GUARDIAN OF FUKUSHIMA, from TokyoPop on March 1st, 2023, recounts the true story of Naoto Matsumura – a farmer who refused to abandon his animals when a tsunami destroyed the nuclear reactors at Fukushima on March 11th, 2011.
The Details
- Written by: Fabien Grolleau
- Art by: Ewen Blain
- Colors by: Ewen Blain
- Letters by: Ewen Blain
- Cover art by: Ewen Blain
- Comic Rating: All Ages
- Cover price: $19.99
- Release date: March 1, 2023
Is It Good?
GUARDIAN OF FUKUSHIMA is both amazing and heartbreaking. Set against the real-life nuclear disaster at Fukushima when its reactors were destroyed by a devastating tsunami, GUARDIAN OF FUKUSHIMA tells the story of Naoto Matsumura – a man who refused to leave the animals of his town behind. The true account is astounding on its own, but Fabien Grolleau and Ewen Blain craft a story that’s part reality and part fairytale to capture the supernatural spirits that surround every natural disaster and help us make sense of the overwhelming.
It’s difficult to express how truly moving this OGN is. Imagine a disaster so terrible that everyone is forced to flee, leaving helpless animals behind in a broken, abandoned town. Ewen Blain’s austere art poignantly captures the sadness of an empty town falling apart due to the tsunami’s damage and general decay. The town, in effect, becomes a dying survivor, just like the animals who only have months or weeks to live after drinking contaminated water. If you could imagine Death as an invisible force that permeates the air around you, Blain’s art is as close as you could get to that visualization.
Of course, the centerpiece of this story is the real-life man, Naoto Matsumura, who readers follow through the first earthquake hit, to the hours of uncertainty afterward when families realize the extent of the damage, to the panic and dread when the first reactors explode. Naoto isn’t an extraordinarily stoic man, but as presented here, he’s a determined man, willing to take risks to do what he believes is right when others call him foolhardy. Naoto is a stubborn man with a kind heart, and if nothing else, he’s earned our respect.
We typically review entertainment-focused comics on this site, but we’re glad this OGN was brought to our attention, and we fully recommend you give it a look.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with an introduction to Naoto Matsumura and his family as they enjoy a peaceful Spring day at their home outside town on March 11th, 2011. Suddenly, the ground rocks from a massive earthquake that destroys buildings, knocks out electricity, and blacks out all communication. Naoto’s family is accustomed to earthquakes, so they begin the patient process of gathering provisions until power is restored.
As the day wears on, aftershocks hit the area and put everyone on edge, but the aftershocks lessen in intensity with each pass, and the family begins to believe the worst is over. When Naoto and his family begin to feel safe, a neighbor runs over to warn them about a new development. The family gathers on the nearby hilltop to look down at the valley as the seawall is engulfed with massive waves towering over 45 feet in height. The tsunami engulfs most of the town, including the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Naoto tries to soothe his distraught nephew by recounting the legend of the giant fish, Namozu, who shakes the Earth with the flick of his tail, and Kashima, the swordsman tasked with calming Namozu down. As night turns to day, the family takes stock of provisions in preparation for a long wait for rescue.
However, a new day brings fresh horror when the first nuclear reactor explodes. We conclude the OGN with desolation, starvation, death, and determination.
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Final Thoughts
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GUARDIAN OF FUKUSHIMA is a stunning presentation about a real-life catastrophe and a determined man willing to stand up to the government, science, and the forces of nature to protect innocent animals. Intermixed with local legends as a coping mechanism for the tragic horror enveloping Fukushima, Naoto Matsumura’s determination elevates him to a legend in his own right.
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