#4 Morning Musume。'14 Teen Member Haruna Iikubo Shares her Love of Showa Period Manga with the World（3/3）

2014.07.16

What does Showa period manga mean to Iikubo?

“The feelings that manga artists have for their characters really comes across when you read their works. This is perhaps no more obvious then with Showa manga. They’re not just neat and simple stories; they’re often full of human emotion. A lot of the stories are about heartache and many really make you think.”

To Iikubo, manga is a crucial part of life.

“For me, manga are text books for life. They make me laugh, they make me cry…perhaps it’s a rather simplistic opinion, but if more people read manga, I think that the world would be a more peaceful place. For as long as I live, manga is something that I will always keep by my side and I will never throw away. It’s my lifelong treasure. Just like I read manga from my parents generation, one day, when I become a mother, I will have three generations worth of manga that I want my child to read, too. It would be great if more people from my generation seeked out Showa period and earlier manga as well. Just like with fashion, it’s interesting how you have the older stuff that was considered old-fashion and uncool but then you revisit it and it’s fashionable again.”

Morning Musume。is an idol group loved by people all over the world and Japanese manga is loved by people all over the world, too. Do the two share anything in common?

“One thing I think that Morning Musume。and manga share in common is the strength of their individualities. Morning Musume。is like a coming-of-age story that shows the growth of the idols from their auditions, which, as I too found, makes it easy to empathize and identify with them. And just like how you can see the individuality and how your emotions change each time you read through a manga, I think people can feel this change in Morning Musume when they watch us.”

My life changed in a big way when I just happened to see them perform live in Paris in 2010.
At the time, I wouldn’t have been able to comprehend a Morning Musume。without a single member remaining from that Paris group. But the way that the 9th generation, 10th generation (that includes Iikubo), and 11th generation members have continued to grow and evolve is nothing short of exceptional.
Now the only member left who also took part in the Paris concert is Sayumi Michishige. The same Michishige, along with nine other members who are yet to experience a proper overseas concert, will take to the Broadway stage in New York for a concert on October 5th.

“I would love to go to New York and be able to share my love of manga in my own words.”

I can’t wait to see the ten girls perform and to see how Iikubo goes about sharing her love of manga – an early leader of entertainment on the global stage – with the people of New York.

⇒ [Pop Culture Chronicles] #4 Morning Musume。'14 Teen Member Haruna Iikubo Shares her Love of Showa Period Manga with the World - RETURN TO TOP

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Columnist: Sakurai Takamasa

Contents Media Producer, author, journalist, specially-appointed professor of Digital Hollywood University, Digital Hollywood University graduate school, Sakurai Takamasa is a cultural diplomat who produces events and gives lectures in 120 cities in 25 countries. He acts as a cultural diplomat pioneer with anime and Harajuku Fashion. He is frequently invited as a guest to various Japanese events held worldwide. Having written several books including: "Nihon ga Suki sugiru Chugokujin Joshi" (PHP Shinsho), "Sekai Kawaii Kakumei" (PHP Shinsho), "Anime Bunka Gaiko "(Chikuma Shinsho), he is a radio personality who also regularly writes columns for various newspapers, magazines and web magazines.

●twitter http://twitter.com/sakuraitakamasa/

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