Awards

• Long-listed for Manga-ZIN Award 2008 (Japan)
• Nominated for BOOK☆WALKER Manga Award 2013 (Japan)
• Winner of Best Work Award - Long Form Category - Kindai Mahjong Manga Award 2008 (Japan)

Overview

In The Legend of Koizumi, manga artist Hideki Ohwada reimagines international politics as a series of direct confrontations in which diplomacy gives way to decisive action. Global crises are settled through high-stakes mahjong, turning geopolitical conflict into a test of judgment, nerve, and national resolve. At the center is former Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, portrayed with unwavering composure and a refusal to yield. Around him, real political figures appear as adversaries in escalating encounters where the stakes quickly move from negotiation to survival. Each confrontation raises the risk, forcing leaders to act under pressure as retreat becomes politically unthinkable. Ohwada pushes events far beyond realism while presenting them with complete seriousness. The scale grows extreme, but the emotional logic remains familiar: positions harden, reputations are on the line, and escalation follows when neither side can afford to back down. The intensity is deliberate. Escalation is the engine of the story. Mahjong provides the framework for these confrontations, reducing global crisis to a visible contest of will. The result is a work of political satire that treats leadership as performance under pressure and conflict as a struggle driven by pride, resolve, and the cost of retreat.

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9781969071027

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Hideki Ohwada (born 1969) is a Japanese manga creator known for bold political satire and high-concept storytelling that transforms real-world power struggles into large-scale dramatic spectacle. Since his debut in the late 1990s, he has built a wide-ranging body of work that blends detailed knowledge of contemporary history with the pacing and intensity of genre manga. Ohwada is best known for The Legend of Koizumi, his cult political series that casts world leaders as strategic combatants in battles where diplomacy, ideology, and national survival collide. His work is recognized in Japan for its provocative premises, dense historical references, and a distinctive tone that moves seamlessly between dark humor and absolute seriousness. By treating modern politics as both satire and mythic conflict, Ohwada has established a reputation as one of manga’s most fearless concept-driven storytellers, attracting a dedicated adult readership drawn to works that are as intellectually sharp as they are visually and narratively explosive.

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