community The California Alien Land Law of 1913 restricted immigrant purchase of property it was aimed directly at the first generation of Japanese immigrants It was copied by more than a dozen other states and set the foundation of intolerance that led to incarceration of more than 120,000 after Pearl Harbor most of the Issei in the Livingston area already had deeds in hand and a model that could be adapted by others The Issei married and started to build community infrastructure the Livingston Cooperative Society was started with a purpose of improving yields and marketing crops They then added the Livingston Church of Christ in 1917 with more than 40 charter worshippers there were more than 200 Japanese living in the area The church started a kindergarten to teach English to youngsters so they could succeed in the local schools Not Wanted Here The growth of the Japanese colony was alarming to some of the Caucasian residents as there had been several so-called “Gentlemen’s Agreements” between the Japanese and American governments to limit immigration from Japan since the turn of the century 1920 article “Bitter Feelings Discovered in Towns of San Joaquin” which reported on a Congressional fact-finding trip the day before that stopped in Livingston The article reported the townspeople had taken down the “No Japs Wanted” signs at entry points Love’s warning: “If more Japanese come around there would be trouble.” Abiko was accused of bringing Japanese to the area “by devious means.” The Union report also noted that Livingston Chronicle editor Elbert G Adams had forged an agreement with Japanese community leaders that further newcomers would be discouraged and also was the head of the Anti-Japanese Association of Merced County his family had come to California when he was three and traced their ancestry to John and John Quincy Adams Elbert Adams’ schooling took place in Santa Rosa and Auburn he got a job writing for the Sacramento Star and held several other jobs in journalism before buying the Chronicle in 1915 Immigration Act of 1924At the federal level legislation had been introduced in 1920 to put a quota system in place to limit immigration to the United States but it did not get Woodrow Wilson’s approval But new president Warren Harding called a special session of Congress and signed it into law The next year the quota law was extended for another two years and Congress again drafted legislation in 1924 This time the formula for quotas was changed to allow fewer immigrants and the census used to calculate the number from each country was moved back to the 1890 count And no one could immigrate if they were an alien who was ineligible for citizenship based on race or nationality because 1924 law incorporated the existing Asian Exclusion Act and the National Origins Act As the bill worked its way through Congress an editorial ran in the center of the Livingston Chronicle front page on May 2 It wasn’t labeled as such and there was no byline “Our West Coast and the Japanese” was the headline “The Japanese are economically our superiors…they can supplement us on the soil which means they can eventually supplant us entirely if we take them into our country.” The opinion piece concluded “the people of the Pacific Coast see their finish if oriental races are admitted.” Congress enacted the Johnson-Reed immigration bill and President Harding signed it on the south lawn of the White House The new law violated the Gentlemen’s Agreements and the Japanese government protested The adopted measure created a new status for some immigrants: undocumented Excluded from quotas were people from the Western Hemisphere The flow of Issei to America had been shut off more tightly than an irrigation ditch to a field the Livingston Chronicle editor and head of the Anti-Japanese Association of Merced County ran as a Democrat for the California State Assembly and won Adams would be re-elected twice more in 1926 and 1928 before unsuccessfully running for State Senate Depression Era Japanese American Baby Boom If the first generation of Japanese immigrants to Livingston was largely male new brides in the 1910’s meant a lot of Japanese American children came along in short order The school-age population grew rapidly just in time for the Depression it didn’t seem that difficult,” he recalled in an oral history interview where you could grow a lot of what you needed to stay healthy He recalls hundreds of Japanese American neighbors lining up to pursue rabbits which were decimating young grape shoots in the fields “We didn’t have much money to buy things at the store,” she said “So the men got a big net and got fish out of the irrigation canal We all raised our own vegetables.” Bread was hard to pay for so Fran’s mother sent her children to school with rice balls instead of sandwiches for lunch were teens during the Depression and attended the new Livingston High School and they didn’t mix a lot except in the classroom most of those living on farms had work to do before and after school An odd ramification is that many of them drove to school because they learned to guide field equipment as soon as they could see over Fran Kirihara recounted that her father couldn’t make his payments in 1932 and lost his property He also borrowed money from a prominent Caucasian farmer It was paid back in the fall once harvest had been completed She started at Livingston High in 1934 but before school she had to feed the chickens and cut asparagus and sometimes deliver it to customers After school and on weekends she would harvest and pack peaches and cut apricots for drying on wooden flats She also became quite good at putting together wooden crates Any money earned during the summer would go to buying school clothes Things got better for the Kirihara’s by 1938 which apparently was a common incentive at the time Census records show a 48-hour work week was common and the Livingston Japanese Methodist Church drew members from Cressey and Cortez Regional church gatherings got the young people out of Merced County and they went for conferences as far as the Bay Area and Los Angeles basketball and teams from Livingston competed against teams from Stockton Racism remained a part of life in Merced County Fran Kirihara recalls that after she graduated from Livingston High in 1938 It was commonly thought that his firing was due to a Japanese American having the highest-grade point average and thus named valedictorian year after year The successor changed the commencement speaker to the student body president excelled in the classroom at Livingston High and he was also an accomplished athlete in basketball and track sports that he’d played in Japanese youth contests growing up The letterman also played football at 120 pounds and he and his Livingston High lightweight team were the league champions Fred was accepted at the University of California in Berkeley Common business interests also bound the community together Tom Nakashima remembered 125 families in the Yamato Colony as 1940 began He said 13,000 acres were planted in sweet potatoes in the county It was just a fraction of the estimated 68 million dollars’ worth of land that Japanese and Japanese Americans owned in California in 1941 Pearl Harbor Changed Everything Sherman Kishi was playing tennis at Livingston High on Sunday morning A car drove up and its occupants started yelling insults at them The teenagers went home and learned of the attacks in Hawaii which was thought to be vulnerable to attack because of its location on the Pacific rim Anti-Japanese sentiment was more openly expressed Rumors spread that there would be arrests or worse The government issued restrictions on travel it seemed Japanese and Japanese Americans in the interior of the state But then the boundaries changed and inland Issei and Nisei residents could no longer go to San Francisco and other coastal areas Livingston was in Zone 2; the coast was Zone 1 Some students from northern Merced County who were in college in the Bay Area returned home while other young men considered joining the Army the dislocation of people of Japanese heritage accelerated in America Fran Kirihara was studying in the Bay Area on December 7th the nursing student was told to leave and go home “None of us questioned if it was the right thing or the wrong thing.” She arrived back home on December 10th We didn’t know what was ahead of us.” In the spring posters mounted on phone poles in Livingston announced Executive Order 9066 which directed the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans along the American west coast The deadline to report to the region’s assembly center at the Merced County Fairgrounds was May 13th Dozens of Yamato Colony farmers had used the time between the executive order and reporting date wisely Frank Suzuki talks about violating the travel restriction to go to the San Francisco office of the Pacific Fruit Exchange The exchange distributed the products of Central Valley farmers nationally and Suzuki along with Kenji Minabe and several members of the Kishi family proposed that PFE consider managing their farms while they were incarcerated Suzuki reports the company’s executives were shocked to see them but agreed to consider the notion The carload of farmers returned to Merced County without incident but a few days later were notified that PFE wasn’t interested Suzuki’s group turned to leaders of growers associations in nearby towns “Let’s get together,” Suzuki recalls the thinking “and maybe the three of us can make it interesting for somebody to take care of the farms.” Now united the Japanese American farmers of northern Merced County decided to approach trusted business leaders about forming an organization to protect their interests A Lodi lawyer drafted the establishing documents a Republican lawyer from Merced who had represented some of the farmers agreed to chair a board of Caucasian trustees a former banker who also knew the dynamics of agriculture to receive power of attorney to operate and “I happened to work for him when I was going to high school I used to disc some of his orchards and vineyards so we knew Gus.” There was some back and forth before Momberg came aboard He wanted one per cent of the net operations of the more than 100 farms the trust would oversee and three per cent of the trust’s profits each year and the others who worked on its formation were all in as well Some of the area’s farmers had panicked and sold their acreage for next to nothing By coming up with a way to protect the titles of most Japanese and Japanese American farms the Yamato Colony farm families would ultimately find security “We faced discrimination from the first grade “ Noburu Hashimoto recalled in an oral history interview “But they didn’t know what they were talking about Hashimoto was spit on by a classmate and subjected to ethnic slurs The Suzuki family drove themselves to the check in at American Legion Hall in Merced Their new car had been sold at a loss with the proviso they’d use it one last time They unloaded possessions they’d packed and left the key in the ignition for the new owner A bus shuttled them a short distance to a holding facility The Merced Assembly Center had been thrown together on the site of the county fair Inexperienced teens were part of the carpentry crew and some of the construction materials were substandard The Merced County families were incarcerated with residents of Walnut Grove with each family having a 20×20 foot space Some of the high school seniors received diplomas while incarcerated at the fairgrounds But the only schooling was daycare for younger children some men became firemen or enforced the restrictions on moving freely after dark It was miserably hot that summer in Merced Temperatures regularly reached over a hundred degrees but sometimes would have sumo contests or talent shows on Saturday night Noburu Hashimoto remembered the black tarpaper on the buildings attracted the sun’s rays and the Issei particularly suffered in the heat And everyone knew more permanent prison camps were being built in the interior of the country and they would soon be far from the Central Valley Fran Kirihara was one of the first to leave Merced she was selected in late spring for an advance group focused on preparing health care facilities at the Granada War Relocation Center it was the largest of the 10 facilities in terms of acreage but with the smallest number of detainees and fewer buildings Kirihara’s initial work was setting up facilities for infants and toddlers including the ordering and then distribution of formula for babies the Livingston contingent and the rest of those assembled at the fairgrounds were moved We went down to Bakersfield and then Albuquerque on a slow-moving train with no sleeping berths The windows and blinds were closed.” Because the prisoner trains had less priority than regular passenger and freight trains it took three days to cross a third of the country They were met by military trucks in Amache and carted off to live behind barbed wire A Very Different ExistenceIt took a while to adjust to life at Amache Prisoners came from a variety of towns and cities The government had built the block houses quickly and they were often made of green wood which wouldn’t seal which meant months went by before spring brought better weather Hashimoto washed dishes in camp for $16 a month some prisoners were released in work parties because much of the Colorado farm labor pool prior to 1942 was now in the military Able Issei and Nisei males could volunteer to work getting in the local crops almost as soon as they arrived in Colorado There was appreciation from the local agricultural community for saving the harvest and a number of Japanese Americans were released to take offers elsewhere in the state Once Amache opened in late August to the rest of those coming from assembly centers Kirihara didn’t stay more than a few months and then in December took a position at the University of Colorado Others were released to attend college or take jobs in the interior of the country Kirihara actually came back to take care of a sister who had suffered a stroke but left a second time With assistance from a Quaker organization the Japanese American Student Relocation Council about 4,000 of those incarcerated in the 10 facilities were released to attend college the government asked for volunteers who would join one of the segregated Army units preparing to fight in Europe Men with Japanese language skills had the option to join the Military Intelligence Service and serve as interpreters in the Asian theater Those who remained at Amache began to settle into routine usually taught by outsiders guided by the state curriculum The medical center was staffed by both outsiders and prisoners mostly with fellow prisoners as instructors as initial menus featured surplus goods such as hot dogs Some of those incarcerated in Colorado had brought seeds from home and camp directors allowed planting in the spring of 1943 that greatly improved daily fare and dances were held along with talent shows the so-called “Momberg Holdings” board had faithfully kept records and banked the proceeds from the crops and leases Each year members of the board went to Colorado to brief land owners on their fiscal positions and how the season’s crops were growing The in-person visits were augmented by letters and telegrams Frank Suzuki also asked a Portuguese American neighbor to check how his farm was kept up and received periodic updates by mail When it became clear early in 1945 that the U.S government was going to release those who were still incarcerated at Amache it was decided a few Issei farmers would return first in the spring and prepare for the rest to return Starting Over When the bulk of the Livingston families returned home after World War II ended Some had been overseen directly by Gus Momberg and were in generally good shape and some of those had suffered damage and neglect Mature fruit trees had died on some properties Equipment hadn’t been maintained in some cases Owners often had to find temporary housing until leases expired “The tractor dealer wouldn’t sell me a tire.” He quoted the gas distributor as turning him away I will never serve another Jap.” Suzuki kept at it “And I went to get a haircut and the barber rushed me out of there.” Nightriders firing into buildings owned by Japanese farmers became such a problem in northern Merced County the authorities were asked to provide protection The San Francisco Chronicle reported that four rifle bullets were fired into Chiyoko Kishi’s home Patti Kishi told AsAmNews her aunt who was in her bedroom was terrified Fred and Sherman Kishi were both serving in the military at Fort Snelling in Minnesota Interior Secretary Harold Ickes seeking protection for their parents Another attack came at the Morimoto residence with a shot fired about a half hour after the Kishi targeting whom the Chronicle identified as “an honorably discharged soldier,” and his brother chased the car of the assailants but didn’t catch them state and national level although agencies at all three levels said they were investigating The Sheriff went to the Merced County Board of Supervisors asking for additional funding to beef up enforcement and one of the supervisors reportedly made insulting remarks about Japanese not wanted back in the area Returnees looked for any work they could get to augment their farm income Some whose schooling had been interrupted returned to college or trade schools that would provide a profession She had finished her nursing degree and got a job at a hospital in Turlock incarceration took a great toll on the first-generation Issei who had labored for decades in the fields “They were 55 or maybe 60 years old and they were beaten,” said Kirihara The post-war years saw a hand-off to the next generation came back and maintained farms that their fathers gave to them,” noted Kirihara “It was kind of a trap.” Other Nisei once home were drawn to better paying work in urban areas particularly seeking government positions covered by equal opportunity laws The scars of discrimination before and during the war remained Suzuki recalled running into Livingston’s mayor “He said let’s forget about the old times and be friends again Frances Yuge had married James Kirihara after the war Her husband had bought the family farm from his father and took over the 20 acres she got a job for the county as a school nurse in Livingston Kirihara recalls her school in the 1950’s was “70% White 5-7% Japanese.” The demographics were changing in part because the Japanese Americans were selling out Gallo got bigger on the west side of Livingston,” she recalled the farmers sold out to bigger companies.” Patti Kishi told AsAmNews when she was growing up in the 1950’s and early 60’s social life for the Japanese Americans in the area often revolved around church activities The Japanese American Citizens League was active again Kirihara pegged the biggest shift taking place in 1954 to 1965 10% Other.” Kirihara added “We were seeing more of the children going to college Crops evolved as almonds took primacy over peaches and plums The Livingston Farmers Association membership stayed majority Japanese American through the mid-1970’s But the brain drain in the Central Valley was well underway by then we couldn’t keep them on the farm,” observed Kirihara “They didn’t come back because they could find good jobs in the (urban) labor pool.” In 1977 so long a pillar of the Japanese community merged with the original Methodist Church in Livingston When asked about the long tail of incarceration Sherman Kishi said “We never talked to our children about being there” and that He added that he wasn’t really involved in the redress movement that came in the 1980’s “The biggest weight fell off our shoulders was when we got the letter from the President Then the check came.” Though former California governor Ronald Reagan signed the 1988 enabling legislation the apology letter came from President George Bush in 1990 A total of 82,219 surviving citizens and legal immigrant residents of Japanese ancestry received redress from the federal government Sherman Kishi became an unstinting speaker on the history of the Japanese community in Merced County his wartime experiences at Amache and joining the Military Intelligence Service was interviewed at length many times in oral histories and appeared riding a tractor in a public television documentary seen across the country Lasting Impact The Japanese American community of Livingston has kept its creation story alive through photos Some of those archives are on public display at the Livingston Historical Museum on the corner of Main and C Streets The history of the Yamato Colony is also present in a booklet done for the City of Livingston’s Centennial in 2022 The Yamato Colony’s Centennial was celebrated in 2007 with a range of community events that included live entertainment More than 300 came from far away and nearby to honor the Japanese pioneers and celebrate the three generations of Japanese Americans who have followed them Yamato Colony was commemorated in 1989 with the naming of a new elementary school in 1989 Today Yamato Colony Elementary has a student body that is primarily LatinX— 13% Asian or Pacific Islander who had met future husband Fred in Minnesota near the end of the war received an honorary Associate of Arts degree from the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees she was one of about 2,500 California Japanese Americans whose studies were halted by incarceration Years before the southern California ceremony Kimiko Kishi had established the Fred and Kimiko Kishi Endowment Fund at UC Berkeley to assure future instruction and research about the Japanese American experience and Asian diaspora at UC Berkeley which three of their four of their daughters had attended Amache was declared a National Historic Site on February 15th this year making it part of the National Parks Service following Bent’s Old Fort and the Sand Creek Massacre sites receiving the designation The pandemic years of 2020-2023 saw a decline in public education outreach about the Japanese American legacy in Merced County and scuttled cherished community gatherings as well But leaders of the Livingston-Merced chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League are planning an event for this May and hope to resume a Day of Remembrance event in Merced in early 2025 We are currently funded by our readers and such charitable foundations as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AARP, Report for America/GroundTruth Project & Koo and Patricia Yuen of the Yuen Foundation.’ You can make your tax-deductible donations here via credit card Stock donations and donations via DAFs are also welcomed Contact us at info @ asamnews dot com for more info. 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Read our privacy policy for more info tokyo-based fuse-atelier (shigeru fuse) has completed ‘house in abiko’ conceived for a couple who collects furniture as a hobby the design revolves around an open and brought living room that is flexible for multiple configurations the façade oriented to face the street situated on a tight site flanked by neighbouring structures the monolithic form is constructed from reinforced concrete and features a multitude of faceted corners two volumes protrude out of the street facade to create an overhang above the entrance and the car park the larger cantilevered arm is fronted with a single plane of glass which permits sunlight to enter the interior the main living space sits elevated over the street with a double-height void above it the language of the faceted exterior is continued to the interior manifesting as a dynamic multi-angled ceiling form this heightened focal point extends the sense of space vertically resulting in a room that is exceptionally open and airy despite the heaviness of the material used a punched-out sky light and another square-faced window to the back of the plot coupled with the reflective white floor maximizes the amount of natural daylight entering the house (left) cantilevered arm (right) street view structure: reinforced concrete storeys: three above grade site area: 181.44 sqm built area: 53.50 sqm total floor area: 53.50 sqm AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Japanese practice Fuse Atelier has used concrete to create a house that looks like a stone-carved sculpture in Abiko “The client is a couple in their thirties who wanted a gallery-like space so I used reinforced concrete to create a monocoque structure with no need for supporting walls inside,” architect Shigeru Fuse says The shape was also dictated by the ground on which the building sits: it is soft Fuse reduced the structure’s footprint to just 48sq m to minimise the support needed below ground he then designed two cantilevered boxes that protrude from the north and south of the house The result is an open-plan interior that stretches 11m from one end to the other and feels much larger than the exterior suggests the home echoes past concrete masters: it is soaring and cavernous like Le Corbusier’s Saint-Pierre church in Firminy and cocooning like Tadao Ando’s buildings which provide shelter from the visual chaos of Japan’s urban fabric But it is also aligned with a new wave of Japanese architects who are designing buildings that acknowledge and embrace their surroundings “We wanted to frame views of nearby trees which are also angled to maximise light and shield the interior from neighbours,” Fuse says A bedroom and bathroom are by the entrance on the ground floor and a cantilevered metal staircase (which is legal despite its lack of balustrade) winds up to the central living space before finishing at an internal balcony at the top By designing the roof and walls as one continuous structure Fuse spread the load of the heavy material more evenly throughout the building The folds and arch of the concrete roof also refract light and create different ceiling heights which help delineate different areas within a single space with the ceiling stretching five metres above it while the cantilevered sections at either end are more enclosed In a country still reeling from a natural disaster there’s an understandable concern about building standards but this concrete house has a reassuring permanence and the roof was damaged in another,” Fuse says so I used reinforced concrete to create a monocoque structure with no need for supporting walls inside Famed Japanese manga artist Fujiko Fujio A known for beloved children’s cartoons including Ninja Hattori and Little Ghost Q-Taro was found near his home in Tokyo yesterday but tributes to Abiko were posted on Twitter by artists and publishers Abiko was the eldest son of a monk at a temple in the central Toyama region but his family left after the death of his father when Abiko was in fifth grade “My father’s death changed my life the most I think I would have been a monk,” he told Asahi Shimbun in 2020 who later created Japan’s much-loved cartoon Doraemon They formed a partnership that debuted in 1951 jointly producing works under the pen name “Fujiko Fujio,” and shared a Tokyo apartment with other famous manga artists mischievous ghost child who starts living with a human family Abiko also created various manga by himself a ninja who becomes best friends with a regular kid The death of the famed mangaka known as Fujiko Fujio A at the age of 88 was met with great sadness among fans and fellow manga artists on Thursday and took it upon himself to keep alive the legend of the apartment house Tokiwaso where he once lived with Osamu Tezuka and other greats of the manga world and a replica built nearby to house a manga museum It was at a preview of a special exhibition titled “Tokiwaso and Osamu Tezuka” on April 6 that Abiko last appeared in public before a crowd “Tokiwaso was an apartment that defined our lives,” he said upon viewing the exhibit Abiko also touched on his memories of helping Tezuka with the final episode of Tezuka’s “The Jungle Emperor” series “The master [Tezuka] would be blasting a record of Tchaikovsky’s symphony while I helped out with the scene where the expedition team collapses on a mountain in a blizzard,” he recalled nostalgically The preview was held in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic wearing a mask of a character from one of his representative works the Toshima Ward official in charge of the Tokiwaso Manga Museum said upon hearing of Abiko’s sudden passing: “He would often say but had a warm relationship like a family.’” The ward is thinking of holding an exhibition of Abiko’s work during the current fiscal year “We will work toward it as an expression our gratitude to him,” Kumagai said Located a few minutes’ walk from the museum is Matsuba a ramen shop which Abiko frequented with Fujio Akatsuka and others from the Tokiwaso group during his time there the ramen here was a feast,’” the 58-year-old shop owner recalled “It’s sad he will no longer be coming here to eat.” said he had spoken with Abiko only about a week ago Kikuchi is the chief priest of Kozenji temple in Himi It would make me happy if many people will again look at his works and bring back memories,” Kikuchi said Manga creator and Doraemon co-creator Fujiko Fujio A (real name Motoo Abiko) passed away on Thursday morning at his residence in Kawasaki Police responded to a call that reported someone had collapsed at about 8:40 a.m but Fujiko had already passed away by the time officers arrived at the scene Police are investigating the particulars of Fujiko's death but noted that a cursory examination revealed that Fujiko did not sustain any suspicious injury or wounds Fujiko Fujio A is perhaps best known for his collaboration with Fujiko F. Fujio (real name Hiroshi Fujimoto) under the collective pseudonym Fujiko Fujio The duo penned the world-famous Doraemon manga about the titular robot cat from the future and his friendship with the boy Nobita The pair worked together before parting in 1987 with Abiko taking the Fujiko Fujio A pseudonym and Fujimoto taking the Fujiko Fujio F (later Fujiko F Doraemon has launched one of the most successful children's media franchises in the world inspiring numerous anime films and three separate television anime runs the third of which began in 2005 and is still ongoing and remains one of the most highly rated anime on Japanese television week after week a 2017 television anime that represents the latest adaptation of his individual work Source: TBS via Hachima Kikō Motoo Abiko was found collapsed at his home in Kawasaki Police were called for help at around 8:40 am The police are currently investigating the cause of death there didn’t appear to be any suspicious wounds or injuries Abiko had a pen name which he developed along with Hiroshi Fujimoto and Hiroshi Fujimoto pen named Fujiko Fujio (F) they co-created a highly popular manga series called Doraemon Doraemon became an extremely successful children’s media franchise The latest one movie just came out in March of this year The second anime series began airing in 2005 and is still ongoing and a highly rated weekly Japanese television series Motoo Abiko was a manga creator throughout his career Creating such works as Ninja Hattori (1964) He was also creator of several anime titles including adaptions of some of his manga series like The Smiling Salesman and Ninja Hattori Little Monster was adapted into two television anime series that aired from 1968-1969 followed by two anime films in 1981 and 1982 Another series he created was called Pro Golfer Saru which was adapted into an anime TV special and an anime series that aired from 1985-1988 as well as two anime movies in 1986 and 1987 The Laughing Salesman was adapted into a anime TV series that ran from 1989-1992 with a 2017 anime series called The Laughing Salesman NEW which followed more of his most recent adaption of his work Source: ANN Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The episode focuses on the changes requested for the Tokyo Blade stageplay script by Abiko Samejima revealing the complications that arise from her request Conflicts emerge with Abiko’s demand for a complete overhaul of the script leading to disputes between the scriptwriter Goa and Abiko The episode highlights the complexities of adapting a manga into a theatrical play Abiko decides to rewrite the script herself placing Goa in a difficult position and showcasing the challenges scriptwriters often face rehearsals are postponed until the new script is completed The episode also reveals Aqua's lack of interest in stage plays prompting Akane to take it upon herself to introduce Aqua to the world of theater bringing him to a Stage Around play to show the impressive side of theatrical productions and change his perception Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the Oshi no Ko anime Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 2 picks up where the previous episode ended She compliments everyone’s acting skills but then shocks everyone by requesting a complete change in the script The story shifts back in time to the first staff meeting for the Tokyo Blade stage play Aqua and Kana Arima arrive together and encounter Melt Narushima Melt mentions it has been nine months since they worked together informs them that he has been honing his acting skills since then and asks them to criticize his performance if he’s not doing well Akane greets Aqua and offers her help if needed A jealous Kana watches from afar and briefly chats with Melt about Akane and Aqua’s relationship They also talk about their previous project as Melt declares his determination to perform better this time The focus shifts to Abiko and Yoriko Kichijouji It’s revealed that Abiko used to be Yoriko’s assistant Abiko asks Yoriko about her experiences with her work being adapted into other media and invites her to watch Tokyo Blade’s stage play rehearsal together noting Abiko’s quirky personality and the challenges of having one’s work adapted into other mediums hopes that everything goes well with the play Also read: My Hero Academia's handling of a controversial topic finally comes full circle with Eri and the Todoroki family the focus returns to the present as Abiko insists on a complete script modification Producer Raida explains the challenges of such a drastic change just 20 days before the play Abiko reveals she never fully approved the script and was told she would like it after seeing rehearsals which she finds disappointing after watching Scriptwriter Goa apologizes and offers to adapt the script to her wishes She deems the deviations from her original work unacceptable Tension rises as she prepares to criticize Goa's abilities as a creator The narrative of Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 2 explains the complexities of adaptations highlighting the common disputes between original creators and scriptwriters stemming from differing opinions and the different needs of various media formats It emphasizes the key role of communication in these situations communication between the original author and scriptwriter involves multiple intermediaries often leading to miscommunication and misunderstandings In a meeting with Raida, Abiko and her editor discuss the situation, while Yoriko, Goa, and Aqua wait outside Yoriko suggests that Abiko’s dissatisfaction is due to miscommunication Abiko asserts that the current scriptwriter is unfit to handle her work Also read: Tower of God season 2 episode 1: Bam continues climbing the tower as Ja Wangnan is introduced She insists on rewriting the script herself and threatens to revoke permission for the play unless her conditions are met Abiko declines payment for her scriptwriting and asks Raida to credit and compensate Goa as originally planned but insists that he must be removed from the project entirely Aqua remarks that Abiko is behaving childishly Yoriko comments that mangakas are often picky and socially awkward Aqua asks Goa about his feelings on the situation stating that he might be removed from the project if things continue this way A dejected Goa shares the challenges scriptwriters frequently encounter describing their low status and lack of influence in decision-making He mentions how scriptwriters can easily be replaced and receive criticism for any deviations from the original work while credit tends to go primarily to the original creator when things go well They often face pressure from superiors to inject their ideas while striving to produce quality work Also read: Demon Slayer Hashira Training Arc finale: The Hashira and Tanjiro confront Muzan as Infinity Castle Arc begins In the closing scenes of Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 2 Goa requests to remove his name from the credits due to pride but Raida explains the complications since the staff has already been announced Raida acknowledges that he found Goa's script acceptable and apologizes for the circumstances Goa reflects on his hard work and sacrifices for the project feeling dejected despite giving his best effort Rehearsals are postponed until the new script is completed prompting Akane and the others to contemplate the challenges they will face due to the delay Akane says she wanted extended rehearsals since it's a Stage Around play Akane is surprised by his disinterest in stage plays Aqua explains his reasons and preference for video content with strong direction Akane acknowledges the challenges stageplays face but dismisses Aqua's viewpoint as outdated Given that their upcoming play falls into this category she insists that Aqua broaden his knowledge of it The episode concludes with Akane planning to take Aqua on a date to watch a Stage Around play which she believes surpass those of video content Your perspective matters!Start the conversation The beginning of the episode focuses on Aqua and Akane’s date to watch a stage-around play which dramatically alters Aqua’s perspective on theatrical performances and Melt visit Yoriko Kichijouji to seek her assistance in persuading Abiko Samejima highlighting the challenges of writing a stage play script Abiko and Yoriko subsequently have an argument but eventually reconcile Aqua sends Abiko to watch the same stage-around play that transformed his outlook hoping it will similarly change Abiko’s perspective and convince her to reconsider Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the 'Oshi no Ko' anime Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 3 begins with Ruby chatting with her friends at school Miyako informs her that live performances aren't possible until Kana's play concludes announcing the delay in the rehearsals and mentioning Aqua's date with Akane The episode then shifts focus to Akane and Aqua’s date where Akane takes him to see the stage-around play Smash Heaven Aqua is impressed by the performance and realizes the unique qualities of stage-around plays he tells Akane he enjoyed it far more than expected praising the factors that enhance the experience They then encounter Tokyo Blade’s producer says Abiko can't write the script and praises Smash Heaven’s script Raida mentions his reluctance to remove him from Tokyo Blade Aqua insists Raida is the only one who can resolve the issue Aqua and Akane discuss the miscommunication between the author and the scriptwriter Wanting to repay Akane for showing him a good play Also read: Twilight Out of Focus complete release schedule: All episodes and where to watch them In Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 3, Aqua, Kana Aqua explains that famous creators often become arrogant and ignore advice from others Akane thanks Yoriko, who reveals that Abiko won't join them due to her busy manga schedule has an introverted character and desires to bond with others but struggles Abiko's quick fame made her believe her opinions are absolute Akane asks if Yoriko can convince her, but Yoriko recalls a failed attempt due to Abiko’s issues with the Sweet Today adaptation. Therefore, Yoriko says she can't persuade Abiko, prompting Aqua to ask Yoriko to pass on a message to her instead who is busy working due to her extreme workload Abiko tells her that she fired all her assistants because she was unhappy with their work Yoriko begins helping her to meet the deadline A stubborn Abiko counters with Yoriko’s weak points Abiko mentions Yoriko spending time with the Tokyo Blade cast and expresses her own inability and desire to do the same Also read: Tower of God season 2 episode 2: Viole’s identity is revealed while his mission as a FUG member brings trouble In the closing scenes of Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 3 Abiko and Yoriko finish their work by morning and Yoriko advises Abiko to avoid being too harsh with others When Abiko asks how to get along with people Yoriko suggests letting others handle their parts in collaborations Abiko mentions her love for Sweet Today and her dissatisfaction with its TV drama adaptation Abiko watches the final episode of Sweet Today understanding Yoriko’s words through Kana’s performance The episode concludes with Yoriko giving Abiko the envelope from Aqua containing tickets to the Smash Heaven stage-around play remembering Yoriko’s suggestion that it could be a useful reference for writing the script Tokyo Blade’s author Abiko Samejima experiences a stage-around play for the first time which broadens her perspective on the medium This new understanding leads to a collaboration between Abiko and GOA to revise the script for Tokyo Blade’s stageplay The new script places a strong emphasis on the actors' talents and their ability to convey emotional scenes This struggle brings back memories of his past and Ai’s death she figures out Aqua and Ruby’s true identities as Ai’s children Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 4 begins with Abiko attending the stage-around play at Aqua's suggestion they discuss the new script for the Tokyo Blade stageplay explaining the drawbacks of last-minute writing He mentions that the play she just watched was scripted by GOA with one condition: she wants to work directly with the scriptwriter to develop the script together The episode then shifts to Raida organizing a video call with GOA During their discussion, they finally reach an agreement as Abiko acknowledges GOA’s talent mentioning that she recently enjoyed a play he scripted and requests him to create something similar for Tokyo Blade The two creators spend the entire night collaborating in a productive and enjoyable session and complete the revised script Also read: My Hero Academia season 7 episode 11: UA’s Big 3 confront Shigaraki as he pierces Bakugo's heart In Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 4, the rehearsal with the revised script begins While Akane and others are pleased with the changes The director asks Aqua for a more emotional performance vital for the stageplay's impact on audiences Later, Akane tries to console Aqua, but Kana points out that his personality affects his ability to portray emotions Aqua agrees and asks Kana for advice on acting emotionally Kana suggests imagining his mother's death to connect with deep emotions but this triggers Aqua's memories of Ai's death Kana then advises him to think of happy memories to better express the required emotions for his scene but his guilt over being unable to save Ai quickly resurfaces Akane comforts Aqua and considers contacting his family noting that he knows Aqua's situation and that this isn't the first time Aqua felt like this Gotanda reveals to Akane that Aqua has been through a traumatic experience Gotanda explains that despite years of counseling Aqua still struggles with it but tries to hide it from his family to avoid worrying them He notes that such trauma is hard to fully overcome admitting that even he was somewhat affected by it Also read: Deku may have ignited a change in the Hero Society and My Hero Academia chapter 428 hints at it In the closing scenes of Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 4, Akane checks on the resting Aqua. Overwhelmed by regret, he mutters Ai’s name, leading Akane to realize the deep connection Aqua and Ruby have with Ai. She connects Ai’s murder and Aqua’s reaction to her earlier prediction about Ai's possible illegitimate children promising to always stand by him and share in his suffering With the release of Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 3 the anime delved deep into a manga creator's lifestyle While the fans were hoping for Aqua Hoshino to succeed in helping scriptwriter GOA retain his staff position the anime switched its focus to manga creators Yoriko Kichijouji and Abiko Samejima showcasing how different creators deal with their workload those who delve deep into the animanga community must know that manga creators often overwork The same was depicted in Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 3 as Abiko Samejima could be seen driving herself crazy while working on her manga While many fans must have heard about manga creators having a tough time maintaining their health they must have never realized how bad their situation could be Doga Kobo revealed everything behind the scenes to a manga creator when their series became widely popular This was not the case for Abiko Samejima Abiko had a tough time trusting others with her work she refused to have any assistants who could not match her art This saw her working on a weekly manga alone Moreover, she was unwilling to compromise on the art quality as she would spend hours drawing intricate details for the characters and backgrounds. These poor decisions made her work with only two hours of sleep daily. As one could guess, such a lifestyle could only be detrimental even Yoriko Kichijouji asked Abiko to change her ways such suggestions only caused Abiko to have outbursts Abiko wanted to connect with others but had no idea how to Thus, she would do everything she could to please others to avoid any conflict. This included adhering to the cruel weekly manga schedule, changing plot points based on character popularity polls This was also the reason why Abiko had a tough time trusting someone else (GOA) with her work She had always been doing everything on her own trusting others was the last thing she could do Doga Kobo was able to deliver all such emotions beautifully As evident from the events that took place in Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 3, it seems like Doga Kobo itself fell into the trap Abiko had fallen into The anime episode saw Yoriko express that Abiko was changing plot points in her story based on what fans would like Doga Kobo had seemingly done the same with the anime episode. As evident from the manga series, Ruby Hoshino was not supposed to appear in this episode the animation team must not have wanted to disappoint Ruby fans for the third week in a row they tailored some events that took place earlier in the manga and some anime-original scenes to give fans some Ruby and B-Komachi moments While the scenes themselves don't harm the story they seem too out of place for fans who have read the manga Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 3 was an above-average watch While fans must not have been left impressed by some of the scenes at the start The exchanges between Yoriko and Abiko were fantastic and helped fans learn about their relationship the anime will build up some momentum with the same With the release of Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 2 the anime delved deeper into Abiko Samejima and Goa's dispute While fans were hoping to soon witness the 2.5D Stage Play showcasing a dispute between the original manga creator and scriptwriter This is something that has been known to take place in various media not many series take the initiative to describe the same as well as the Oshi no Ko anime has done The credit for the same certainly goes to the manga creators Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari Doga Kobo's depiction of the same was simply beautiful Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 2 was an eye-opener for many fans as they had no idea what goes on behind the scenes between an original creator of a story and the scriptwriters of its adaptations Several adaptations are disliked by fans when compared to their original. While fans get to have their say openly, it is very seldom when anyone gets to hear the original creator's views on the same due to contractual obligations Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 2 got past that and depicted how an original creator feels when their work gets tarnished when adapted into other media While what the anime showcased with Abiko Samejima was an extreme of how a manga creator could react Even scriptwriter Goa's monologue to Aqua Hoshino and Yoriko Kichijouji was quite insightful from fans' perspective While fans are quick to judge an adaptation and criticize the people behind it they too have reasons behind their actions Scriptwriters have it rough as they need to comply with many requests, including that of creators, producers, directors, and agencies. If the adaptation succeeds fans shame the scriptwriter like a war criminal In addition to the situation surrounding the original creator and scriptwriter, Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 2 also went in-depth in its explanation of the game of messages. While Abiko Samejima had conveyed what she needed to be corrected by the scriptwriter the message was manipulated several times by the middlemen essentially erasing the original message entirely the only people one would hold accountable are the message's sender and receiver Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 2 began with the depiction of events that took place before the anime's first episode While the disturbed chronology of events may not have confused the audience it was certainly a hindrance given how fans must have been looking forward to witnessing the continuation of Abiko and Goa's conflict from the beginning of the episode the changed chronology of events forced fans to wait for nearly 11 minutes just so they could watch what they had tuned in to witness While Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 2 certainly had its fault with respect to the changed chronology of events, the anime episode did save itself through the execution of the scenes themselves. Fans got to witness several beautifully drawn scenes of fan-favorite characters Kana Arima and Akane Kurokawa the anime succeeded in giving its audience a clear picture of what takes place behind the scenes during an adaptation Hopefully, Oshi no Ko season 2 will depict the rest of the anime's events without disturbing the chronology in which the events take place in the manga series pen name for the co-creator of the long-running Doraemon manga has one of the highest chapter counts in manga history was also known for the manga series Ninja Hattori-kun All four series inspired anime adaptations Follow along as this article discusses the details surrounding Abiko’s tragic passing as well as his contributions to the manga industry tragically passed away near his home in Japan on Thursday morning Police responded to a call reporting that someone had collapsed outside the artist’s home at 8.40AM Police are said to be investigating the death but stated there were no indications of suspicious injuries or wounds based on a cursory observation Abiko’s most significant contributions to the manga industry consist of his co-creation of Doraemon with the former also receiving several spin-off manga series Abiko and Fujimoto penned the Doraemon manga together until 1987 The latter continued writing the series until his death in 1996 The series spawned three separate TV animes the third incarnation of which began in 2005 and still runs as one of the most popular children’s weekly TV series in Japan to date Abiko’s tragic demise marks the passing of yet another Osamu Tezuka-era manga artist serving as an incredibly sad loss for the community the peak manga era in terms of quality consisted of the Tezuka-era style of writing and illustration for manga Many contemporary mangaka, such as One Piece author and illustrator Eiichiro Oda cite Abiko’s work as a heavy inspiration for them Both contemporary artists and fans have mourned his passing on social media exemplifying how relevant his work has remained in the years since its release Motoo Abiko’s tragic passing marks yet another grieving loss for the mangaka community While the Doraemon co-creator did at least live a full and long life his passing nevertheless remains incredibly sad to bear His various series have served as inspiration to many contemporary authors as well as shaping some of the most valued memories of manga readers There can be no overstating his influence on the manga industry and his legacy will be one of ingenuity and creativity Follow along for more anime and manga news as 2022 progresses