SPACE BROTHERS

Uchuu Kyoudai drawn by Chuya Koyama is one of Japan’s most popular ongoing manga serials. In the story, two brothers vow to become fellow astronauts someday in the future. As promised, the younger brother Hibito becomes an astronaut, but in the meantime, the elder brother Mutta is fired by a company and left unemployed. The manga is about Mutta, who struggles to become the astronaut he once dreamed of being. Uchuu Kyoudai stirred public sympathy and became popular for the resounding truths often expressed by its unique manga characters. In a real-world incident, the fictional tale inspired a reader to actually pass the entrance exams for JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. In Japan, this manga not only became an anime series but also a live-action movie. Uchuu Kyoudai is a serialized manga still in progress, continuing to inspire dreams.

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This drawing was used as a cover illustration for an issue of Weekly Morning magazine, in which the first installment of Uchuu Kyoudai appeared. The younger brother Hibito wears a full spacesuit while the elder brother Mutta wears a half-suit, symbolizing one brother who realizes his dream while the other cannot yet fulfill his destiny.

“I believe that I have to love the character whenever I create one, even if the character is sort of a villain. Unless you like the personality or appearance of a character, you can’t enjoy drawing that character.”

“When I drew Mutta and Hibito, I felt stronger love than ever before. That feeling seemed to be shared by many readers.”

First installment of Uchuu Kyoudai (English)

Other than in Japan, Uchuu Kyoudai is available in Taiwan, South Korea, Italy, and Thailand.
Electronic book copies of English and French translations are scheduled for publication in July and October 2013 respectively.
Here we can show the first installment of the English translation, courtesy of the author.

AKIRA BIKE
enthusiasts create a dream machine from the world of Otomo’s AKIRA
OTAKU CAMERA
the app that makes anyone a manga character
ANIME PILGRIMAGE
a quest to visit locations relating to stories and characters
KOBE TETSUJIN 28-GO
mega-size robot who saves the peace in Kobe city
Manga cafe
マンガ喫茶
Soba (Japanese traditional noodles)
日本蕎麦
Decorate anything
デコる
Capsule hotel
カプセルホテル
Traditional Japanese guest house
古民家ゲストハウス
Ramen Museum
ラーメン博物館
Monja
もんじゃ
Asakusa
浅草
Village of Long Life
長寿の里
Mango
マンゴー
Shuri Castle
首里城
Awamori
泡盛
Korea
Hakuohki / Adekan
Japan
Lupin III
Brazil
Final Fantasy VI
Mexico
Street Fighter 4
Introducing Japan’s latest arts to the world.
Harajuku fashion is a way to express myself.
Harajuku girl leads next-generation kawaii.
How global fans see Japan: kawaii heaven.
Stay at Machiya
京町家ステイ
Kyoto Streetcar
嵐電
Antique fair
東寺弘法市
Machiya bars
京町家の夜
SIRI SIRI
SIRISIRI
Wrapping
ラッピング
Metal tableware
金属食器
Cosmetics
化粧品
SOBA
蕎麦
SUKIYAKI
すき焼き
RICE CAKES
KATSUOBUSHI
鰹節
HISASHI TENMYOUYA
YAYOI KUSAMA
Nerhol
TABAIMO
MENBURYU
NIIHAMA TAIKO MATSURI
SANJA MATSURI
NACHI-NO-OGI MATSURI
IAI
居合
SHODO
書道
NIHONBUYO
日本舞踊
KARATEDO
空手
EDOKIRIKO
江戸切子職人
SUMI-SHOKUNIN
墨職人
SENSHOKU-KA
染織家
SUKIYA-DAIKU
数寄屋大工
PLAY STATION
PlayStation
SHOGI
SHOGI
GAME CENTER
GAME CENTER
e-Sports
e-Sports