Introducing a Tatsuya Miyanishi series featuring various anthropomorphic insects as Japanese warriors, going on various "hero adventures" fighting villains.
Typical of his storytelling style that often features character depth, cleverly highlighting behaviours in human nature, all wrapped up in an action-packed plot and hilarious illustrations, this is a great series for Miyanishi fans to add to their bookshelves
The whole series follows a long story arc (think: binge watching period "wuxia" dramas, but in picture book form :P). Though, each book can be read standalone as its own martial arts action story.
The timeline across the books span several generations, starting with a Japanese horned beetle Sanjuro (三十郎) who faces the cockroach bully in the first book, to his rebellious son Shijiro (四十郎) finding his way in life in the 3rd book, to the introduction of the three grandsons—Isoro (五十郎), Rokujuro (六十郎), Shijiro (七十郎)—attending Samurai school, training to become warriors for good, in the fifth and final book.
Each book features an obvious "villain". Yet interestingly, the "heroes" in every book end up learning life lessons from these very same villains.
From these stories, young readers come to realize there are often never clear "black and white" or "good and evil" people in life.
There is often more experience, trauma, and background to someone's behaviour than meets the eye... And being "courageous" is often not how it is often depicted in many action movies.
This set includes the following books:
- Samurai Horned Beetle #1: Sanjuro Lives for You!《宮西達也獨角仙武士1：獨角仙三十郎為你而活》
- Samurai Horned Beetle #2: Sanjuro Flies Towards Tomorrow!《宮西達也獨角仙武士2：獨角仙三十郎飛向明天》
- Samurai Horned Beetle #3: Shijiro Finds Himself《宮西達也獨角仙武士3：獨角仙四十郎找回初衷》
- Samurai Horned Beetle #4: Shijiro Acts from His Heart《宮西達也獨角仙武士4：獨角仙四十郎從心出發》
- Samurai Horned Beetle #5: The Horned Beetle Brothers Using their Talent for Good!《宮西達也獨角仙武士5：獨角仙三兄弟天生我才必有用》
This book set includes a paper cutout craft to create a sumo wrestling game with the horned beetle characters featured in the books.
Hardcover | 48 pages per book | 19 x 23.8cm
