A powerful graphic novel /manga that tells the story of "Minamata disease," a debilitating and sometimes fatal condition caused by the Chisso chemical factory's careless release of methylmercury into the waters of the coastal community of Minamata in southern Japan. First identified in 1956, it became a hot topic in Japan in the 1970s and 80s, growing into an iconic struggle between people versus corporations and government agencies. This struggle is relevant today, not simply because many people are still living with the disease but also because, in this time of growing concern over the safety of our environment--viz. Flint, Michigan--Minamata gives us as a very moving example of such human-caused environmental disasters and what we can do about them.

Promotion and advertising at the Association of Asian Studies Conference, EcoJustice and Activism Conference, etc. Advertising in program guides, convention bag inserts and prize support with anime conventions (Anime Expo, A-Kon, Otakon, etc.) Pursue endorsements from eco activism organizations and eco activists. Galleys/e-galleys (100+ copies) sent to national media outlets, trade publications and audience-focused websites and reviewers. (The New York Times, The Japan Times, Kyoto Journal, LA Times, National Book Review, Book Forum, Book Riot, Booklist, BookPage, Forword, Kirkus, Library Journal, NPR, Pop Matters, Portland Book Review, City Book Review, Publishers Weekly, Rain Taxi, SF Chronicle, Shelf Awareness, The Guardian, Washington Post, Seattle Times, East Bay Express, AV Club, JQ Magazine, Asian Review of Books and many more. Special outreach for reviews, interviews and excerpts with the author to Japan related and eco justice related outlets. (Japan Times, Eco Warriors, etc.) Author is very active. Pursue features, reviews and interviews in The Japan Times, The New York Times, Animation Magazine, OtakuUSA, Crunchy Roll, KQED San Francisco, NPR Digital review copies on Edelweiss and Netgalley Giveaways with websites focused on key audience of Japan general interest, eco justice, anime and manga. (100+ copies.)

About the Author

Sean Michael Wilson is a comic book writer from Scotland. He has had more than 30 books published with a variety of US, UK and Japanese publishers. Working with various Japanese artists he has written a unique line of Japanese history/martial arts books, including The Book of Five Rings, Yakuza Moon and Black Ships. In 2016 his book The Faceless Ghost was nominated for the prestigious Eisner Book Awards and received a medal in the 2016 'Independent Publisher Book Awards'. In 2017, his book Secrets of the Ninja won an International Manga Award from the Japanese government - he is the first British person to receive this award.

Akiko Shimojima is a comic artist from Japan. Her career began when she was in a university in NY. Her comics have been published by several companies in Japan and other countries. She has been working with Sean Michael Wilson, on various projects, including The 47 Ronin, Bushido, and the Satsuma Rebellion. Her book Cold Mountain was the winner of the China Comic and Animation Competition 2015 'Best Overseas Comic' award. She also teaches how to draw digital comics at a college in Tokyo.

Brian Small is an environmental activist and teacher at Minami Kyushu University.

Reviews

2022 Skipping Stones Honor Awards Recipient

2021 NCTAsia Freeman Award Honorable Mention

"The complicated history of environmental injustice depicted makes this worthy reading."

-Publishers Weekly

"An important read that can easily be incorporated in the classroom. Wilson shows the resilience of the human spirit, and through Tomi declaring a call to action while giving his report to prevent this from happening again, I sense the passion of Wilson and Shimojima in this book."

-Near Mint Condition

"Super educational. A solid start to introduce this incident to those who don't know about it."

-Graphic Policy

Book Information
ISBN 9781611720563
Author Sean Michael Wilson
Format Paperback
Page Count 112
Imprint Stone Bridge Press
Publisher Stone Bridge Press