Naoki Urasawa, manga artist: "In Japan, we are aware that life can end at any time due to disasters"

Naoki Urasawa is remembered for his mastery of international thrillers with Monster (Kana, 2010), a chase between a surgeon and the child he once saved, who has become a terrifying murderer, drawn between 1995 and 2001. His surrealist epic created in 2000, which plunges a group of friends into the twists and turns of an apocalyptic sect, 20th Century Boys (Panini, 2014), is often mentioned.

His latest series started in 2018 in Japan, Asadora!, whose ninth volume was released on Friday, June 6, in France, confirms a return to more lightness for the mangaka born in 1960. In his twenties, Urasawa had already turned to comedy with a female judo manga, Yawara! (Kana, 2020). "After the great earthquake of 2011, Japan was plunged into a difficult period, and that's when I said to myself that perhaps I should put an end to my dark phase and make more optimistic works" , confides the author passing through France as a guest of the Rendez-vous de la bande dessinée d'Amiens, Saturday June 7 and Sunday June 8, where his work is being honored through an exhibition.

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