Showa: A History of Japan 1953-1989

"Celebrated manga artist Shigeru Mizuki, who died in November, put his quirky personality and passionate moral sense on display in this history of 20th-century Japan. In four volumes Mizuki alternated between historical events – with a bias toward the scandalous and macabre – and personal experience. In this final volume his occasional departures from reality, as when he apparently has a mental breakdown from overwork, add an unsettling but fascinating note. Mizuki’s sketches of Japan and New Guinea, with his patented blend of clashing styles, are piquant and engaging throughout."