Ayako

Osamu Tezuka, godfather of manga, here defies the conventions of his manga by utilising a completely original cast and relying solely on historical drama to drive the plot. Ayako pulls no punches and does not allow for gimmicks as science-fiction or fantasy may. Instead, Tezuka weaves together a tale which at its core simply focuses on a single family, a family that could be considered a metaphor for a rapidly developing superpower. Overflowing with imagery of the cold war seen through Japan's eyes, this monumental tale is regarded as Tezuka's most political work.