Patrick Ridout - Barrier in the Field: Seikigahara’s Influence over Manga’s Storytelling
War has always been a central backdrop or subject of storytelling, but certain events have more impact than others. For American Comics, it’s the Western Theater of WWII, but for Manga, it tends to be the Sengoku Jidai, and in particular, the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. Often seen as an almost mythical event, this battle was such a turning point in history that nearly any feudal manga (or even some placed in the modern day) will have elements or events related to this battle. This battle influences viewpoints and stories in ways that sometimes are overlooked or passed by. Join us for an examination of how this event influenced manga storytelling both overtly and in less obvious ways, and how the themes springing from this event have influence over how manga tells stories even today.