Susumu Katsumata (1943–2007)

Little vignettes of post war rural japan. Gender was a heavy focus and it was interesting how oppressive gender norms differ in this world - where women seem to have a certain power but also a more intense subjugation to male violence. The illustrations are cute and transporting at once.

A fine example of Japanese Gekiga, a more serious, darker, atmospheric type of Japanese comic; Red Snow is a collection of short stories dealing with life in the Japanese countryside of Susumu Katsumata’s youth. A brilliant mix of magic realism and harsh reality.

Stories included in this collection:

Mulberries
Echo
Cricket Hill
Pulp Novel About A Sack
Kokeshi
The Dream Spirit
Specter
Torajiro Kappa
Wild Geese Memorial Service
Red Snow

Històries que combinen llegendes i tradicions en el Japó rural de temps passats, poblat per personatges diversos (monjos, dones soles o mal acompanyades, xiquets treballadors o fins i tot éssers mitològics) que se les han de veure amb les dures condicions de vida de l'època i lluitar de vegades contra el medi, de vegades contra els seus propis coetanis per tal de sobreviure.