VOX POPULI: Timely reprint of Tezuka manga sums up anxiety of discrimination
Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a daily column that runs on Page 1 of The Asahi Shimbun.
September 1, 2026 at 13:10 JST
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In a scene from Osamu Tezuka’s short manga titled “Nagai Ana,” the protagonist Moriyama is reprimanded by his son for hiding his heritage as an ethnic Korean. ((c) 2026 Tezuka Productions)
The story is set in Japan during the post-World War II economic boom. The protagonist is a naturalized Japanese citizen of Korean descent who keeps his origins hidden while climbing the ladder of success.
But he is still haunted by memories of his harrowing wartime <a href="https://comicvibe.com/experience-bayou-sol-the-only-full-service-aerial-entertainment-company-in-swla/” title=”Experience Bayou Sol: The only full service aerial entertainment company in SWLA”>experiences as well as fear of being discriminated against. He screams in desperation, “How far does this tunnel go? Help me, someone!”
This is “Nagai Ana” (The long tunnel), a short manga by Osamu Tezuka (1928-1989) on the theme of discrimination against “Zainichi” ethnic Koreans in Japan.
It was originally published in a weekly magazine in 1970 and reprinted in book form in June this year, after decades of remaining virtually forgotten because it was never included in anthologies of Tezuka’s works.
Holding the volume in my hands, I was surprised that far more pages are devoted to commentary than to the manga itself.
One of the commentators, Seiichi Hayashi, who is a third-generation Zainichi Korean, noted: “This work depicts the ‘dread’ felt by anyone who can be subjected to discrimination, not only ethnic Koreans in Japan.”
Hayashi went on to point out the significance of reprinting it: “Now that xenophobia is surging in oblivion of historical discrimination, it is important to drive a wedge into (society’s collective) memory.”
The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 occurred on Sept. 1 exactly 103 years ago.
Amid the chaos, malicious rumors such as “Koreans poisoned community wells” spread, resulting in the indiscriminate killing of Koreans and Chinese by neighborhood vigilantes as well as the military and police.
The atrocities were triggered by anxiety-driven mass hysteria, and the victims also included Japanese citizens who hailed from provinces or were hearing-impaired.
The line between “us” and “them” is extremely ambiguous and volatile.
There is nothing we can do about natural disasters, but we must prevent human-caused disasters. Just think about it: Once you have been targeted for “ostracization,” your life cannot be guaranteed.
Being able to remain calm and empathic is crucial when things turn ugly, and Tezuka’s “Nagai Ana” serves as a helpful guide.
According to the publisher, Hosei University Press, the book is now in its sixth printing.
Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
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