New York's Kinokuniya Bookstore honours Osamu Tezuka with a day of events

by Chris MaGee

Of course 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the death of the "God of Manga" Osamu Tezuka. We've seen tributes in Japan in the form of Hitoshi Iwamoto's big screen adaptation of Tezuka's dark revenge manga "MW" and an exhibition of Tezuka's personal possessions and drawings that took place at the Edo-Tokyo Museum in the spring, as well as the upcoming CGI-animated version of Tezuka's most well-known creation "Astroboy". Now Japanator has news of yet another event marking this anniversary that will take place in New York this weekend.

The Kinokuniya bookstore at 1073 Avenue of the Americas west of Bryant Park will host an entire day of events in honour of Tezuka starting at noon on Sunday, October 18th with a screening of episodes of the classics 1960's "Astroboy" series. After that guests will have a chance to hear from representatives from Vertical Inc. who publish many Tezuka titles in North America, Cina Mattos' Miho Hatori who'll discuss her love of Tezuka's work, and Abrams Books will have copies of their new coffee table book written by Helen McCarthy dedicated to the legendary manga artist and animator's career titled "The Art of Osamu Tezuka".

Sounds like good times, so if you live in New York then make sure to check it out. Thanks to Japanator for the word on this.