The Olympics have long captured the hearts of sports enthusiasts around the globe. Every four years, athletes from various nations gather to compete at the highest level, embodying the spirit of dedication, sportsmanship, and unity. While many sports stories have made their way into manga, there’s a surprising lack of Olympic-themed manga, especially ones focusing on ancient Olympic sports.
As a manga fan, watching my country win another gold medal at the Olympics made me curious about whether there are any manga focused on this monumental event—particularly those that revolve around the ancient Olympics. After some searching, I discovered a few, but not as many as one might expect, given the rich history and excitement surrounding the Olympic Games.
A Look at Ancient Olympic Manga
The ancient Olympic Games, which originated in Greece in 776 BC, offer a treasure trove of potential stories, yet only a couple of manga explore this fascinating time period. Let’s delve into the two that have been written so far:
Robustness: Road to Olympia
One of the most notable Olympic manga is “Robustness: Road to Olympia”, written and illustrated by Yoshiyuki Satou. Set in Ancient Greece, this manga follows the journey of two brothers, Grenos and Huros, who are trained in the ancient martial art of Pankration, a combination of boxing and wrestling. Their peaceful life is abruptly shattered when Spartans invade their island, killing their parents and separating the brothers.
Grenos is sold into slavery, while Huros is taken prisoner by the Spartans. Despite these overwhelming challenges, Grenos vows to reunite with his brother at the Olympic Games, using his Pankration skills as his means of survival and hope. The Olympic manga captures the brutality and glory of ancient sports, while also exploring themes of perseverance, brotherhood, and the spirit of competition. Its portrayal of the ancient Greek world, filled with hardships and honor, makes it a compelling read for history enthusiasts and manga fans alike.
Olympia Kyklos
The other olympic manga that touches on the ancient Olympic Games is “Olympia Kyklos”, a unique blend of historical fiction and comedy. Created by Mari Yamazaki, the story follows Demetrios, a timid vase painter from ancient Greece who despises sports and competitions. However, to save his village, Demetrios must devise a competitive game, and in his efforts, he is struck by lightning while hiding in a large vase. This event transports him through time to Tokyo during the 1964 Summer Olympics.
This manga offers a humorous and quirky take on both the ancient and modern Olympic Games, blending the past and present in a creative way. Through Demetrios’ eyes, readers witness the contrasts between ancient Greek and modern Japanese culture, all while exploring the universal themes of sportsmanship and competition. The time-travel element brings a refreshing twist to the genre and adds a layer of depth to the narrative.
Women’s Judo Club
A lesser-known but equally inspiring Olympic manga is one created by Makoto Kobayashi in collaboration with Olympic gold medalist judoka Yuko Emoto. This series follows a women’s judo club and is loosely based on Emoto’s own journey to Olympic success. Emoto made history by winning Japan’s first gold medal in women’s judo at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.
The Olympic manga focuses on the lives of the club members, their rigorous training, and the personal challenges they face along the way. It offers an insightful look into the world of women’s judo, a sport that, like many others, has had to fight for recognition on the Olympic stage.
Modern Olympic Manga: Inspirational Stories of Perseverance
While ancient Olympic stories are scarce, modern Olympic stories in manga, although still limited, offer a glimpse into the world of athletes who dream of Olympic gold. Below are a few manga that focus on the Olympics or Olympic-related sports:
Yawara!
One of the most famous Olympic manga series is “Yawara!”, created by Naoki Urasawa, the brilliant mind behind Monster and 20th Century Boys. Yawara! follows Yawara Inokuma, a high school girl with extraordinary judo skills, thanks to the rigorous training imposed by her grandfather, Jigoro Inokuma, a former judo champion. Despite her grandfather’s ambitions for her to win a gold medal at the Olympics, Yawara herself dreams of leading a normal life, experiencing love, and attending school like any other girl.
The manga deftly balances Yawara’s internal struggle between fulfilling her grandfather’s expectations and pursuing her own desires, all within the context of preparing for the Olympics. It highlights the pressures young athletes face, as well as the importance of self-determination. Yawara! is both a heartwarming and empowering story, making it a beloved classic in the world of sports manga.
Ganba! Fly High
Ganba! Fly High is another Olympic manga that tells the story of Shun Fujimaki, a high school freshman with a dream of winning an Olympic gold medal in gymnastics. Unlike other sports protagonists, Shun starts with no prior experience or natural talent. However, his sheer determination and the support of his teammates and coaches push him to improve steadily.
As the story progresses, readers are taken through Shun’s intense training sessions, various competitions, and personal growth. The focus on gymnastics, an Olympic staple, adds a unique element to the story. It emphasizes the value of hard work, perseverance, and the Olympic spirit, making it an inspiring read for those interested in the challenges faced by athletes in lesser-known sports.
Rising Girl
One of the more historically significant Olympic manga is “Rising Girl,” which is based on the true story of Kinue Hitomi, the first Japanese woman to win an Olympic medal. Set during a time when women’s participation in sports was not widely accepted, this manga portrays Kinue’s struggle to defy societal norms and pursue her passion for athletics.
Her journey, marked by personal hardships, social obstacles, and fierce determination, culminates in her historic achievement at the Olympics. Rising Girl is a powerful story of resilience and empowerment, offering readers an inspiring look at a pioneering figure in the world of sports. The historical context adds depth to the narrative, making it not only an Olympic story but also a commentary on gender roles and societal expectations.
The Olympic Manga Gap: A Treasure Trove of Untapped Stories
Despite these notable titles, the amount of manga focused on the Olympics is surprisingly limited. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a monumental event hosted by Japan, might have been expected to inspire a surge of Olympic-themed manga, but that wasn’t the case. Given Japan’s love for sports manga, from classics like Captain Tsubasa (soccer) to Haikyuu!! (volleyball), it’s peculiar that the Olympics—a global stage for the world’s greatest athletes—hasn’t been more extensively explored in the medium.
Perhaps part of the reason lies in Japan’s relatively modest Olympic success compared to other countries, or the intense pressure associated with the Games. Nonetheless, the potential for new stories is immense, especially in exploring both ancient and modern Olympic themes.
Conclusion
The world of Olympic manga is a largely untapped reservoir of potential stories, especially when it comes to the rich history of the ancient Olympic Games. While there are a few gems like “Robustness: Road to Olympia” and “Yawara!”, there remains an opportunity for more manga creators to explore this unique combination of sports, history, and competition. The Olympics, both ancient and modern, offer universal themes of perseverance, teamwork, and glory that are perfect for storytelling, and manga fans would undoubtedly embrace more stories set in this thrilling world.
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