PRESS RELEASE
Comics can make us laugh, make us cry, make us feel powerful, make us feel seen, and bring us together. TOKYOPOP invites you to read more “Comics That Matter”.
GUARDIAN OF FUKUSHIMA features a forward written by Roland Kelts, the Tokyo-based writer, journalist, scholar, and renowned authority on Japanese culture. Bonus content in TOKYOPOP’s edition includes photographs of the disaster and its aftermath by acclaimed photographer and Fukushima resident, Ko Sasaki, along with photography and information about the tragedy by TOKYOPOP founder and Pray for Japan filmmaker, Stu Levy.
“When I discovered Matsumura-san’s life in the forbidden zone of Fukushima, I immediately was in awe of this man’s courage, modesty, and nobility,” recalls GUARDIANS OF FUKUSHIMA author Fabien Grolleau. “His story is full of hope and resonated with themes I was keen to explore as an author, such as ecology and nature, and with the vision I had of Japanese myths that I wanted to share through comics.”
“I am honored to contribute to this project, which is an artistic celebration of nobility and perseverance in the face of tragedy and incompetence,” says Roland Kelts. “It’s also beautiful, and I’m grateful that TOKYOPOP is publishing GUARDIAN OF FUKUSHIMA for English readers worldwide.”
About GUARDIAN OF FUKUSHIMA
Description automatically generatedIt was March 11, 2011 when a massive earthquake triggered a devastating tsunami, which, in turn, destroyed the cores of three reactors of the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. This tragedy cost almost 20,000 lives and devastated countless more, including that of Naoto Matsumura, a farmer evacuated from the deadly radiation zone.
Unwilling to abandon his beloved animals, Naoto chooses to return home to his farm — and to fight for the beauty of life. This important graphic novel originating from France alludes to timeless Japanese legends as an ode to Mother Nature, and human resilience. GUARDIAN OF FUKUSHIMA was originally released by the French publisher, Steinkis, and has been licensed for English language release by TOKYOPOP.
GUARDIAN OF FUKUSHIMA, written by Fabien Grolleau, artwork by Ewen Blain · 144 Pages · Print MSRP: $19.99 · ISBN-13: 9781427871367 · On sale February 28th
GUARDIAN OF FUKUSHIMA is the second title in this new catalog of TOKYOPOP graphic novels published under its “Comics That Matter” initiative, which also includes 2022’s release of VICTORY FOR UKRAINE, an impactuful collection of nine stories by Ukrainian creators focusing on the heroism of the Ukrainian freedom fighters in the face of overwhelming forces.
