[America Sideways: Cartoon Ramblings] Amerika no yokoppara: Manga mandan

Tokyo: Heibonsha, 1929. First Edition. Hardcover. Very good. An illustrated collection of comical adventures in the United States written and drawn by one of the key figures in the development of modern-day manga, Shishido Sako. Shishido's Supido Taro is widely cited as the first manga to incorporate storytelling techniques from American films, and it was one of the most popular comics in 1930s Japan. Shishido's adaptation of American newspaper comic strip style and camera angles from film is widely cited as originating from the travels described in this Amerika no yokoppara, he also cites Japanese translations of American comics as an influence in this book.

Shishido spent nine years in the US, beginning in 1912. According to these memoirs, he went to the movies almost every day. Their influence can be seen in many of the 101 full-page drawings in the book. Shishido frequently draws scenes from the point of view of a high-angle camera shot. He also regularly employs split screens to show simultaneous action and disappearing walls to depict actions behind closed doors. The prevalence of guns, fist fights, and robberies also suggest the influence of American movies. Cubism is another Western influence. Shishido also adapts the dense, crowded scenes of 18th- and 19th-century manga to 20th century American subjects.

While all of Shishido's human figures are grotesque, his depictions of African Americans too often stray into black-face caricature.

For an accessible, English-language account of Shishido, Amerika no yokoppara, and the development of modern manga, see Comics and the Origin of Manga by Eike Exner (2022).

[color title page], [2 color frontispieces], [2], 8, 417, [5] pages. With illustrated endpapers, and more than 100 illustrations. In an illustrated paper-covered box.

OCLC: 37308617 (Columbia, University of Washington); 673266418 (National Diet Library). First edition (first printing). A very good or better copy in the publisher's black paper-covered boards printed with a yellow modern-art-style face. In a very good, somewhat scuffed slipcase.