Week 9/10 - Concept & Design Development
- Tramaine Berry
- Nov 23, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 27, 2023
Inio Asano - Oyasumi Punpun
Inio Asano is recognized for his realistic stories that range from romance to psychological horror. In 2001, he won first prize in the GX competition for young manga artists; the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper described Asano as "one of the voices of his generation". Oyasumi PunPun is a story about adolescence and the grim realities of transitioning to adulthood; his art establishes a dense, realistic atmosphere that presents various emotions through different aesthetics.
Shuuzou Oshimi’s Chi no Wadachi is a psychological masterpiece and one of the best seinen manga I’ve read in recent years. It’s a manga that focuses on trauma, abuse and manipulation
The story takes up steam when he learns of the suicide of one of his friends, Donkey. At the same time, a cult, led by a figure only known as Friend, becomes more and more popular.
Jagaaaaaan
It tells the story of Shintarou Jagasaki, a young police officer who’s frustrated with his quiet and boring life.
On another boring day, he and his partner escort home a drunk man. On the train, they witness an office worker transforming into a twisted monster. The creature beings tearing apart the other passengers, but is ultimately defeated by Jagasaki with a bream he shoots from his hand.
Case studies
Naohiro Nishitani (not his real name)
Office Manager, Central Tokyo (salaryman)
12-hour working day -- early morning until 10pm
Smokes and drinks
A few months before death, it was difficult for him to drag himself out of bed, work and socialise. Slept through entire weekends and regularly late for work. Lost interest in simple pleasures
Naoya Nishigaki, 27
Systems engineer
'I can't do anything. I don't feel like doing anything. I just feel irritated, exhausted, and disgusted. I try to suppress these feelings with medication, but I feel like my medication has become less and less effective lately. I'm so worried. What should I do?'
Shota Nakahara,32
Former systems engineer
Depression for 8 years due to overwork, sleep deprivation and stress
Won a lawsuit in 2006 for overwork
Quit his job
Panasonic employee, 43
Suicide in 2019 October
Worked as a factory worker for Panasonic since 2003. Promoted to Deputy chief position in 2019 - technology department.
Reduced sleep after promotion. Only slept between 4-5am and left for work before 8am. Left work by 8pm but overworked at home with the company's laptop to finish work tasks - company didn't tell him to work from home. Depression.
Worked over 100 hours
'Dad is tired. It’s too much work. I can’t forgive Panasonic. Please tell my story to the media.'
Had a wife. She noticed the increased workload in April 2019. September, 'I can't finish it. Ive just got too much work to do.'
Doted on his children - played soccer with them on weekends. However, promotion made him too exhausted to show up for soccer games
I am choosing this case study as this has the most detail about the character's life and it fits my audience. There are still details missing from this character profile, so I will base the rest of the information on the average Japanese citizen, such as average number of children and most common surname.
Karoshi Symptoms
Headache, Dizziness, Nausea, Stomachache before heart attack or stroke
Distracted
Weakened immune system
Lack of energy
Mood swings
Opmerkingen