Half a century has passed since gekiga was born, but preceding gekiga, this author's “komaga” revolutionized traditional manga expression, profoundly influencing numerous contemporary artists. This collector's edition compiles his groundbreaking short stories—the origin of gekiga—alongside contributions from renowned artists like Takao Saitou, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Shigeru Mizuki, and Hayao Miyazaki. Published to commemorate the 50th anniversary of gekiga's birth. (Source: Shogakukan, translated)

Early "komaga" kashihon published by Hinomaru Bunko.

2009 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of Gekiga Koubou, a landmark event that sparked a gekiga boom in the rental manga industry of the time and laid the foundation for the enduring popularity of youth manga and adult manga that continues to this day. To mark this occasion, our company is reissuing the first issues of *Kage* and *Machi*—pivotal publications that served as cornerstones for the development of gekiga and drove the short-story magazine boom—in a two-volume set. These reissues faithfully replicate the original binding, color schemes, and book design as closely as possible. Each set includes an explanatory booklet featuring testimonials from individuals involved at the time, bringing these works to contemporary readers. This long-awaited, precious reprint offers both general readers and researchers a chance to discover the roots of modern manga. (Source: Shogakukan, translated)