Exploring the Darkest Manga Secrets: Is This the Most Sinister Release Yet?
Delve into the depths of the manga world's darkness. Is this the most sinister release to date?
Every year, a wide variety of manga are released in Japan. From shounen to shoujo to joishi, the manga industry is filled with diverse stories. While popular genres often dominate the spotlight, there are some hidden gems that deserve more recognition.
Some manga titles serve noble purposes. For instance, "With the Light" by Keiko Tobe sheds light on the life of a family with an autistic child, raising awareness about their everyday struggles. However, there is one manga that stands out for all the wrong reasons. This particular manga was created with harmful intentions, aiming to have a negative impact on society. In fact, due to its malicious intent, it could be considered one of the most wicked manga ever written.
What is the Aum Shinrikyo Cult?
Aum Shinrikyo - What is the Aum Shinrikyo Cult?
Although not a typical topic for this site, we will start by discussing Aum Shinrikyo, later known as Aleph. Founded in 1984 by Chizuo Matsumoto, this Japanese doomsday cult blended elements of Buddhism, Hinduism, and apocalyptic beliefs to attract followers who strongly believed in Asahara's teachings.
Central to the cult's ideology was the figure of Shoko Asahara, a self-proclaimed Messiah with supernatural powers who promised salvation to his followers. The cult's activities ranged from seemingly harmless practices like yoga and meditation to more sinister undertakings such as brainwashing, illegal operations, and the development of chemical weapons.
In 1995, the cult gained international attention for a sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system. This tragic event led to the death of 13 people and left over a thousand others injured. Japanese authorities swiftly took action, arresting Shoko Asahara and many cult members. They faced trials for their involvement in the criminal activities planned by the cult. Asahara, convicted of orchestrating the subway attack and other crimes, was later executed by hanging in 2018.
Now, you might be wondering, what does this have to do with manga? Well, it turns out that successful cults are adept at advertising and finding clever ways to attract new members.
Other Notable Japanese Cults
There are a few other cults in Japanese history that have also gained attention for their activities, besides Aum Shinrikyo (Aleph). Let's take a look at some examples:
Ho No Hana Sanpogyo (Hikari no Wa) was led by Hogen Fukunaga. The cult believed in an impending apocalypse and encouraged members to undergo "foot reading" to assess their spiritual state. Their notoriety peaked when members participated in a mass suicide in 1995.
Pana-Wave Laboratory, led by Yuko Chino, held beliefs in UFOs and extraterrestrial invasions. Followers claimed to possess supernatural abilities to ward off alien beings.
Life Space was established by Fumihiro Joyu, a former member of Aum Shinrikyo, after the disbandment of the controversial group. Joyu aimed to create a new organization separate from the violent past of Aum, but Life Space still came under investigation by authorities for its activities.
Another religious group, Kofuku no Kagaku (Happy Science), was founded by Ryuho Okawa. This organization combines teachings from Buddhism, Christianity, and New Age beliefs to form a unique spiritual practice.
Underground Manga
Happy Science plays a significant role in our story, creating their own distinctive marketing content. It's important to remember that while some groups may be labeled as cults for their unconventional beliefs and practices, not all religious or spiritual organizations in Japan fall into this category.
Feature image for best isekai slice of life manga - What is Underground Manga?
Underground manga is a type of manga that exists outside of mainstream publications and often goes against societal norms. It has a history closely linked to Japan's post-war socio-political climate, where artists looked for new ways to express themselves and comment on society. Underground manga is all about pushing boundaries, with creators wanting to share their unique viewpoints. Even though it may not be as popular as mainstream manga, underground manga has been important in bringing diversity to the medium and questioning the norm.
Organizations have utilized the underground manga scene for various purposes such as advertising their business or political campaigns. In Japan, underground manga is widely popular, making it easy to find a publisher willing to print it. However, many of these manga may end up in used bookstores or discarded, never to be read again. Aum Shinrikyo attempted to recruit members from the otaku culture using this distribution method.
Understanding the Distinction Between Underground Manga and Doujinshi
Underground manga and doujinshi are terms used in the world of non-mainstream or independent manga, but they each have their own unique characteristics. Underground manga is typically created by amateur artists and writers, rather than professionals. These works are often published and distributed through alternative channels, and many delve into social and political issues, making them underground in nature.
On the other hand, doujinshi also explores similar themes but with a key difference. Doujinshi consists of fan-created works based on existing popular intellectual properties. Similar to fan fiction in the west, fans create their own stories involving characters they love. Occasionally, the quality of doujinshi is so remarkable that artists are hired to work on official projects for the franchise in the future, although this is uncommon. While doujinshi is technically not legal, it is generally tolerated since most creators do not make a profit from their work and it remains a personal endeavor for fans.
What is the Chouetsu Jin Manga?
Chouetsu Sekai - What is the Chouetsu Jin Manga?
Chouetsu Jin was a ten-episode anime produced by Aum Shinrikyo under their production company MAT (Manga, Animation, and Team). The anime focused on Shoko Asahara, the leader of Aum Shinrikyo, depicted as a Christ-like figure with eternal wisdom. It can be found on the cult's YouTube channel, occasionally discovered by curious anime fans.
Surprisingly, many fans were unaware that the cult also had a manga, despite the M in MAT standing for manga. A YouTuber named Aki Dearest made an investigative discovery of a rare Chouetsu Jin manga, featuring a Japanese man feeling a sense of purpose in life.
In the manga, the parents of the young man, concerned about his delusions, confine him to his room. Asahara, portrayed as a Christ figure, senses the man's distress and instructs his followers to release him, believing that the man's destiny is intertwined with the cult. The manga concludes with information on how readers can reach out to the cult to join their cause.
The underlying message of both the anime and manga is clear: Shoko Asahara offers enlightenment, empathy, and liberation from personal struggles. The inclusion of contact details at the end of the manga suggests that troubled individuals may seek out the cult for guidance and support in their lives.
Joining a cult that carried out a major terrorist attack in Japan was not something expected, as Japan is not known for terrorism. Chouetsu Jin was clearly propaganda, used to manipulate vulnerable individuals. This manga was just one example of propaganda in comic form, but its role in recruiting members for a terrorist cult is undeniably sinister. Thankfully, both the cult and the manga are not widely spread anymore, but it's important to learn from these cases to recognize and avoid propaganda with harmful intentions. Aspiring manga artists should strive to create content that brings positivity to the world.
