Ayako - Osamu Tezuka
Created in 1972-73, Ayako is one of Osamu Tezuka's dark exploration of people and society, specifically dealing with the significant post-war years from the 1950s, right up to the present day in the 70s. It's not a pleasant story to say the least, the American occupation giving rise to enormous upheavals that Japanese society is incapable of adjusting to. More than that, but seen through the eyes of one family, who represent many aspects and attitudes of Japanese society, it even seems to bring out the worse in the Japanese character. Ayako opens with Jiro Tenge returning from the war, the country defeated, its impact shock to the whole nation. He returns to his home village in the country, Yodoyama, to the grave disappointment of his tyrannical father who is ashamed that Jiro didn't die honourably in the war like so many others. Jiro finds that much has changed in the time he has been away, as much with Japan as his family. His teenage sister Naoko is secretly part of a l...