Five must read Budo comics

Manga is one of the most popular Japanese exports to the world, and although they have become mainstream recently in the west , comics have a long history in Japan dating back to 12th and 13th centuries.
There are many differences between western comics and the Japanese versions , from the drawing style, to the dramatism on the stories, but the main difference resides on the topics on them, as manga series touches themes like business, politics, history, sports and of course Budo.
And it’s back to what is believe to be the first manga in history, that it’s relationship with martial arts was born. Chou-giga, is a series of drawings of frogs, rabbits and other animals in comedic situations that includes Sumo and maybe Jujutsu fights between them.

In Japan is not unusual to meet people who decide to take and pursue a hobby or lifestyle because of the influence of manga.Generations of karate or Judo fans have got inspirations on the pages of their favorite comic magazines.

We have chosen 5 comics, we consider represent different stages between martial arts and manga, not our complete favorites, as we are still busy finishing Vagabond by Inoue Takehiko, which definitely will be in a top position.

Please , if you like this article share it and share also your favorite manga or comic with us!

Karate Baka Ichidai

In Japan, before MMA, there was Kyokushinkai. And before Rickson there was Mas Oyama.

Known as “The Hand of God”, the founder of the hardcore, full contact style took the world by storm with his unique training techniques and unorthodox philosophy. His influence even inspired a popular Weekly Shonen Magazine manga that ran from 1971 to 1977. This was then adapted into a TV animated series or anime. Like all good manga, it portrayed real events mixed a dash of fiction and over the top action, which actually reflected the extraordinary life of Oyama sensei. His advocacy for a unique full contact karate style, unheard at a time in Japan, was received with strong opposition by the traditional Japanese karate world. This forced his hand (almost literally) to fight and gain recognition and respect.

Typical of martial arts literature, the first three parts of the manga narrate Oyama sensei’s journey to become stronger, his quest, to prove his technique around the world. In the manga, he is depicted with long hair, a style most likely based on his appearance after training in isolation for three years. At 23, Oyama sensei recluded himself at Mt. Minobu and dedicated his entire being to his craft; honing his mind, body and technique. As the story progressed, we get a glimpse of Oyama’s misfortunes in establishing the Kyokushin Kaikan. It is during these tumultuous times that many new characters are introduced; characters based on another legendary karate teachers such as Shigeru Oyama, Hideyuki Ashihara, Noboru Yamazaki, Yoshizo Suzuno and so forth.  Also, as the story develops, other big names in pop culture and martial arts appeared in the comic. For example, the wrestler Rikidozan and legendary judoka Masahiko Kimura, who in real life met Oyama in the most renown university of martial arts Tokushoku (check our guide of dojos to know more).

The line between fiction and reality in Mas Oyama’s life was always very thin. Without knowing the actual events, anyone would think that Karate Baka is just a superhero comic. To most people in Japan watching the original version, the story of Mas Oyama fighting bulls to harden up his arms or beating up Yakuza gangsters just for fun, further consolidated his image as pop icon.
It would impossible not to mention that Karate Bakka is a product from the mind of Kajiwara Ikki, probably the most prolific and famous sports manga author in Japan.  The 3 most popular sports in Japan wouldn’t be the same without Kajiwara’s work. Kyojin no Hoshi or Star of the Giants is probably the most popular baseball comic in Japan. Ashita no Joe (Tomorrow’s Joe), Kajiwara’s other work, inspired generations of young people to take up boxing. 

 Similar with karate and Oyama Sensei, Kajiwara’s stories mixed reality and fiction, when one of his creation, Tiger Mask, left the comic world and took on a life of its own in the Japanese pro wrestling circuit. Today, it has become the iconic persona of several Japanese professional wrestlers.

Musashi no ken　六三四の剣

The theme of rivalry has a long tradition in Japanese comics, probably inspired by the legendary nemesis encounters such as Musashi vs Kojiro . and its in this context where Musashi no ken takes place. Set in Iwate Prefecture, the story follows 63-year-old Natsuki Musashi,the heir of legendary Kendo family, who needs to overcome the death of his father and at the same time deal the confrontation with rival Shurahashi Tojuto  The story is divided into elementary school days and high school days, where the story focus on the training regime  heading to decisive inter-high tournament between rivals.

Author Murakami Motoka although never practiced Kendo himself, was influenced by his father who was an experience kendoka and shared with him many stories and anecdotes from his younger times. Inspired by legendary boxing comic,Ganbare Genki, Murakami decided to write motivational sport comics for young adults.

The name of the manga is based on the main character’s, Musashi, whose name read it in japanese the same as his the date and time of his birth, 4:00 pm on June 3, 634 =六三四.  

Musashi begin practicing Kendo at the age of three under the strict guidance of his parents until the sudden death of his father, after winning a championship match against Todo Kunihiko, father of Musashi’s soon to become nemesis, Todo Shura. The drama is set and ready to explode!

While holding a grudge against the Todo family, Musashi pretends to stop training kendo for a while and starts different activities like skiing but planing his return and vengeance against his foes, allowing his father steps and training methods to finally winning the national kendo championship.

The manga was a success, with later various developments such as a TV animation in 1985, and a Nintendo game in 1986.

Aaaa Harimanada

Is interesting that in a society, like the Japanese, where hierarchy and team loyalty are highly regarded, thatstories of lone wolves and rebel outcasts are extremely common and popular.  One of those many stories is Aaa, HarimaNada, which is set in one of the most isolated and orthodox underworlds in Japan: Sumo. With an impressive 28 volumes, this sumo-based manga begins with Harimanada Isao, a professional and controversial sumo wrestler that gains promotion to the rank of Yokozuna – the highest rank in professional sumo wrestling. The story takes us through his victories and loses in and out the ring, fighting for titles and battling against the old traditional ways, characteristic of the sport.

 With outrageous techniques and unusual antics, HarimaNada bulldozes rivals in the ring. This however infuriates the traditionalist and in particular the Sumo big bosses; of whom go on to become his toughest opponents. After many confrontations, including HarimaNada stepping into the dohyou with a samurai battle mask, he decides to break up with the Association and start his own training stable: Harima Nada Dojo. He then goes into a magnificent 64-win streak leaving the Sumo Association without any another option than to acknowledge their defeat and beg HarimaNada to return.

The comic started as a series in Morning magazine to become an Animation "It gets stronger when you see it! Yokozuna Animation Aaaa, HarimaNada"  broadcast from 23 April 1992 to 1 October 1992 on TV Tokyo and later on became a popular arcade video game.

Again, fiction imitates reality, as Aaaa, HarimaNada looks very much like episodes lived by many past and recent Sumo champions who have been hardly repress by the Sumo Association, perfect examples are the experiences of Takanohana as stable master trying to change training methods and the way Sumo is marketed have put him in direct confrontation with his elders at the Sumo board or the case of Asashoryu, one of the most powerful and charismatic wrestlers of recent times, that was forced to retire at the peak of his career due some of his attitudes and behavior were consider not “proper” of a Yokozuna

Yawara!

In a world mostly dominated by male leading characters, Yawara! was a refreshing novelty. Inokuma Yawara seems to be another young Japanese high school girl. She is, however, raised by her grandfather, 7th dan Judo master Inokuma Jigorou to become Japan's great hope for the women's Judo competition at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Yawara, though, as most high schoolers do, just wants to live a normal life.

 This comic story coincides with the end of what is called the Bubble era in Japan. A time of economic boom that saw people spending big, a time when women began getting better and more prominent roles in society. One of those figures was Tamura Ryoko, the petit judoka, considered by many the greatest female Judoka of all time, who was considered by many in Japan, the real-life Yawara. The public was so infatuated by her that they nicknamed Tamura Ryoko, Yawara-chan. 

 The combined factors of the Barcelona Olympics being the first to introduce women’s judo, Tamura’s first Olympic appearance and her meteoric rise to the final at the age of 16 merged both comic and reality. Thus, consolidating Tamura and Inokuma’s legendary status in pop culture.

The anime adaptation of the comic titled Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl!, was broadcasted from October 16 1989 through September 21 of 1992 where at the end of each episode, a countdown of days remaining to the start of the Barcelona Olympics was featured. Tamura ended up losing in the final, but in the aftermath, began a 84-winning streak until the next Olympics. In that final, sadly, she lost again… which started the phenomena dubbed the ‘Olympic curse’.

 Distributed in Japan as Ranma 1/2's sister show, Yawara was significantly more popular in Japan than Ranma. Together with the work of Tamura Ryogo, Yawara! contributed to the boom in women's judo in Japan in the 1990s, leading to the rise of a new generation of competitors. 

Baki the Grappler

The 90s saw the birth of many combat-based martial arts organisations and events, with the K1 kickboxing tournament leading the way. In addition to that, the original Pride and the first Vale Tudo tournament held in Japan helped move the spotlight towards modern combat sports. And of course, Japanese comics fans were ready to help to popularise the new fad.

 Keisuke Itagaki's manga Baki the Grappler is maybe one of the most recognisable “Kakutogi” (or fighting sports ) comics in Japan, with numerous variants and series, as well as a tv anime and video game that still is going strong.

 The gory and extremely violent story follows 17-year-old Hanma Baki as he gets involved in a series of underground fights held at a secret location under the Tokyo Dome, where he becomes the undisputed champion. Again a family conflict dominates the core of the story as Baki’s rich mother funds his training to have him become as powerful as the legendary fighter, his father Hanma Yujiro.

I have to be honest., personally i don’t like neither the plot or the art from Baki, lot’s of manga turned extremely violent in the 90’s and to me it was a big turn off, that, and definitely the feeling of Budo is totally missing on this one.  The only reason we included this comic into this list is particular character of the story,  Shibukawa Kouki, the grand master of the Shibukawa Ryu Jujutsu school also, called “the highest peak of modern martial arts" 

This old traditional martial artist destroys big opponents even without trying , with a a series of mysterious techniques but always with a gentle and calm persona.  The first time you read the comic,  You don’t need to think to much to see where does the author got his inspiration for this character. The small and fragile master, but with incredible speed and accuracy, resembles not just physically but also in manners and many episodes in the life of grand master Shioda Gozo, founder of the Yoshinkan style aikido, sometimes referred as the “hard style” because of it non no sense ways of training and real life applications.

The character by Keisuke Itagakithe is a form of homage to the friendship he had with Master Shioda, and many of the qualities of the fictional character were based on memories of fear, speed,and technique, that the author felt when actually touched by Shioda sensei.

Which is your favorite Budo manga of all time?