TOKYOPOP Publishing will release a touching new manga titled A Smart and Courageous Child on September 24. The story explores the deep love and fear that comes with motherhood.
Created by Miki Yamamoto, the manga won the 24th Manga Division Excellence Award at the 2020 Japan Media Arts Festival. The one-volume, full-color edition will be available in both print and digital formats. It will be part of TOKYOPOP's “Comics That Matter” initiative, which uses graphic novels to highlight important causes and social issues.
The print version will be released in a slightly larger size of 5.8 x 8.2 inches.
A Mother's Journey: Overcoming Fear and Embracing Hope in an Uncertain World
The story follows a first-time mother as she overcomes her fears of bringing a child into a dangerous world. She learns to evaluate her anxiety, face her fears, and ultimately choose hope over uncertainty. The manga takes an in-depth look at how she deals with these emotions and how they affect her relationship with her partner.
Sara and Kouta Takano were eagerly awaiting the birth of their child when Sara learned of the tragic attack on Pakistani women's rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai by the Taliban.
The news shakes her faith in the future, leaving her fearful of how to protect her child in a dangerous world. The story explores whether the couple can overcome this growing fear and keep their family together.
Kazuko Kawahara, a member of the Japan Media Arts Festival Executive Committee, praised the book, saying it captured the anxieties of modern life. Sara’s journey reflects the common fears and hopes of parents in today’s world, making the story relatable and impactful. The colored pencil artwork brings both warmth and power to the story, making it a standout in the manga industry.
Miki Yamamoto is a manga artist and assistant professor at the Faculty of Art and Design at the University of Tsukuba. She debuted in 2011 with Bakudan to Ribon (A Ribbon and a Bomb) and later won the New Face Award at the 17th Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize for Sunny Sunny Ann!. The series was published in French in 2018 and was an official selection for the 2019 Angoulême International Manga Festival.