I first came to know manga artist Tatsuki Fujimoto through his works "Chainsaw Man" and "Fire Punch." The styles of these manga led me to automatically associate his name with violence and combat, which was a stereotype formed without a deep understanding. Later, I learned about another of his works, "Look Back," which not only took first place in the 2022 "This Manga is Amazing" list but also became extremely popular as its contemporaries like "My Broken Mariko" and "The Funeral of Furan" were adapted into anime. "Look Back" completely changed my view of Fujimoto; it left a deep impression on me the first time I read it.
Summary:
The story of the manga mainly revolves around the grid comics of Fujino from her elementary school days, which were always published in the school's weekly magazine and loved by her classmates. Once, the class teacher suggested that Kyomoto from the next class, who had never submitted before, should also contribute. Despite Fujino's disdain for Kyomoto's drawing skills, she agreed. Unexpectedly, Kyomoto's comics were very well-received, encouraging Fujino to start taking drawing seriously. However, this affected her studies and friendships, and even her sister suggested she quit and take up karate instead. Subsequently, both Fujino and Kyomoto's works were published in the school weekly, and Fujino realized that her comics were still not as good as Kyomoto's, so she decided to give up drawing and return to her original lifestyle.
On graduation day, the teacher asked Fujino to deliver Kyomoto's diploma to her because they had both contributed to the magazine. Thus, Fujino went to Kyomoto's house. Since Kyomoto did not come out, Fujino drew a comic mocking Kyomoto on a blank grid paper, which accidentally slipped through the door crack. Kyomoto chased after Fujino, asking for her autograph and expressing her love for Fujino's works. Although Fujino lied about considering participating in a comic contest, Kyomoto still looked forward to seeing her new works. On her way home, Fujino felt happy because of this experience.
Afterward, Fujino and Kyomoto often drew together and successfully created several short comics. Until Kyomoto expressed her wish to go to an art college, they went their separate ways. Later, Fujino learned from the news that Kyomoto was unfortunately killed by a school killer. After the funeral, Fujino went to Kyomoto's house, looked back at their past comics, and regretted her past decisions. In another timeline, Kyomoto encountered the same crisis in college, but this time Fujino thwarted the killer with her karate skills. They reunited, and inspired by Fujino's old comics, Kyomoto created a new grid comic, which was blown by the wind to the timeline where Kyomoto had died. Fujino found this comic and the serialized comics Kyomoto had treasured, which motivated her to continue creating.
The connection with reality:
On July 18, 2019, an explosion occurred at Kyoto Animation Studio in Japan, followed by a fire that killed 36 people. Two years after the Kyoto Animation arson case, this manga was published on July 19, 2021. Tatsuki Fujimoto expressed his condolences to those harmed in the Kyoto Animation event through this manga, and the entire story is also a metaphor for this incident. The murder of Kyomoto in the story corresponds to the Kyoto Animation event, with Fujimoto saving Kyomoto across time and space in the manga, a fantasy surely imagined by countless fans of Kyoto Animation. If only they could go back to that moment and save them. But Fujimoto also tells everyone through the manga that this is just a parallel world; such things have already happened in reality and are inevitable. Just like Fujino did, we should use the past as motivation to continue moving forward.
In an interview in "What Kind of Life Do You Want to Live?" Fujimoto also mentioned "Look Back," describing it as his "uncompromising" work, created without having to worry about living expenses after achieving commercial success. This shows that the saying "the pen hates life" is somewhat paradoxical.
The meaning of the manga—Fujino, why do you draw?
This line appears twice, once as Fujino's own question, as she thinks she has killed Kyomoto and wavers in her desire to draw.
The other time it comes from Kyomoto, let's take a look at this question from Kyomoto.
Knowing that the character settings of the two are deliberately different, and that both do not like drawing as a starting point to review.
You will be suddenly struck by the gentleness of Tatsuki Fujimoto.
Looking at the last line of the book:
"Why does Fujino draw?"
"Of course, it's for you, Kyomoto!"
The experience of the two drawing together from childhood quickly flashes by, they laugh and play together.
It's manga, bringing them laughter and growth;
It's manga, bringing them the most sincere friendship;
It's manga, tightly linking two completely opposite people;
No matter how different their values and consumer perspectives;
No matter how great the personality differences;
No matter whether you initially liked to draw or not;
Manga, this common language, intersects the trajectories of their lives;
Manga is a bridge of the soul.
“Look Back”
"Look Back" as the title of the manga, what exactly is "look back"? What does this title mean?
The book features many "look backs"
We can call the most distinctive feature of the book, the back shot, "look back”, We can call the commemoration of the Kyoto Animation arson case three years ago a "look back”, In the short comic, with a hoe stuck in her back, martial arts Fujino can also be said to be "look back”, Fujino lets Kyomoto watch her move forward, we can also understand it as "look back"
I repeatedly searched with this question, and finally, I believe, I found the true intention of Tatsuki Fujimoto.
This scene is the real "look back”
A turn, two pages, in a short film where every stroke counts, enough to prove the status of this turn.
After Fujino looks back
She sees her own autograph, still well protected on the door
Kyomoto's voice echoes in her ears, and scenes with Kyomoto flash back in her mind
Fujino cries
She takes that grid comic away, posts it in front of her drawing desk
Bows her head, continuing with that part of Kyomoto
The last scene's "look back" is the essence of the book
Look back is both the physical act of turning around to see clothes and the emergence of a memory
After looking back, Fujimoto no longer questions herself
Because she has found the meaning of her drawing
With the belief in her heart
She continues on...
This essence gives "look back" an additional layer of meaning:
"That is the continuation of look back, carrying the commemoration and remembrance of the deceased, continuing to move forward firmly."
I think this is what Tatsuki Fujimoto wants to say to Kyoto Animation.
THE END