Is an English Version of Land Manga in the Works? Kazumi Yamashita Reveals

As a dedicated follower of manga and Japanese culture, I am thrilled by the news of Kazumi Yamashita‘s English release for her masterpiece, Land. Her profound storytelling and unique perspectives have always captivated me, and her journey mirrors my own in many ways.


Kazumi Yamashita has revealed plans for an English translation of the manga titled “Land,” which initially ran in Kodansha’s Morning magazine from March 2014 to July 2020. The story came to a close with its 11th and last volume, published in September 2020.

Land ranked 13th on Takarajimasha’s Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list of the top 20 manga for male readers in 2016 and placed 50th, alongside What Did You Eat Yesterday?, on Da Vinci magazine’s 17th annual Book of the Year 2017 list. In December 2019, Brutus magazine included it on their Most Dangerous Manga list for its stimulating and thought-provoking themes. The series won the Grand Prize at the 25th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2021.

The tale “Land” unfolds in a realm where anyone who turns 50 succumbs to death. As a newborn, An, the elder of two twin sisters, was sacrificed to the gods in the mountains by the village’s religious leaders. This ritual, believed by the villagers, aims to keep their world safe by placating the deities with human offerings.

As a passionate follower of my craft, I am Kazumi Yamashita, hailing from Otaru, Hokkaido, born on August 15, 1959. I embarked on my journey as a manga artist specializing in shōjo manga, making my professional debut in 1980 with Margaret. My creative spirit was initially ignited by the style of Mariko Iwadate. Notably, I gained recognition for The Life of Genius Professor Yanagizawa, published in Morning, which earned me the prestigious Kodansha Manga Award for general manga in 2003. Remarkably, the central character in this manga bears a striking resemblance to my father.

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2024-08-16 15:08