Manga Messages of Hope & Strength
Kumamoto Prefecture is well known to many people thanks in part to the region’s mega-star yurukyara Kumamon. Easily a household name in Japan, the bear, which is said to have surpassed a billion yen in revenue, has now become a symbol for those outside of Japan to rally behind in support of the disaster-stricken region.
By SoraNews24
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2016/04/19/touching-messages-of-support-for-kumamoto-by-artists-in-china-and-the-manga-world/
Illustrators from China have paired their nation's own symbolic bear, the panda, comforting the iconic bear of Kumamoto.
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2016/04/19/touching-messages-of-support-for-kumamoto-by-artists-in-china-and-the-manga-world/
This adorable drawing's caption reads, "Because we are ‘bears,’ because we are ‘life'."
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2016/04/19/touching-messages-of-support-for-kumamoto-by-artists-in-china-and-the-manga-world/
This one says, "I would like to be with you again on a peaceful Earth.“
Of course, inside Japan as well, many Kumamon-themed messages of support for Kumamoto have been steadily coming out from the manga community.
https://twitter.com/WANPOWANWAN/status/721288880092160000/photo/1
Let’s start off with manga author George Morikawa, known for his long-running Hajime No Ippo boxing manga. The text reads, “Please be strong!!”
https://twitter.com/WANPOWANWAN/status/721565287879868416/photo/1
This is another manga piece from George Morikawa where Kumamon exclaims, "I haven’t lost mon!" against opponent Mamoru Takamura from Hajime no Ippo.
https://twitter.com/raikumakoto/status/721291131288293377/photo/1
The creator behind Animal Land and Zatch Bell, Makoto Raiku, decided to show off one of Kumamoto's famous products, shochu, with the iconic bear saying, "Because I heard that Kumamoto men never lose as long as they have sake... THIS!!"
https://twitter.com/YoshikawaMiki/status/721328074680197122/photo/1
Miki Yoshikawa, the manga artist who wrote Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches, transformed the lovable bear into a witch with a caption that reads, “I stand by you!!”
