The manga this week
Matsumoto
Original story in French by LF Bollee, illustrated by Philippe Nicloux, translated into Japanese by Masato Hara (Seibundo Shinkosha)
Twenty-three years have passed since the Aum Supreme Truth cult attacked the Tokyo subway system with sarin nerve gas. This year marked a milestone as the criminal trials of a number of suspects involved in the incident concluded in January. The public now awaits the fates of 13 convicts on death row, including cult leader Chizuo Matsumoto, better known as Shoko Asahara.
At the same time, a growing number of younger generations of Japanese know nothing about the incident. A bande dessinee (French graphic novel) documenting the incident was published in France. Though a Japanese translation of the book was released last year, now is definitely an apt time to read it.
The story begins in the wilderness of Australia, where, in 1993, Asahara and his followers purchased a large sheep farm. Many sheep die abnormal deaths at the farm, and an Aboriginal boy who witnesses the events falls ill. The disquieting scene shifts to Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, where we see a sequence of events related to the sarin gas incident in the city unfold. This incident, which preceded the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system, is narrated from different viewpoints, including those of young people who joined the cult and Matsumoto residents who were victimized by the attack. The storyline is partly fictionalized but is essentially an account of what actually occurred. The straightforward, realistic drawings truly reflect the traditional bande dessinee style and amplify the sense of fear and tension.
Author LF Bollee and illustrator Philippe Nicloux boast a list of celebrated bande dessinee works. I'm impressed they perceived a symbolism in the shared names of the cult leader Matsumoto and Matsumoto Castle, which is located in central Matsumoto. Though there is no apparent connection between a modern cult and a castle built in the Sengoku warring states period, I found their perspective quite refreshing. Both are similar in that they are sources of assurance for people, while also exerting dominating and controlling influences.
Speaking of symbolism, shortly after "Matsu-moto" came out in France, Paris was hit by coordinated terrorist attacks in November 2015 that were allegedly carried out by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant militant group.
When the book was published, people in France initially reacted as if an incident similar to the Aum attack could never happen in their country. However, the two incidents are very similar in that they were both indiscriminate terrorist attacks carried out by organized groups. This graphic novel shows that youth interest in cults is a global phenomenon, with a solution yet to be found.
Ishida is a Yomiuri Shimbun senior writer whose areas of expertise include manga and anime.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
