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Shin Tezuka in English!
That's right, it's here, it's now, it's the new and improved Tezuka in English. Although there is a lot of content on the site, much of it is still in the process of being organized and reformatted to fit our new layout. We thank you for your patience while we work through and clean up each of the sections. If you're looking for something but you can't find it, feel free to contact us!
Did You Know?
Like Father, Like Son
Osamu Tezuka's son, Makoto Tezuka, would later become a film and anime director just like his father.
Welcome to Tezuka In English
Osamu Tezuka (手塚 治虫) was a manga author and creator of many of the first Japanese animation. While Tezuka’s best known creation is, arguably, the world-renowned children’s series Astro Boy, he drew more than 150,000 pages of manga in his lifetime - touching on every style and genre. He wrote for every age-group, from young children to mature audiences, and single-handedly created the majority of the genres and character-types we see in manga and anime today.
"...All Life is Sacred"
Though he is one of the most respected cultural figures of 20th century Japan, finding information in English on his work can be difficult. As such, we'd like to welcome you to Tezuka In English - home of the global community for English-speaking Tezuka fans. Here you will find information on the many manga and anime series Tezuka created, his beloved Star-System cast of characters, what's available in English and what's not. You'll also find links to many other useful web resources including publishers’ sites, official publicity sites, and other fan sites. While you're at it, join our forums and and meet other Tezuka fans from around the world!
Tezuka In English is a volunteer-run fan site working in conjunction with TezukaOsamu.net, the official Japanese website. We're always looking for help, so if you have a link to suggest, please contact us!
Latest News
Bander Book, Marine Express, Fumoon, Blue Blink and Black Jack (2004) among launch titles. more...
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The Tokiw'Asso association - a French association for the promotion of Japanese culture in France and in Europe, named after the famous house where Osamu Tezuka lived between 1953 and 1955, is behind a project to organize a Tezuka exhibition in La Maison de la Culture du Japon à Paris (MCJP - House of Japanese Culture in Paris). more...
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The high end fashion label Lacoste announced a collection of polos, t-shirts and footwear inspired by the cast of characters of Osamu Tezuka’s critical acclaim manga series' to pay tribute to the "God of Manga". more...
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At the press conference for the musical adaptation of the Buddha manga which was held in Tokyo on January 25th, Takayuki Matsutani, president of Tezuka Productions, announced that they will start production of the second part of Osamu Tezuka's Buddha anime film trilogy in this year. more...
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PREVIEWSworld recently announced that Tezuka Productions has signed a deal for Diamond Comic Distributors to distribute its comics, toys, T-shirts and a variety of other merchandise worldwide outside of Japan. more...
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thefutoncritic recently reported that Entertainment One announced the acquisition of the worldwide rights to develop a television series based on Osamu Tezuka's manga Black Jack (1973-83). more...
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In The Spotlight...
Episode guide with summaries for the animated television series, Blue Blink (1989), which was broadcast on NHK General TV from April 7, 1989 to March 16, 1990, for a total of 39 episodes. more...
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Meet Tezuka's Stars!
Shunsaku Ban is one of Tezuka's longest-running characters. He is based in appearance on a caricature of Tezuka's father, drawn originally by one of Tezuka's closest friends in school. He appears frequently in the role of a spirited detective, which fit him perfectly because he always has a strong sense of right and wrong, accompanied by the will to bring about justice. He is quick to anger, but is also compassionate and good-natured. more...
Afill is a generally a minor, saggy-faced comedic character, recognizable by his pug nose, monkey-like ears and wide, exaggerated lips. With no series to call his own, he first appeared in Lost World (1948), and later in Lion Books (1956-57), the Astro Boy (1952-68) chapter, 'Secret of the Egyptian Conspirators' (1959), six times in Black Jack (1973-83), as well as several other smaller titles, all in minor roles. more...
Buku Bukk is another recurring secondary villain commonly seen in Astro Boy, Black Jack and more than 20 other series. Characteristic of early Tezuka when the villains still had a warm and friendly center, Buku Bukk is less villainous than Skunk and others, frequently a gang member, corrupt political aide, misguided military officer, or corporate executive. more...
James Block is a young black man approached in prison by a scientist who offers him invisibility technology. The technology goes wrong, rendering James Block’s face hideously translucent, and he is twisted by his disfigurement. Instilled by a hatred of all things beautiful, James renames himself Alabaster and sets out to found a criminal gang bent on destroying the beauty of the world. more...