Anzai Ikuro
Director, The Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University
Director, The Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University
The good thing about Popoki is that he isn’t larger than life.
Tetzuka Osamu’s Tetsuwan Atom (Mighty Atom) is a super boy. Well actually, all the characters in Japanese animations are larger than life. No problem is too hard for them to solve. I always ask worry what will happen to them if they continue this way. There is a hand-written poster opposing the Vietnam War made by Tezuka Osamu in the Ritsumeikan International Museum for Peace. A Vietnamese child is sitting next to a miserable hovel and pointing a finger toward Japan. The Japanese hero characters popular at the time were all shown, as if to say “If there are so many heroes, why don’t you send one here to Vietnam?” In fact, the Vietnamese didn’t need those heroes. They solved their problems by themselves.
Popoki is just himself. He is sensitive and curious. He sees things just as they are, feels what he feels and reacts naturally. He is about as far away as you can get from the desire for fame and political ambition that is poisoning human society.
Tetzuka Osamu’s Tetsuwan Atom (Mighty Atom) is a super boy. Well actually, all the characters in Japanese animations are larger than life. No problem is too hard for them to solve. I always ask worry what will happen to them if they continue this way. There is a hand-written poster opposing the Vietnam War made by Tezuka Osamu in the Ritsumeikan International Museum for Peace. A Vietnamese child is sitting next to a miserable hovel and pointing a finger toward Japan. The Japanese hero characters popular at the time were all shown, as if to say “If there are so many heroes, why don’t you send one here to Vietnam?” In fact, the Vietnamese didn’t need those heroes. They solved their problems by themselves.
Popoki is just himself. He is sensitive and curious. He sees things just as they are, feels what he feels and reacts naturally. He is about as far away as you can get from the desire for fame and political ambition that is poisoning human society.
“Popoki’s World Debut!” Go for it, Popoki. Go for it!
