Neo Gomanism Manifesto Special - On War

Neo Gomanism Manifesto Special - On War

Starting in September 1995, a Japanese manga artist named Yoshinori Kobayashi, known to be right-wing, published a three-volume manga series called "Special" as an addition to the Neo Gōmanism series in "SAPIO" magazine. Even though the series received criticism from intellectuals and groups, including the Academy of Outrageous Books and foreign media outlets like "The New York Times" and "Le Monde," for "rewriting history," Kobayashi continued to push his agenda. In a verbal dispute published in a book titled "The On War War," Sōichirō Tahara argued with Kobayashi over the manga's content. Apart from ideological criticisms, the manga was found to contain historical inaccuracies, manipulated evidence, and irrational arguments. For example, it stated that neither the Chinese nor Japanese people had authority over Manchuria, and only Japan remained autonomous when the West colonized East Asia, ignoring countries such as Siam and Japanese colonies like Korea and Taiwan. Moreover, the manga aimed to provoke young readers who had no knowledge or little information about the matter. It's essential to note that although both the manga and Carl von Clausewitz's "On War" share a common name, namely, "Sensō Ron," Kobayashi's manga has no connection to the latter.