Karl Marx goes manga in a Kapital comic strip

[Die Neue Zeit]

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/markets/japan/article5175853.ece




When Karl Marx alerted economists to the “the knell of capitalist private property” he probably didn’t imagine the phrase cropping-up as a speech bubble in a comic strip for Japanese commuters.

But across the world’s second biggest economy, bookstores from Hiroshima to Hokkaido are preparing for what they expect to be the publishing phenomenon of the year: Das Kapital – the manga version.

The comic, which goes on sale early next month, plays into a growing fascination among Japan’s hard-working labour force with socialist literature and joins a collection of increasingly fierce literary critiques of the global capitalist system.

In recent decades, while Japan Inc was still delivering collective prosperity to the nation, public criticism of companies has been muted. Unions were weak and acquiescent. But now, as the country sinks into its second recession in seven year, the sackings begin and the gap widens between rich and poor, a growing number of Japanese believe the problem lies with capitalism itself.

The ambitious comic rendering of Das Kapital is designed to parcel the complex economic theories of Marx’s hefty original in a format which Japanese adore digesting their information from; it will also be compressed into a size that can be slipped discretely into a Chanel evening bag, or slid into the top drawer of a desk when the bosses are looking. A sneak preview given to The Times reveals that Marx’s central themes are relayed in the comic via a cast of suitably down-trodden workers.

Japanese publishers have historically used cartoons to explain thorny diplomatic relations with China, advanced wine-tasting and even the spread of bird flu: the manga version of Das Kapital takes on even the toughest concepts thrown up in the original, from “commodity fetishism” to the precise process by which “the expropriators are expropriated”.

[Schrödinger's Cat]

Marx is profitable. Too bad he didn't see any of the royalties. :D

[Q]

Good stuff :cool:

[Psy]

Will it be translated to English?

[#FF0000]

That's CAPITAL.

D'ohohohoho.

I'm really hoping for this in English. Every time I read Das Kaptial I learn something knew. Mostly because I've been trying to translate it from German for the past two years.

[Reclaimed Dasein]

Holy shit. I know it's consumerism at it's worst, but I want this so bad. In fact, I'm willing to relearn fucking Japanese in order to read this. Also, if someone is pretty good with photoshop, I might be willing to buy this, translate it, and give the translation to someone to photoshop and release on the internet. I'm involved in a lot of projects right now, but I'm very sympathetic to making this a priority.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Something like this was made in English years ago:

It's called "Marx's Kapital For Beginners" and its by David Smith & Phil Evans. You can sometimes find it in used book stores in the U.S. Everytime I see a copy, I snap it up. It usually goes for $4-$6.

Sometimes its hard to find online, but amazon currently has copies (http://www.amazon.com/Marxs-Kapital-Beginners-David-Smith/dp/039471265X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226999298&sr=1-1) for [/URL] only $0.44!

It's based on the previous books by the famous leftist Mexican cartoonist Rius, who made a lot great comic books like "[URL="http://www.amazon.com/Marx-Beginners-Rius/dp/0375714618/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226999001&sr=1-3"]Marx for Beginners (http://www.amazon.com/Capital-Beginners-Writers-Readers-Documentary/dp/0906495830/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226998837&sr=8-1)," "Nicaragua for Beginners," "Cuba for Beginners", etc. all of which you can find online for a low price.

Taking their cue from Rius, various other folks made "Lenin for Beginners" (though it's anti-Lenin, go figure), "Trotsky for Beginners" and "Che for Beginners."

These same titles often appear as "Introducing Marx," etc. It seems those printed in the UK were called "For Beginners" while those printed in the U.S. were called "Introducing..."

There's also a "Marxism: A Graphic Guide" floating around out there, but I've never had a chance to read it.

[Junius]

Yes there are some communist-themed manga out there.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y15/samehat/dkpchapter03.jpg

[bcbm]

Something like this was made in English years ago:

It's called "Marx's Kapital For Beginners" and its by David Smith & Phil Evans. You can sometimes find it in used book stores in the U.S. Everytime I see a copy, I snap it up. It usually goes for $4-$6.

Sometimes its hard to find online, but amazon currently has copies (http://www.amazon.com/Marxs-Kapital-Beginners-David-Smith/dp/039471265X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226999298&sr=1-1) for only $0.44!

It's based on the previous books by the famous leftist Mexican cartoonist Rius, who made a lot great comic books like "Marx for Beginners (http://www.amazon.com/Marx-Beginners-Rius/dp/0375714618/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226999001&sr=1-3)," "Nicaragua for Beginners," "Cuba for Beginners", etc. all of which you can find online for a low price.

Taking their cue from Rius, various other folks made "Lenin for Beginners" (though it's anti-Lenin, go figure), "Trotsky for Beginners" and "Che for Beginners."

These same titles often appear as "Introducing Marx," etc. It seems those printed in the UK were called "For Beginners" while those printed in the U.S. were called "Introducing..."

There's also a "Marxism: A Graphic Guide" floating around out there, but I've never had a chance to read it.

Rius is good, though I find most of his work pretty uncritical.

[Pirate turtle the 11th]

Im sorry but im just going to have to say what we are all thinking.

FUCK YES!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOO

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Rius is good, though I find most of his work pretty uncritical.

I've heard that before, and I guess it's true to some extent* (especially with his later stuff).. but he did raise criticisms in "Mao for beginners."

* His earlier books on Marx and the Cuban Revolution were on things he supports/agrees with, which are constantly being attacked and slandered, and which he's trying educate about as much as defend, so I'm not sure it would have been great in those books to raise a ton of criticisms.

[Guerrilla22]

this is a great idea. However, I think Marx for begginers is a better idea, in that it could be distributed to high school and middle school kids, possibly even younger, or people who wouldn't ordinarily read Marx. Let's face it, quite a bit of his stuff is difficult for the average person to understand as written.

[Hyacinth]

That's great, combining two things I love: manga and Marx.

But seriously, I'm bewildered as to what Das Kapital in manga form would look like. :confused:

[RedStarOverChina]

Heheh, those Japanese folks and their manga. Invokes a lot of childhood memories. I should look into it.

[RedStarOverChina]

I read an article from the Economist about a Japanese manga centered around a sucessful capitalist and it how it's really popular. I got a little pissed off by the article but now with this Das Kapital manga coming into the picture, my affections for manga is once again, redeemed.

[Vendetta]

Yes there are some communist-themed manga out there.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y15/samehat/dkpchapter03.jpg

...commando sambo?

[deLarge]

Yes there are some communist-themed manga out there.


Erm, the arm lock panel looks.. yeah

[bcbm]

I've heard that before, and I guess it's true to some extent* (especially with his later stuff).. but he did raise criticisms in "Mao for beginners."

That's the one I have, maybe I need to reread it. I thought it was a good intro but the way he presented some things that are a source of some controversy (for lack of a better word) irked me a bit, like the Cultural Revolution.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Something like this was made in English years ago:

It's called "Marx's Kapital For Beginners" and its by David Smith & Phil Evans. You can sometimes find it in used book stores in the U.S. Everytime I see a copy, I snap it up. It usually goes for $4-$6.

Sometimes its hard to find online, but amazon currently has copies (http://www.amazon.com/Marxs-Kapital-Beginners-David-Smith/dp/039471265X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226999298&sr=1-1) for only $0.44!

Thanks for that. I just ordered one.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

That's the one I have, maybe I need to reread it. I thought it was a good intro but the way he presented some things that are a source of some controversy (for lack of a better word) irked me a bit, like the Cultural Revolution.

It's certainly not his best work, and it was written at a time when a lot still wasn't known about the goings on in China (something he admits in the book itself). Check out "Marx for Beginners," seriously. You'll be glad you did.

[Junius]

The weirdest one I ever read was one where this girl had a fetish for stress (?) and she was Nikita Khrushchev's lover. So Khrushchev, in order to impress his lover, increased international tensions with the West, nuclear war and all that stuff. Everyone lost their hair from radiation and their body parts were melting and had holes in. Khrushchev had sex with this girl with a hole in her stomach (she was murdering people just to get stressed since it turned her on). Yeah...

:confused:

[Os Cangaceiros]

The weirdest one I ever read was one where this girl had a fetish for stress (?) and she was Nikita Khrushchev's lover. So Khrushchev, in order to impress his lover, increased international tensions with the West, nuclear war and all that stuff. Everyone lost their hair from radiation and their body parts were melting and had holes in. Khrushchev had sex with this girl with a hole in her stomach (she was murdering people just to get stressed since it turned her on). Yeah...

:confused:

Sounds like a movie I'd watch.

[which doctor]

I read this article a few days ago and I find it relevant to this discussion

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g95uthQvsJvcgNIJ3ZFMs8PGBjxgD9428OU00

It's really interesting that the current best selling novel in Japan is a socialist novel.

[Die Neue Zeit]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jIVYxy6UnhtQ7VjkmmeCSGjt1V5gD957MCKG1



TOKYO (AP) — Just in time for Christmas, Karl Marx is finding a new audience among Japanese comic book fans.

The manga edition of his masterpiece, "Das Kapital," hit Japanese bookstores this month and sold about 6,000 copies in its first few days, said Yusuke Maruo of EastPress Co.

"I think people are looking to Marx for answers to the problems with the capitalist society," Maruo said. "Obviously, the recent global crisis suggests that the system isn't working properly."

Maruo said he hoped the comic version would provide an enjoyable introduction to the German socialist's original work, written in 1867. The targeted readers are office workers in their 30s. Christmas and New Years are a prime time for publishers, as many people have vacations and more time to read.

The fictionalized Vol. 1 of "Das Kapital" chronicles a cheese factory run by protagonist Robin, who rebels against his father's socialist principles and becomes a slave driver after teaming up with a cold-blooded capitalist investor. But Robin struggles between his capitalist ambitions and his sense of guilt over the exploitation of his workers.

Maruo said the comic "Das Kapital" had been planned earlier this year after a revival hit of the 1929 communist novel "The Crab Factory Ship," which portrays a ship's crew forced into harsh labor under a sadistic captain. Several annotated editions of "Das Kaptal" were also released this year.

The book is being translated into English, Korean and Chinese for its upcoming manga debut in the U.S., Asia and Europe. Comic editions of the subsequent volumes are also under way.

Manga, a name used for Japanese-syle comic books, often combine complex stories with drawing styles that differ from their Western superhero counterparts, particularly in their frequent emphasis on cuteness.

[BIG BROTHER]

Well japan differences itself out of other imperialist nations in the fact that there is more industry since it hasn't been all outsourced. Anyways I hope the coming crisis, the Kapital, and the class struggle bring the working class in Japan to overthrow capitalism.

[Invincible Summer]

It would be amazing if Japan turned Communist

[BIG BROTHER]

I know, I mean I don't want to sound stalinist or anything but with the technology that develops in Japan, I could almost see them really reaching communism in one country.

[cyu]

The fictionalized Vol. 1 of "Das Kapital" chronicles a cheese factory run by protagonist Robin, who rebels against his father's socialist principles and becomes a slave driver after teaming up with a cold-blooded capitalist investor. But Robin struggles between his capitalist ambitions and his sense of guilt over the exploitation of his workers.
Thanks for the news update. Good to know :cool:

[Led Zeppelin]

I know, I mean I don't want to sound stalinist or anything but with the technology that develops in Japan, I could almost see them really reaching communism in one country.

When you consider Japan's economy in isolation, that is, completely disconnected from global capitalist system, it is irrelevant.

The same applies to any capitalist nation taken in isolation.

[Robespierre2.0]

I don't want to sound stalinist or anything but with the technology that develops in Japan, I could almost see them really reaching communism in one country.

Socialism in one country is the only way it's going to happen.

I'm not going to say anything other than I hope this turns out to be more than a fad. I won't get my hopes up and set myself up for disappointment, but if, hypothetically, the workers seized power in a post-industrial country like Japan, it would be a monumental step forward- plus, existing socialist nations suffering from isolation (Cuba, the DPRK) would have a new friend with access to western technology on their side.

[Led Zeppelin]

Socialism in one country is the only way it's going to happen.

So basically Stalin was wrong too, because he never claimed communism could be reached in one country alone, just socialism.

Congratulations on taking the "socialism in one country" "theory" to the next level; "communism in one country".

It's so absurd a view that I'm sure most Stalinists would even ridicule it.

[Die Neue Zeit]

^^^ Off-topic, I believe Khrushchev went that far ("communism" by 1980)! :lol:

Back on topic with the manga stuff, please. :)

[MarxSchmarx]

The comicmedium is a terrific way to advance the class struggle. It makes a highly technical and dense work into a very readable and pleasing format. Reminds me of how the early Bolsheviks used rather "simple" abstract art to communicate socialist ideas.

Unfortunately, Japan has a uniquely robust comic culture going back centuries, which is appreciated by a significant minority of the adult population. Nevertheless, I think these kinds of projects are a good start. The left needs more effective tactics like this that appeal to young people.

[Die Neue Zeit]

The comicmedium is a terrific way to advance the class struggle. It makes a highly technical and dense work into a very readable and pleasing format. Reminds me of how the early Bolsheviks used rather "simple" abstract art to communicate socialist ideas.

Unfortunately, Japan has a uniquely robust comic culture going back centuries, which is appreciated by a significant minority of the adult population. Nevertheless, I think these kinds of projects are a good start. The left needs more effective tactics like this that appeal to young people.

And also older people. Here in "the West," my assumption is that comic readers, who are so few and far between (probably because of a lack of superhero enthusiasm ;) ), tend to be "proper" adults, not teenagers.

[Reclaimed Dasein]

Ok, well I'm going to pose it. I speak terrible Japanese, I'm well versed in Marxism, and I have access to several Marxist Scholars. I will front to money if someone in Japan can send this to me or if they're willing to help me and others with a "scanlation" to distribute for free. I think this could be a valuable tool. Is anyone with me on trying to get this over and translated?

[Martin Blank]

Ok, well I'm going to pose it. I speak terrible Japanese, I'm well versed in Marxism, and I have access to several Marxist Scholars. I will front to money if someone in Japan can send this to me or if they're willing to help me and others with a "scanlation" to distribute for free. I think this could be a valuable tool. Is anyone with me on trying to get this over and translated?

I am. I can help find translation assistance.

[Reclaimed Dasein]

I am. I can help find translation assistance.
Good deal. I have the actual site book marked, but I haven't been able to find any import/export companies who will ship it to me. In case anyone was wonder, this is the actual comic site. If anyone knows a way for me to ship it, I will buy three copies. One for me, one for the translator, and one to destroy (cut the spine) so it can easily be scanned.

Translated Web Site:
http://74.125.93.104/translate_c?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.eastpress.co.jp/shosai.php%3Fserial%3D797&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522east%2Bpress%2522%26hl%3Den%26cl ient%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26hs%3DCo3&http://www.eastpress.co.jp/shosai.php%3Fserial%3D797&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522east%2Bpress%2522%26hl%3Den%26cl ient%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:off

[Reclaimed Dasein]

A, I was doing some searching by ISBN I found several sites that had the book and MIGHT be able to ship it to the US. It's about 5 bucks for the book and about 30 for shipping. I might be putting together an order if anyone's interested. Here's what I've found so far.

Kinokuniya Book Store
https://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/guest/cgi-bin/wshoseaohb.cgi?W-NIPS=998400466X&AREA=03&LANG=E

Amazon Japan
http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/4781600212/ref=nosim/isbnsnet_us-22

Also, here's the ISBN numbers

ISBN-10: 4-7816-0021-2 (4781600212)
ISBN-13: 978-4-7816-0021-5 (9784781600215)
http://www.isbns.net/search/?query=9784781600215

[Die Neue Zeit]

Ok, well I'm going to pose it. I speak terrible Japanese, I'm well versed in Marxism, and I have access to several Marxist Scholars. I will front to money if someone in Japan can send this to me or if they're willing to help me and others with a "scanlation" to distribute for free. I think this could be a valuable tool. Is anyone with me on trying to get this over and translated?


I am. I can help find translation assistance.

I'm OK with buying the planned English translation, but it's good to know that it can be compared with "scanlations."

What's more important in the second article that I posted is that there are planned popularizations of Volumes II and III, which haven't been popularized at all in the past (not to my knowledge, anyway).

[MarxSchmarx]

And also older people. Here in "the West," my assumption is that comic readers, who are so few and far between (probably because of a lack of superhero enthusiasm http://www.revleft.com/vb/../revleft/smilies/wink.gif ), tend to be "proper" adults, not teenagers.

That`s interesting. I didn`t know that, yeah, it`s too bad it won`t be as effective with the youth.

[Reclaimed Dasein]

http://mangahelpers.com/s/revolutionarytranslations

I'm working on this translation group. You can order copies from from Yahoo Japan. Just use google translation, and from there you can order it in using the bar on the right. Just sign into an account and enter the relevant information. I've order 5 copies to try and get a translation group going. Hopefully, we'll get it up and scanned so everyone can view it for free online, but no promises on the timeline. I think this will be a valuable tool in aiding in the battle for ideology. Let me know if you have any questions or information.