Hideo Kojima is known not only for being the creator of the Metal gear And Death Stranding franchises, but also for his love of good stories, no matter the medium. The game director often shares his passionate reviews on social media of movies, books, and especially manga and Japanese animation, as Kojima has recommended multiple anime titles over time. But this time, Kojima posted a manga recommendation made to him by none other than horror author Junji Ito.
Junji Ito and Hideo Kojima are old buddiesAs they are from the same generation and have known each other for almost 30 years. Hideo Kojima even included Junji Ito as an NPC in it death stranding, Wrote the foreword to the French edition of his manga sensor, and attended his wedding.
Because of this, it is not strange that they make recommendations to each other, with Ito’s latest proposal being posted by Hideo Kojima on his X account.
What is somewhat unusual is that Junji Ito did not highlight a horror story but a psychological manga, Saturn return By Akane Torikai.
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Saturn returnRealistic human rights drama earned Junji Ito’s recommendation
Hideo Kojima has proven to be a fan of heart-wrenching stories about loss and human connections
Saturn return is a psychological manga full of drama with existential overtones about a writer with creative block after her first successful novel, whose friend and inspiration recently committed suicide. The manga tackles difficult topics like loss and depression with a fair share of mystery as the story gradually reveals the reasons for her friend’s decision and also why she gave up on her dreams as an author.
While Saturn returnThe drama contrasts the stories found in Junji Ito’s collections, the horror author is also fond of stories that describe the human condition, as proven by his manga adaptation of the novel. No more human by Osamu Dazai, which presents the suffering and loneliness of a person who alienates himself from others.
also, On the same note as No more humanWhat about self-destructive tendencies? Saturn return is a dark emotional story about lonelinessGuilt, and death, which reflects the emotional burden and the search for guilt to fill the void left in the living when people leave too soon. Additionally, grief and human connections are stories that metal gear s Creator enjoys, as shown by Kojima’s recent recommendation of the anime film by the author of Chainsaw man and the themes explored in the Death Stranding Franchise, so Saturn return is the perfect narrative for him, which explains Ito’s recommendation.
Saturn return is a must-read manga that invites the auto reflection of one’s life
Akane Torikai is heavily inspired by the manga artist Inio Asano
Saturn return is an acclaimed manga nominated for the prestigious Tezuka Osamu Culture Prize Awards in 2024. Additionally, The author, Akane Torikai, is the ex-wife of Inio AsanoThe creator of the popular manga series Goodnight Punpun And Dead Dead Demon’s Deadly Destructionwhose anime adaptation is currently airing on Crunchyroll, and thanks to their past relationship, Asano’s influence is indeed notable in the realistic art style, character design and upsetting tone of Saturn return. Moreover, it is impossible not to think that the image of marital problems in Saturn return is not partly autobiographical.
However, the story is also about life regrets using these Saturn returnAn astrology term, as a metaphor to refer to the turning point in one’s life when you face your fears in order to move on. This proves that Junji Ito and Hideo Kojima enjoy everyday stories with deep exploration of psychological themeslike Saturn returns manga, which, although difficult to navigate at first, is an enjoyable story about life.