Fukushima Devil Fish

Using his caricature abilities, Susumu Katsumata had been warning Japanese citizens about the hazards of nuclear power for more than two decades prior to the Fukushima Daiichi reactor meltdowns in 2011. Fukushima Devil Fish takes inspiration from Katsumata's research trips to the infamous facility and his physics background. The book's initial two stories focus on the "nuclear gypsies," unfairly labored men responsible for maintaining Japan's nuclear power facilities during the 1980s. The following narratives, originally in the famous Garo and COM alt-manga magazines from the late 1960s and 1970s, feature Japanese folklore creatures and lonesome individuals who have lost their homes and families. Fukushima Devil Fish, with its haunting and heartwarming moments, demonstrates Katsumata's skills as a comics master in poetic form and as a true friend to the casualties of Japan's modernization. Additionally, the compilation includes a series of essays by the artist, historian Asakawa Mitsuhiro, and critic Abe Yukihiro that provide insight into Katsumata's life and career, as well as the significance of his work in the post-Fukushima age.