We were able to discover the advertising talents deployed by the man from the Élysée Palace in a promotional video extolling the merits of the Culture Pass. Listing the multiple cultural sectors to which the tool gives access, the president pointed to manga as a priority as a genre of books to afford. Quite logically, moreover, since the statistics indicated that 71% of the books reserved through this tool were manga.
However, books themselves represent 84% of reservations made. The figures were communicated in mid-June, the cultural offer had not yet had time to expand. The manga is of interest to those over 18, who benefit from the Pass’s € 300 offer, and those over 18 are of interest to presidential candidates – yet Emmanuel Macron, according to a recent Ifop-JDD poll, has just lost 13 points popularity among the 18-24 age group. Action reaction.
“How pretty you are! you look so gorgeous to me !”
This trip to Japan gave the opportunity to meet some heavyweights in the manga, with this comment: “ I am very happy to share this moment with you. Many of these works, including Akira, Fairy Tail, Dark Soulsand Light , have become myths not only in Japan, but also in France. Culture connects people. Yours sincerely. »
As noted BFTM TV, we found Katsuhiro Ōtomo, Hiro Mashima or even Eiichirō Oda, to whom we owe One Piece – saga therefore volume 1 has just exceeded one million copies alone, in France, for more than 25 million copies sold in France. And two last volumes, the 99 and the last, the 100, remain to be published. Moreover, in the world, One Piece has exceeded 480 million copies.
However, the author clearly flattered – or constrained by the protocol? – Presidential words thanked the tenant of the Élysée Palace with a drawing representing Luffy and his co-religionists from Mugiwara (Straw hat), the pirate crew… All with a dedication, in French in the text: ” For the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron and all of you, One Piece fans in France. »
Barely received, immediately broadcast on the networks: ” Passionate about One Piece, I share with you this original drawing offered by its author», Notes Emmanuel Macron, with the usual thanks to the author. Should we read in Luffy’s explosion of joy finally the victory of the manga, recognized by a Western president? Who knows…
Akira, distant work
During the discussions, Macron will tell Hiro Mashima, author ofFairy Tail andEden Zero, that ” French readers are more and more numerous, especially young people “. Not enough for the mangaka, however questioned by the president, to agree to talk about his future projects.
This same president who will offer himself the luxury of irony in front of Katsuhirao Otomo, creator of Akira: “You hadn’t planned everything inAkira , in particular the pandemic was not there!“Response from the person concerned, winner of the Grand Prix d’Angoulême in 2015:” Yes, it’s true.“But not resentful, he will present some original boards, adding:”Besides, I don’t really remember the evolution ofAkira, given that it is a work that I made a very long time ago.»
The operation to seduce a young electorate therefore continues, with a little less demagoguery (populism?), However, than when Macron, via Instagram, opposed in a micro-pollOne PieceandSNK, aliasShingeki no Kyojin – L’Attaque des Titans. A communication tactic that accompanied the generalization of the Culture Pass a few days earlier.
All in onestory, on Instagram … Yes, yes.
At the same time, and more seriously, Japanese and French parents denounce the many difficulties encountered in ensuring… the care of their children in the Land of the Rising Sun. And a father, deprived of custody of his children, began a hunger strike. But Franco-Japanese relations and soft power did not allow the president to take an interest in the fate of this compatriot, it seems.
Illustration credit: ActuaLitté, CC BY SA 2.0
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