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失踪日記 #1
Diario de una desaparición
In 1989, comic artist Hideo Azuma succumbs to the pressures of deadlines and tries (unsuccessfully) to hang himself using the slope of a mountain. He leaves his family, wandering as a dumpster bum looking for scraps of food, cigarette butts or discarded alcohol. After several months he is arrested as a vagrant and returned to his home. He then repeats the cycle in 1992 this time becoming a gas pipe fitter in another town. Later, in 1998, his alcohol dependence is so bad he is forced into rehab. This book is his expression of those three periods of his life told, not in a deep or depressed way but, as befits his nature, in a buoyant and cheerful cartoon art.
200 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
May 4, 2019
Hideo Azuma was a pretty famous mangaka during the 70's, 80's and 90's. But one day in 1989, hung over and fed up with deadlines and annoying editors, he went out of his office to get cigarettes and didn't come back. Instead he went into the woods and unsuccessfully tried to kill himself, and when that didn't take he decided to become a bum and live on the streets of Tokyo.
He eventually came back home, but just a few years later it happened again — he just left home and started living on the street. That time he got bored pretty quickly, so he ended up working for a gas company as a plumber, until one unfortunate run-in with the police returned him back home once again.
During those episodes Azuma started drinking more and more, and in the late 90’s the problem became so serious that he started hallucinating, tried to commit suicide once again and his family forced him to go into rehabilitation clinic.
Disappearance Diary chronicles those three episodes of Hideo Azuma’s life, but despite touching on such dark themes the book actually generally has a pretty light and humorous tone, accompanied by an absolutely delightful old school manga art style. The very first page tells you that the author has a positive outlook on life, and he means it — even the most terrifying events are portrayed as nothing more than just funny gags, and Azuma admits that he left some of the worst things that happened to him out of the book because thy were just too heavy for his light-hearted narrative. Even still, the section about his alcoholism especially got pretty dark — there aren’t a lot of ways to play out the doctor telling him he's likely going to die soon as something funny.
I had a few gripes with the way the book is written. First of all, Azuma's story structure here is very episodic, so there's no sense of one continuous narrative — he jumps around from one event to the next, and while the three major sections are arranged roughly in chronological order, he still jumps around the timeline within them.
I also wish he'd give a bit more attention to his wife and children in this story. They worked as his assistants on manga, they obviously had a tough time with his addiction and irresponsible choices, they were instrumental to his recovery and stuck by him despite all of it, and yet he barely even mentions them. I get that family life is a tough subject in such a situation and he probably didn't want to draw too much attention to that part of his life, but it would be nice if he at least gave them some acknowledgement.
I was also not happy with several uses of hateful homophobic slurs in the book, both from Azuma himself and other characters within the story. I get that Azuma comes from a different generation, and the Japanese society probably has a different outlook on such things. It's just unfortunate that moments like these had to be included in a book that has otherwise such a friendly tone.
Overall, Disappearance Diary is still a solid read despite its few shortcomings. Thankfully Hideo Azuma survived through those tough experiences, put it all behind and learned to look at those events with humour. It's a fascinating story, and I'm glad he decided to share it — ironically, despite being quite a prolific mangaka of his day, this book is probably the one that he's most famous for. I wish him all the best, and would definitely recommend picking up this book if you have a chance.
He eventually came back home, but just a few years later it happened again — he just left home and started living on the street. That time he got bored pretty quickly, so he ended up working for a gas company as a plumber, until one unfortunate run-in with the police returned him back home once again.
During those episodes Azuma started drinking more and more, and in the late 90’s the problem became so serious that he started hallucinating, tried to commit suicide once again and his family forced him to go into rehabilitation clinic.
Disappearance Diary chronicles those three episodes of Hideo Azuma’s life, but despite touching on such dark themes the book actually generally has a pretty light and humorous tone, accompanied by an absolutely delightful old school manga art style. The very first page tells you that the author has a positive outlook on life, and he means it — even the most terrifying events are portrayed as nothing more than just funny gags, and Azuma admits that he left some of the worst things that happened to him out of the book because thy were just too heavy for his light-hearted narrative. Even still, the section about his alcoholism especially got pretty dark — there aren’t a lot of ways to play out the doctor telling him he's likely going to die soon as something funny.
I had a few gripes with the way the book is written. First of all, Azuma's story structure here is very episodic, so there's no sense of one continuous narrative — he jumps around from one event to the next, and while the three major sections are arranged roughly in chronological order, he still jumps around the timeline within them.
I also wish he'd give a bit more attention to his wife and children in this story. They worked as his assistants on manga, they obviously had a tough time with his addiction and irresponsible choices, they were instrumental to his recovery and stuck by him despite all of it, and yet he barely even mentions them. I get that family life is a tough subject in such a situation and he probably didn't want to draw too much attention to that part of his life, but it would be nice if he at least gave them some acknowledgement.
I was also not happy with several uses of hateful homophobic slurs in the book, both from Azuma himself and other characters within the story. I get that Azuma comes from a different generation, and the Japanese society probably has a different outlook on such things. It's just unfortunate that moments like these had to be included in a book that has otherwise such a friendly tone.
Overall, Disappearance Diary is still a solid read despite its few shortcomings. Thankfully Hideo Azuma survived through those tough experiences, put it all behind and learned to look at those events with humour. It's a fascinating story, and I'm glad he decided to share it — ironically, despite being quite a prolific mangaka of his day, this book is probably the one that he's most famous for. I wish him all the best, and would definitely recommend picking up this book if you have a chance.
November 29, 2018
"This manga has a positive outlook on life, and so it has been made with as much realism removed as possible."
I enjoy biographies of down and outs. From George Orwell to Charles Bukowski, literary essays on the day to day routine of the homeless have always interested me. For starters, it's good to be reminded that no matter how successful or wealthy you are, it's a fast trip to the bottom. For whatever reason, I also find it compelling to read about the laundry list of tasks that a person on the streets needs to complete on a daily basis. Maybe it's because the line between survival and death is that much thinner: if you don't find a few extra cents in the day, you won't have somewhere warm to sleep in the night. On a much more base level though, I think that they provide an irrational bit of wish fulfillment. The idea of going out for a pack of cigarettes and never coming back must be something that a lot of people think about on stressful work days...
Disappearance Diary by Hideo Azuma is a unique entry to the genre. A popular manga artist in his native Japan, he grappled with both mental issues and alcoholism before ditching it all in favour of roughing it in the concrete jungle. As you can tell from the quote above, he outlined his sad experiences with a distinct sense of humour, but I would have to say he is selling himself short by saying that all realism from his account has been removed. While he generally focuses on the ironies in each anecdote, there is usually a sharp sting that comes along with them simply from knowing that everything he writes is true. This combined with his manga style cartoons makes for a newspaper comic aesthetic that lifts the source material as well as anything Bill Waterson could have done.
Whether you're interested in Japanese manga or not, I'd push this on you with absolutely no hesitation. At the very least you'll experience a reality you've never entered before, and at best you'll feel like you've made a connection with a man you've never met.
I enjoy biographies of down and outs. From George Orwell to Charles Bukowski, literary essays on the day to day routine of the homeless have always interested me. For starters, it's good to be reminded that no matter how successful or wealthy you are, it's a fast trip to the bottom. For whatever reason, I also find it compelling to read about the laundry list of tasks that a person on the streets needs to complete on a daily basis. Maybe it's because the line between survival and death is that much thinner: if you don't find a few extra cents in the day, you won't have somewhere warm to sleep in the night. On a much more base level though, I think that they provide an irrational bit of wish fulfillment. The idea of going out for a pack of cigarettes and never coming back must be something that a lot of people think about on stressful work days...
Disappearance Diary by Hideo Azuma is a unique entry to the genre. A popular manga artist in his native Japan, he grappled with both mental issues and alcoholism before ditching it all in favour of roughing it in the concrete jungle. As you can tell from the quote above, he outlined his sad experiences with a distinct sense of humour, but I would have to say he is selling himself short by saying that all realism from his account has been removed. While he generally focuses on the ironies in each anecdote, there is usually a sharp sting that comes along with them simply from knowing that everything he writes is true. This combined with his manga style cartoons makes for a newspaper comic aesthetic that lifts the source material as well as anything Bill Waterson could have done.
Whether you're interested in Japanese manga or not, I'd push this on you with absolutely no hesitation. At the very least you'll experience a reality you've never entered before, and at best you'll feel like you've made a connection with a man you've never met.
July 31, 2017
In 1989, Hideo Azuma was a successful manga artist. His work was popular, but he was having a harder and harder time coming up with story ideas. And so, one day, he told hs wife he was going to get some cigarettes, and walked away from it all. He lived on the street, rummaged through trash for food, and just disappeared from his former life. He was eventually found, and returned home. This book is the manga he eventually produced about his experiences.
There are actually three seperate sections to this book. The first tells the story of his 1989 disappearance. The second tells the story of his 1992 disappearance--yes, he did it again, this time finding a job as a pipe fitter in the next town. The third section tells of his 1998 hospitalization for severe alcoholism. Despite the dark subject matter, the manga is fairly light in tone. Azuma is able to see the humor in his adventures, and it's largely through this lens that they're presented. At first, it's a somewhat surreal experience to be reading alternative comics subject matter presented gag manga style. It grows on you pretty quickly though. The book is rounded out by two interviews with Azuma--one of them hidden under the jacket flaps. Highly recommended!
There are actually three seperate sections to this book. The first tells the story of his 1989 disappearance. The second tells the story of his 1992 disappearance--yes, he did it again, this time finding a job as a pipe fitter in the next town. The third section tells of his 1998 hospitalization for severe alcoholism. Despite the dark subject matter, the manga is fairly light in tone. Azuma is able to see the humor in his adventures, and it's largely through this lens that they're presented. At first, it's a somewhat surreal experience to be reading alternative comics subject matter presented gag manga style. It grows on you pretty quickly though. The book is rounded out by two interviews with Azuma--one of them hidden under the jacket flaps. Highly recommended!
November 12, 2021
This is a satirical autobiographical piece documenting the numerous disappearances of alternative manga author Hideo Azuma. Working as a manga artist is one of the most demanding jobs out there. It sounds fun and simple in theory, but it often requires 10+ hour workdays, weekly release deadlines and no time off in between pushing out one chapter after the other. The constant pressure, lack of freedom and extreme physical strain can have dire effects on an author's mental and emotional health. This little manga shows Azuma's past experience of being unable to cope with the pressures of a lifestyle afforded by his occupation, how he became a reckless alcoholic battling with mental illness and what life on the streets was like after he abandoned his work and family to travel around Japan as a homeless wanderer before finding himself once more and regaining his passion for the craft.
The premise of the piece is very relatable, but I didn't care for the overly satirical delivery. Everything was described in a distant manner with all sense of realism taken out of it for the sake of comedic effect. I understand why the author would want to use comedy to talk about some very sensitive and depressing moments in his life and it can be quite impactful if done well, but in this case I felt like it took away any sense of drama, stakes or relatability by poking fun at all the problems he encountered without ever taking the time to analyze them in depth or dissect the specific emotions he went through which led him on the hectic path he chose. It made it difficult to relate to or sympathize with. Not bad by any means, I just personally felt the style of storytelling didn't quite suit the subject matter and made it feel a tad boring and devoid of emotional depth.
***
If you're looking for some dark ambient music for reading horror, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
The premise of the piece is very relatable, but I didn't care for the overly satirical delivery. Everything was described in a distant manner with all sense of realism taken out of it for the sake of comedic effect. I understand why the author would want to use comedy to talk about some very sensitive and depressing moments in his life and it can be quite impactful if done well, but in this case I felt like it took away any sense of drama, stakes or relatability by poking fun at all the problems he encountered without ever taking the time to analyze them in depth or dissect the specific emotions he went through which led him on the hectic path he chose. It made it difficult to relate to or sympathize with. Not bad by any means, I just personally felt the style of storytelling didn't quite suit the subject matter and made it feel a tad boring and devoid of emotional depth.
***
If you're looking for some dark ambient music for reading horror, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
March 8, 2009
When one sees or hears the name Hideo Azuma, one either immediately thinks of lolita manga or simply asks, "who in the hell is that?" He's known as being the "father of lolicon," with many of his works being pornographic in some way. One would not expect this man to have much interest in drawing things outside of science fiction and lolicon, though he certainly has an impressive list of manga titles to his name.
So an award-winning book like Disappearance Diary comes as a bit of a surprise; it's neither pornographic nor science fiction, and is in fact an autobiography of sorts, told in a very humorous way.
Azuma features himself as a short, fat, goggle-eyed character in this recollection of his days as a hopeless alcoholic and as a homeless person. A story that would otherwise be painful, gut-wrenching and difficult to read is made entertaining and more pleasantly poignant through his use of humor and cartoony artwork. He isn't afraid to tell us the truth, and his sometimes frank presentation is almost as hilarious as his rather dry commentary.
At first we don't really learn what drives him to do this to himself. The book is not presented in chronological order and we are introduced to him when we are thrust into his first experience of being homeless. We do know that his homelessness is a choice rather than an unfortunate circumstance. We come to learn of his dependency on alcohol and cigarettes and his massive workload as an artist as the book progresses, as well as his rather pushover nature and the fact he even as a wife (largely unseen until the second half of the book).
The book is divided into three main sections, each dealing with a different time in his rather lengthy exile from the stresses of his life, and focus on the primary concerns he had during each period. In his first homeless experience, it was worrying about having enough to eat. In the second, it was dealing with certain individuals he worked with, and the ridiculous things he had to put up with from them ("YOU DIDN'T DRAW FEATHERS ON THE ARROWS!"). In another, it was his attempts to avoid difficult fellow patients in a hospital, along with the staff.
Azuma himself says that the manga "has a positive outlook on life, and so it has been made with as much realism removed as possible." It's very likely that some of the things he presents are indeed fictional, comedic twists on his experiences, but some appear to be very honest recollections, such as the threat of cirrhosis hanging over him like the Sword of Damocles, or his first capture by the police, who initially believe him to be the murder suspect they were after. His story is a fascinating one, and upon learning of his stressors and what he had to deal with as a professional artist, we can't really blame him for wanting out, even though his circumstances were largely his own fault. A person can put up with only so much, and it's easy to sympathize when he does everything he can to escape from what feels more and more like a prison to a life that, while certainly not easy, feels manageable by comparison. The dialogue is often as funny, if not funnier, than Azuma's stark narration (during a sequence in which Azuma has a severe coughing fit, a nurse says, "Oh, Doctor, there's blood!" to which the doctor simply responds, "THAT'S not good!"), and his cartoony visuals turn disgusting things into visions of hilarity (it's difficult to not laugh at his frequent vomiting, or the rather blunt depicition of him defecating in the forest). He even indicates that there was more, but that he'll save it for another time, leaving us to wonder if he might really provide a sequel, or if his parting words are another dose of his dry humor.
Disappearance Diary is an engaging, extremely funny manga, and a surprisingly quick read for a 200-page book. One doesn't have to be a fan of Azuma (or even familiar with him at all) to enjoy this story, but it may turn one into a fan before the final page is turned.
So an award-winning book like Disappearance Diary comes as a bit of a surprise; it's neither pornographic nor science fiction, and is in fact an autobiography of sorts, told in a very humorous way.
Azuma features himself as a short, fat, goggle-eyed character in this recollection of his days as a hopeless alcoholic and as a homeless person. A story that would otherwise be painful, gut-wrenching and difficult to read is made entertaining and more pleasantly poignant through his use of humor and cartoony artwork. He isn't afraid to tell us the truth, and his sometimes frank presentation is almost as hilarious as his rather dry commentary.
At first we don't really learn what drives him to do this to himself. The book is not presented in chronological order and we are introduced to him when we are thrust into his first experience of being homeless. We do know that his homelessness is a choice rather than an unfortunate circumstance. We come to learn of his dependency on alcohol and cigarettes and his massive workload as an artist as the book progresses, as well as his rather pushover nature and the fact he even as a wife (largely unseen until the second half of the book).
The book is divided into three main sections, each dealing with a different time in his rather lengthy exile from the stresses of his life, and focus on the primary concerns he had during each period. In his first homeless experience, it was worrying about having enough to eat. In the second, it was dealing with certain individuals he worked with, and the ridiculous things he had to put up with from them ("YOU DIDN'T DRAW FEATHERS ON THE ARROWS!"). In another, it was his attempts to avoid difficult fellow patients in a hospital, along with the staff.
Azuma himself says that the manga "has a positive outlook on life, and so it has been made with as much realism removed as possible." It's very likely that some of the things he presents are indeed fictional, comedic twists on his experiences, but some appear to be very honest recollections, such as the threat of cirrhosis hanging over him like the Sword of Damocles, or his first capture by the police, who initially believe him to be the murder suspect they were after. His story is a fascinating one, and upon learning of his stressors and what he had to deal with as a professional artist, we can't really blame him for wanting out, even though his circumstances were largely his own fault. A person can put up with only so much, and it's easy to sympathize when he does everything he can to escape from what feels more and more like a prison to a life that, while certainly not easy, feels manageable by comparison. The dialogue is often as funny, if not funnier, than Azuma's stark narration (during a sequence in which Azuma has a severe coughing fit, a nurse says, "Oh, Doctor, there's blood!" to which the doctor simply responds, "THAT'S not good!"), and his cartoony visuals turn disgusting things into visions of hilarity (it's difficult to not laugh at his frequent vomiting, or the rather blunt depicition of him defecating in the forest). He even indicates that there was more, but that he'll save it for another time, leaving us to wonder if he might really provide a sequel, or if his parting words are another dose of his dry humor.
Disappearance Diary is an engaging, extremely funny manga, and a surprisingly quick read for a 200-page book. One doesn't have to be a fan of Azuma (or even familiar with him at all) to enjoy this story, but it may turn one into a fan before the final page is turned.
February 11, 2023
Somehow this little manga title has been on my "to-read" list longer than any other comic. It's been so long I'm unsure how it got there. I know its featured on "1001 comics to read before you die" but so are 500+ other titles I have yet to read.
Yet, here I am - I finally read it!
Hideo Azuma is a manga artist who's been around since the late 60s. I've never read his work before, and it seems like this is by far his most popular work in the West. It's also one his last pieces and the last part of the book is a condensed biography of his life and work - mostly through the eyes of exploring his alcoholism.
As Hideo states in the forward, he wanted this book to be funny and skips over the more depressing parts. Although there's a lot of depressing parts, so I am interested to see the full story.
The book is split into three parts. The first is when he decides to drop his manga projects to leave his home and wife and live as a bum. He sleeps in a forest and scavenges food, cigarettes, and booze. Eventually he's picked up by police because he looks suspicious and they realize there's a missing persons report out on him so his wife comes in and brings him home.
The second part starts out quite like the first. Once again sick of manga stress and deadlines he sets out this time eventually landing a construction job and getting his own apartment.
The third part deals with Hideo's alcoholism and the time he spends in a hospital (alcoholic ward) trying to beat the disease.
(Now the longest reigning comic is Jodorowsky's Borgia series)
Yet, here I am - I finally read it!
Hideo Azuma is a manga artist who's been around since the late 60s. I've never read his work before, and it seems like this is by far his most popular work in the West. It's also one his last pieces and the last part of the book is a condensed biography of his life and work - mostly through the eyes of exploring his alcoholism.
As Hideo states in the forward, he wanted this book to be funny and skips over the more depressing parts. Although there's a lot of depressing parts, so I am interested to see the full story.
The book is split into three parts. The first is when he decides to drop his manga projects to leave his home and wife and live as a bum. He sleeps in a forest and scavenges food, cigarettes, and booze. Eventually he's picked up by police because he looks suspicious and they realize there's a missing persons report out on him so his wife comes in and brings him home.
The second part starts out quite like the first. Once again sick of manga stress and deadlines he sets out this time eventually landing a construction job and getting his own apartment.
The third part deals with Hideo's alcoholism and the time he spends in a hospital (alcoholic ward) trying to beat the disease.
(Now the longest reigning comic is Jodorowsky's Borgia series)
March 30, 2021
Comedia y drama se entremezclan en la vida de un mangaka que decide irse de casa y vivir como un vagabundo buscando inspiración. Acabará triunfando pero volviendose alcoholico en el proceso. Loq ue la vida te da también te lo quita supongo.
March 7, 2019
This graphic memoir is about Hideo running away. Literally, he ran away from his home and job to be homeless. But also he ran from dealing with problems by hiding under the skirt of alcohol, rejection of societal, marital, and personal responsibilities.
When he quitted his job as a gas worker, he wrote, "I figured the boss would relate all the bad mouthing I'd done back to Yanai, and it made me sick to think of teaming up and working with him again tomorrow so I just up and said I quit."
There was definitely a pinch of character in that mixture of self-sabotaging behaviors. The immediate guilt after bad-mouthing a coworker combined with a run-away mentality. We see the multi-layers and complexes that make up one's choice and condition. And when enough layers are peeled that the heart is almost visible, we see that everyone is alike under the skin. The popular, the wealthy, the successful grapple with mental issues and life all the same. These same faces can also be homeless, a blue-collar worker, an alcoholic in a turn of event. Hideo gives these people a voice using his own voice.
It would be an exaggeration to claim I understand how Hideo felt when he went through these events. What I can get a good grip of is how easy it is to slip into this pit of self-sabotaging. It's not difficult to imagine my own trip there.
When he quitted his job as a gas worker, he wrote, "I figured the boss would relate all the bad mouthing I'd done back to Yanai, and it made me sick to think of teaming up and working with him again tomorrow so I just up and said I quit."
There was definitely a pinch of character in that mixture of self-sabotaging behaviors. The immediate guilt after bad-mouthing a coworker combined with a run-away mentality. We see the multi-layers and complexes that make up one's choice and condition. And when enough layers are peeled that the heart is almost visible, we see that everyone is alike under the skin. The popular, the wealthy, the successful grapple with mental issues and life all the same. These same faces can also be homeless, a blue-collar worker, an alcoholic in a turn of event. Hideo gives these people a voice using his own voice.
It would be an exaggeration to claim I understand how Hideo felt when he went through these events. What I can get a good grip of is how easy it is to slip into this pit of self-sabotaging. It's not difficult to imagine my own trip there.
October 26, 2012
This book reminds me of a drifting life but this is great in itself; sad but kept me reading; pretty funny @ times of how he guy had to survive, live off of anything; love his tale of finding work, dealing w/ crappy bosses, still try to battle his alcohol addiction, manage his crazy manga work schedule, etc. opened my eyes to the workload of artists; author said he had like 2 serials, 3 full books, etc to work on per month
October 16, 2023
A bit slow. While many of the reviews for this book praise it for being upbeat, despite the darker circumstances surrounding our main character (ie. alcoholism, mental illness, and copious amounts of stress), I found it hard to stomach at times, and often depressing. The last third of the book was very hard to get through (starting when he talks about his manga work, and going on to the end of the book). I'm sure this is a good book for someone, but just not for me.
July 22, 2020
Azuma, mangaka noto in Italia soprattutto per Pollon, descrive il periodo nero che ha vissuto a partire dal 1989, anno in cui ha abbandonato tutto e ha iniziato a vivere come un senzatetto. Viveva di espedienti e beveva molto, ma ancora oggi afferma che quel tipo di vita ha degli aspetti positivi dati dalla libertà assoluta di poter fare ciò che si desidera.
Dopo qualche tempo è stato ritrovato dalla Sua famiglia ed è tornato a casa, ma, a distanza di anni, si è sentito nuovamente oppresso dalle mille scadenze lavorative e ha cercato sempre più conforto nell'alcol.
Il suo alcolismo l'ha portato a un passo dalla cirrosi epatica. Non riusciva più a trattenere nulla nello stomaco e aveva le allucinazioni. La famiglia l'ha fatto ricoverare in modo coatto in un centro di disintossicazione da cui è uscito mesi dopo.
Azuma ci racconta tutto questo in prima persona e ciò che colpisce è la totale mancanza di autocommiserazione, anzi, nell'opera c'è una buona dose di autoironia. Lui stesso, nell'intervista in fondo al libro, dice che durante le riunioni degli alcolisti anonimi non perdeva occasione per raccontare degli aneddoti divertenti per riuscire a fare sorridere gli altri.
Una storia sincera, autentica e molto forte che fa riflettere su quanto possa essere facile cadere in certi baratri. Personalmente ritengo che il fatto di vivere in Giappone non lo abbia certo aiutato.
Dall'incipit
Questo manga si sforza di avere una visione positiva di tutta la faccenda, quindi ho evitato il più possibile i disegni realistici. Perché sono difficili da fare e in più rendono tutto triste!
Dopo qualche tempo è stato ritrovato dalla Sua famiglia ed è tornato a casa, ma, a distanza di anni, si è sentito nuovamente oppresso dalle mille scadenze lavorative e ha cercato sempre più conforto nell'alcol.
Il suo alcolismo l'ha portato a un passo dalla cirrosi epatica. Non riusciva più a trattenere nulla nello stomaco e aveva le allucinazioni. La famiglia l'ha fatto ricoverare in modo coatto in un centro di disintossicazione da cui è uscito mesi dopo.
Azuma ci racconta tutto questo in prima persona e ciò che colpisce è la totale mancanza di autocommiserazione, anzi, nell'opera c'è una buona dose di autoironia. Lui stesso, nell'intervista in fondo al libro, dice che durante le riunioni degli alcolisti anonimi non perdeva occasione per raccontare degli aneddoti divertenti per riuscire a fare sorridere gli altri.
Una storia sincera, autentica e molto forte che fa riflettere su quanto possa essere facile cadere in certi baratri. Personalmente ritengo che il fatto di vivere in Giappone non lo abbia certo aiutato.
Dall'incipit
Questo manga si sforza di avere una visione positiva di tutta la faccenda, quindi ho evitato il più possibile i disegni realistici. Perché sono difficili da fare e in più rendono tutto triste!
January 20, 2021
Esta muy bueno. Habla de inicio de alguien que pierde el sentido de vivir, y trata de ponerle fin a eso que ya no puede disfrutar: vivir. Luego habla de una historia de ingenio, contada con mucho humor, como ser indigente, de tal forma lo cuenta que llega un momento que se te antoja "esa aventura", y piensas "creo que esto no esta muy bien que alguien lo lea" (por aquellas personas que no distinguen realidad de fantasía). Y luego te cuenta la parte mas personal, donde todo empezó y como termino, como una vida de éxito termina siendo un "sin sentir" y pareciera sin ningún sentido, pero imagínate que un día despiertas, vas a trabajar, y de repente te das cuenta que no quieres nada, no quieres trabajar, no quieres familia, no quieres comer, no quieres nada, es mas ni quiera sabes si quieres que acabe, porque ya no lo ves, ya no lo sientes, ya no estas ahí.
Es una historia con mucho humor, pero es mas profunda, como dejas de vivir... y te desapareces fisicamente. Muy bueno, yo creo que lo voy a releer, porque la segunda parte del libro es la que da el contexto de como estamos subordinados a nuestros placeres.
Es una historia con mucho humor, pero es mas profunda, como dejas de vivir... y te desapareces fisicamente. Muy bueno, yo creo que lo voy a releer, porque la segunda parte del libro es la que da el contexto de como estamos subordinados a nuestros placeres.
November 8, 2016
Hideo Azuma hops from gag to gag in his very own memoir of three periods in his life, two of homeless living and one in the psychiatric ward for alcoholism rehab. His style is matter-of-fact and mocking, always finding the humor in the most dire situations, and making fun of himself. There are a few sequences that are quite tedious; for example, at some point he just runs through a list of publications he is doing serials for, names of editors, other manga artists, on and on and on. At another point, the reader is treated to some pipe line laying instructions, which were interesting to me, but I am not sure they would be for everyone. As one editor mentions to him at some point, some of the episodes end very abruptly, jumping to the next without much of a warning.
Perhaps what's most interesting in Disappearance Diary are the things the artists leaves out. There is hardly a mention of a family, so when his wife is mentioned 1/5th of the way, I was taken aback! That he has a wife that he basically has run out on to live in the woods as a homeless person is quite an important thing, one would think, that requires some self-reflection and, well, telling. Not according to Azuma. After that mention of his wife (and the missing persons report on him), his family only reappears very briefly when they commit him to the psychiatric ward for rehab. Then he does a flashback (I think... again, a bit confusing...) to when he was trying to make it as a manga artist, his wife was his assistant (meaning, she would finish up all the work once Azuma was done drawing and inking the important, action and dialog bits and characters, she'd draw the backgounds and do some of the special effect inking, etc.) And again, his wife appears in one single sentence in the interview at the end of the book, where Azuma mentions finding his wife's written response so some notes he had taken about his very cold nights while he was living homeless. We have no idea if he has children, parents, relatives; what their reaction is to his up and leaving again and again; what other manga artists and publishers (employers) think about his behavior; do they even know?
Still, Azuma is very frank about many things that the Japanese are not known to easily talk about, ever. The art work is comical and expressive, the two things that really complement and align well with the stories and Azuma's personality as he depicts it on the pages.
Recommended for those who like radishes, sake, and those who have had the experience of getting flooded while camping/living outdoors.
Perhaps what's most interesting in Disappearance Diary are the things the artists leaves out. There is hardly a mention of a family, so when his wife is mentioned 1/5th of the way, I was taken aback! That he has a wife that he basically has run out on to live in the woods as a homeless person is quite an important thing, one would think, that requires some self-reflection and, well, telling. Not according to Azuma. After that mention of his wife (and the missing persons report on him), his family only reappears very briefly when they commit him to the psychiatric ward for rehab. Then he does a flashback (I think... again, a bit confusing...) to when he was trying to make it as a manga artist, his wife was his assistant (meaning, she would finish up all the work once Azuma was done drawing and inking the important, action and dialog bits and characters, she'd draw the backgounds and do some of the special effect inking, etc.) And again, his wife appears in one single sentence in the interview at the end of the book, where Azuma mentions finding his wife's written response so some notes he had taken about his very cold nights while he was living homeless. We have no idea if he has children, parents, relatives; what their reaction is to his up and leaving again and again; what other manga artists and publishers (employers) think about his behavior; do they even know?
Still, Azuma is very frank about many things that the Japanese are not known to easily talk about, ever. The art work is comical and expressive, the two things that really complement and align well with the stories and Azuma's personality as he depicts it on the pages.
Recommended for those who like radishes, sake, and those who have had the experience of getting flooded while camping/living outdoors.
December 13, 2019
3.5 stars
Creating manga & working in the industry is not an easy job. Facing deadlines and pressured with expectations, Hideo Azuma, a popular mangaka (manga artist), literally walked out of his life. He told his wife he was going to buy cigarettes but never come back. He tried to kill himself but failed (not a spoiler) so he decided not to return home. For a few month, he lives as a homeless, trying to survive on a hill near the city. He accumulates a lot of know-hows as a homeless person, and he gave a few advises about it in here. Going into this book, I didn't know who he is and I only get to know him as he explained in the second half of this memoir, how he started his career, what pushed him to the edge and his struggle as a alcoholic.
Overall, it was informative, funny at parts and I had the sense of frustration while reading his story because of the things he endures just because he didn't want to go home. In a sense, I know how he felt when he walked out (run away from problems) because I do that too (but not as extreme as he did). I think it's a coping mechanism facing stress and it gives a change of perspective sometimes.
July 14, 2019
Un incredibile retroscena del mondo del manga da parte di un autore noto anche in Italia per Pollon e Nanà Super Girl.
Più inquietante di tutto è il tratto umoristico dell'autore, che si sposa con l'assoluto distacco con cui sembra vivere una serie di vicende incredibili
DA QUI IN POI SPOILER
A partire dalla scelta di vivere come un senzatetto e nutrirsi del cibo trovato nell'immondizia, alla decisione improvvisa di fare l'operaio e vivere in un mondo completamente diverso dal precedente all'affrontare l'alcolismo.
Soprattutto ho trovato scioccante il modo in cui Azuma interrompe le sue "vite": da un momento all'altro, senza avvisare nessuno. Un giorno lavora come mangaka, il giorno dopo fugge. Per un certo periodo fa l'operaio e da un certo giorno all'altro sparisce.
Forse è la storia di una nevrosi personale, forse di un intero settore (l'editoria di fumetti giapponese), forse di un'intera nazione.
Più inquietante di tutto è il tratto umoristico dell'autore, che si sposa con l'assoluto distacco con cui sembra vivere una serie di vicende incredibili
DA QUI IN POI SPOILER
A partire dalla scelta di vivere come un senzatetto e nutrirsi del cibo trovato nell'immondizia, alla decisione improvvisa di fare l'operaio e vivere in un mondo completamente diverso dal precedente all'affrontare l'alcolismo.
Soprattutto ho trovato scioccante il modo in cui Azuma interrompe le sue "vite": da un momento all'altro, senza avvisare nessuno. Un giorno lavora come mangaka, il giorno dopo fugge. Per un certo periodo fa l'operaio e da un certo giorno all'altro sparisce.
Forse è la storia di una nevrosi personale, forse di un intero settore (l'editoria di fumetti giapponese), forse di un'intera nazione.
August 21, 2023
Albo autobiografico e molto particolare, come particolare è la. Persona che si racconta, Hideo Azuma.
Per me una vera e propria rivelazione, riesci a rendere scorrevoli e appassionanti le cose più monotone del mondo.
Se riesce con quelle monotone figurarsi con le stramberie che ha fatto nella sua vita, comprese quelle socialmente discutibile.
Super apprezzato.
Per me una vera e propria rivelazione, riesci a rendere scorrevoli e appassionanti le cose più monotone del mondo.
Se riesce con quelle monotone figurarsi con le stramberie che ha fatto nella sua vita, comprese quelle socialmente discutibile.
Super apprezzato.
February 17, 2017
I don't know how you can dislike a book introduced with the following: "This manga has a positive outlook on life, and so it has been made with as much realism removed as possible." Basically a journey through food with homelessness, how to be a gas pipe layer, alcoholism and recovery thrown in. Summed up it a manga about an artist and his art colliding told with humor and naked humanity. But alway done with a wink: what is the artist telling you, what is he leaving out.
September 8, 2018
Very interesting read. The purposefully lighthearted tone Azuma takes with everything makes you question the reality of everything in the book, and that's on top of his status as a semi-reliable narrator that he starts off with. In any case, the pressures of the manga industry seem crazy to have to deal with.
May 11, 2010
Once again, I am reminded that autobiographical comics just aren't my thing. A well-known manga artist shares the lowest points in his life - two periods of homelessness, and a bout in alcoholism rehab - in a funny, meandering way.
April 29, 2014
This book is funny, but severely lacking in introspection. I was left wondering why the author decided to leave his job and his family and to become first a homeless vagabond and then a blue-collar worker. Also, it's kind of disturbing that his wife plays almost no role in this story.
July 19, 2017
Really liked this, but the ending was really unsatisfying.
September 30, 2019
3.5 🌟
Surely not a kind of manga I like. Artwork is nice but but at times it feels very confusing unable to grasp.
Surely not a kind of manga I like. Artwork is nice but but at times it feels very confusing unable to grasp.
July 21, 2020
Excellent memoir. An artist leaves to buy cigarettes and doesn't come home. This covers his journey and his battle with alcoholism. 4.5
Recommended.
Recommended.
April 12, 2023
Scrivo la recensione prima del voto, che ancora devo capire bene. È un manga che aspettavo di leggere da un bel po', e questo forse ha aumentato la mia aspettativa, ma devo dire che non è stata soddisfatta a pieno. L'approccio è molto cartoonesco e quasi distaccato dal racconto vero, mi sarebbe piaciuto leggere ragionamenti più profondi e descrizioni di eventi più crudi, non so se l'approccio usato sia stato la scelta giusta, almeno per quello che cercavo.
Le due parti sulla fuga e la vita da senza tetto sicuramente interessanti, quella da idraulico iniziava ad essere un po' più pesante e quella in cui viene raccontata la carriera editoriale una noia mortale, tavole troppo fitte di dialoghi e scritte, nomi di manga in giapponese da controllare sempre, ho avuto molta difficoltà a portare a termine quella sezione. L'ultima parte su alcolismo e ricovero è stata piacevole, le tavole sono tornate ad avere un respiro più ampio, come i capitoli della vita da senzatetto, e questo ha sicuramente aiutato ad arrivare alla fine, dopo le difficoltà subito precedenti.
Il mio essere combattuto sul voto è perché, aspettandolo molto, volevo dargli un buon voto, che però al netto di tutto non mi sento di poter dare. 3,4 stelle
Le due parti sulla fuga e la vita da senza tetto sicuramente interessanti, quella da idraulico iniziava ad essere un po' più pesante e quella in cui viene raccontata la carriera editoriale una noia mortale, tavole troppo fitte di dialoghi e scritte, nomi di manga in giapponese da controllare sempre, ho avuto molta difficoltà a portare a termine quella sezione. L'ultima parte su alcolismo e ricovero è stata piacevole, le tavole sono tornate ad avere un respiro più ampio, come i capitoli della vita da senzatetto, e questo ha sicuramente aiutato ad arrivare alla fine, dopo le difficoltà subito precedenti.
Il mio essere combattuto sul voto è perché, aspettandolo molto, volevo dargli un buon voto, che però al netto di tutto non mi sento di poter dare. 3,4 stelle
June 8, 2019
Questa è l’autobiografia del Sensei Hideo Azuma (autore di Olymus no Pollon e Nanako SOS e se avete circa la mia età li avete sicuramente visti in tv, da piccoli).
Quando Azuma era una delle star del fumetto giapponese, lasciò il lavoro, la famiglia e gli amici e senza dire una parola iniziò a vivere in strada come un barbone. “Il diario della mia scomparsa” è la spirale discendente di un uomo verso l'alcolismo e la malattia mentale ed è uno sguardo affascinante dietro la vita di un mangaka. La cosa che colpisce davvero di questa autobiografia è il contrasto tra il dramma all'interno della storia e i disegni in stile cartone animato. Questa scelta stilistica, insieme al tono ironico dell’autore, acuiscono la disperazione e la sofferenza che permeano il volume. Il modo in cui Azuma racconta il suo dramma con un candore che fa quasi male ... In altre parole, lettura altamente consigliata.
Quando Azuma era una delle star del fumetto giapponese, lasciò il lavoro, la famiglia e gli amici e senza dire una parola iniziò a vivere in strada come un barbone. “Il diario della mia scomparsa” è la spirale discendente di un uomo verso l'alcolismo e la malattia mentale ed è uno sguardo affascinante dietro la vita di un mangaka. La cosa che colpisce davvero di questa autobiografia è il contrasto tra il dramma all'interno della storia e i disegni in stile cartone animato. Questa scelta stilistica, insieme al tono ironico dell’autore, acuiscono la disperazione e la sofferenza che permeano il volume. Il modo in cui Azuma racconta il suo dramma con un candore che fa quasi male ... In altre parole, lettura altamente consigliata.
January 30, 2023
Il mangaka Hideo Azuma (Pollon) parla di come la vita di chi fa il suo mestiere in Giappone può essere stressante e devastante, lo fa attraverso il racconto autobiografico della sua depressione che lo ha portato a diventare un alcolista e a scappare per due volte di casa diventando un senzatetto fin quando la famiglia non lo ha portato in una clinica per curare il suo alcolismo. L'autore ha uno stile inconfondibile che anche in questo caso sa sdrammatizzare i momenti più difficili. Anche se il racconto è schietto e i baloon crudi i disegni sono semplici e divertenti. Un volume particolare, una storia non adatta a tutti ma che fa riflettere e commuovere.
September 7, 2021
Non so quanto possa dirsi (come ho letto) che questo scorcio autobiografico rappresenti uno spaccato della società giapponese e dello stato dell'arte dei mangaka, come anche del mercato della fumettistica al di fuori di quello più internazionale.
Ho però trovato piacevole la narrazione, spontanea e leggera nonostante il tema serio e complesso. Il tratto è piacevole e non pretenzioso, prettamente "fumettistico" e nel puro stile di Azuma. La sincerità dell'autore nell'esporre la sua esperienza e la sua riflessione su quei mesi meritano certamente una lettura.
Ho però trovato piacevole la narrazione, spontanea e leggera nonostante il tema serio e complesso. Il tratto è piacevole e non pretenzioso, prettamente "fumettistico" e nel puro stile di Azuma. La sincerità dell'autore nell'esporre la sua esperienza e la sua riflessione su quei mesi meritano certamente una lettura.
May 31, 2023
Il maestro Azuma racconta la sua storia, la fuga (anzi, LE FUGHE) da casa e la dipendenza dall’alcol, un periodo tragico della sua vita, con un tono sempre leggero ed ironico, nel dichiarato intendo di non rendere troppo pesante la narrazione, e questo è senza dubbio il punto di forza di questo manga. Prevale, a mio avviso, l’avventura e l’ironia sulla tragicità dei fatti, anche se permane di sottofondo sempre un senso di angoscia e depressione. La narrazione è a tratti un po’ lenta, ma è stata comunque una lettura piacevole che mi sento di consigliare. Ammetto di non essere comunque una grande fan di Azuma, anche se Olimpus no Pollon è assolutamente iconico per le generazioni degli anni ‘80-‘90, ed infatti i disegni sono inconfondibili, essenziali ma allo stesso tempo molto espressivi.
September 15, 2015
This is an autobiographical book split into 3 parts.
Part one covers a time when the author, Hideo Azuma, stressed out under pressure from work, left home and lived homeless for a while before being eventually discovered and returned by police.
Part two covers a similar incident that happened a few years later, although this time the artist moved to a new town and eventually became a qualified gas pipe fitter before being discovered and returned.
After talking about his gas pipe fitting days, within part two Azuma talks about his career from his debut as a manga artist to his eventual meltdown as an alcoholic.
Part three is all about the creator's experiences as an alcoholic, both in his normal life and after his hospitalisation.
Although this book covers some very harrowing times in the artist's life, events are always presented in a lighthearted way - the author states his intention to write about only the lighthearted or funny moments of his experiences so as to make the book a good read. This gives the reader a slightly divorced view of what happened, but puts us in a position to learn about Azuma's experiences and think about what happened whilst still being entertained rather than disturbed or depressed.
The artwork in this manga is drawn in quite a cartoon-y style, but is very accomplished in terms of character and background portrayal, as well as page layout and pacing, as befits a creator with a lifetime of manga creation behind him.
Part one covers a time when the author, Hideo Azuma, stressed out under pressure from work, left home and lived homeless for a while before being eventually discovered and returned by police.
Part two covers a similar incident that happened a few years later, although this time the artist moved to a new town and eventually became a qualified gas pipe fitter before being discovered and returned.
After talking about his gas pipe fitting days, within part two Azuma talks about his career from his debut as a manga artist to his eventual meltdown as an alcoholic.
Part three is all about the creator's experiences as an alcoholic, both in his normal life and after his hospitalisation.
Although this book covers some very harrowing times in the artist's life, events are always presented in a lighthearted way - the author states his intention to write about only the lighthearted or funny moments of his experiences so as to make the book a good read. This gives the reader a slightly divorced view of what happened, but puts us in a position to learn about Azuma's experiences and think about what happened whilst still being entertained rather than disturbed or depressed.
The artwork in this manga is drawn in quite a cartoon-y style, but is very accomplished in terms of character and background portrayal, as well as page layout and pacing, as befits a creator with a lifetime of manga creation behind him.
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