Feature Sharing Japanese Literature with the World

A wide variety of readers across ages, national borders and languages have loved the Japanese manga series Doraemon since it first appeared fifty years ago. The little robot cat is so popular outside Japan that the manga series has been translated into a dozen languages.

TAMAKI KAWASAKI

Children always enthusiastically welcome their pal Doraemon during school visits

THE LITTLE ROBOT STILL ENCHANTING FANS WORLDWIDE

OBITA Nobi is a boy who is the representative work of has gained numerous fans both struggles with everything Japanese manga artist Fujiko F within and outside Japan. The Nfrom schoolwork to Fujio (the pen name of Hiroshi series has been translated into sports and friendships. Naturally Fujimoto). The manga storyline twelve different languages this is a source of frustration for follows Nobita and his friends, and published in seventeen his mother, who scolds Nobita who overcome challenges in countries, and the anime series daily. But one day Doraemon—an their everyday lives aided by the has been broadcast in fifty-five earless robot cat traveling back amazing futuristic gadgets that countries. in a time machine from the Doraemon pulls out of his “four- Translated Doraemon manga twenty-second century—jumps dimensional pocket.” Since it was are particularly popular in Asia. out of Nobita’s desk drawer and first published in 1970, the series “In particular, Vietnamese changes his life. has been adapted into an anime fans’ love of Doraemon A science-fiction manga series as well as films. Over the is unprecedented,” says series for children, Doraemon past five decades, Doraemon Mitsuru Saito, chief producer

18 highlighting japan So far the series has been translated into twelve different languages and Highly popular in Vietnam, the Doraemon series occupies a third of the manga published in seventeen countries section in bookstores

of international media at the manga section in local preserve the manga’s form and publisher house Shogakukan. bookstores. value as it is, and continue to Even before Shogakukan and “The Doraemon manga pass it on to future generations,” their counterpart in Vietnam series was originally created Saito says. However, they concluded the official licensing for magazines that Shogakukan continue to improve the contract, Doraemon was already used to publish for school-aged quality of their publication. For famous in Vietnam due to children, so the character is like instance, in pursuit of better unauthorized copies. Fujio opted a friend to young readers,” says picture quality, they renewed not to receive royalties accrued Saito, explaining the reason for the printing films for the original from this official licensing, the character’s celebrity and volumes of the series. requesting instead that the popularity. “The simple and “We’ll keep sharing Doraemon money be spent on promoting easy-to-understand artwork, manga with the world,” Saito education for children who the fun plots where Doraemon says. “While it may have a long wish to learn. The Doraemon makes children’s innocent history, we want to continue to Scholarship Fund, founded wishes and dreams come true emphasize the appeal of this to honor Fujio’s wishes, has using his gadgets, and the gentle wonderful, timeless work.” allowed over ten thousand and encouraging worldview that Thanks to the efforts of the Vietnamese children to pursue encompasses the characters are publisher that took over Fujio’s their education. universally appreciated, going creative philosophy, through the When Doraemon—now a beyond generations and national pages of manga Doraemon will traffic safety mascot throughout borders.” continue to be a trusted friend Vietnam—appears at schools, As the publisher responsible to children for generations while children welcome him for preserving the original staying true to himself. enthusiastically. The Doraemon artwork from the manga series, series occupies a third of “it is Shogakukan’s wish to

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