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Doraemon’s limitless world sprang from humble briefcase. Post unpacks inspiration for manga ahead of Hong Kong show
- Jitsuko Katsumata, daughter of late Japanese manga master Fujiko F. Fujio, says father cherished ‘daily life’ inspiration in creating beloved characters
- Hong Kong will host its biggest Doraemon exhibition this summer, 135 large-scale models of robotic cat to pop up across city
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Oscar Liuin Tokyo
Beloved manga character Doraemon wielded an array of fantastical gadgets in his adventures, but late creator Fujiko F. Fujio often relied on something much simpler – a humble briefcase.
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The artefact is one of many on display at the Fujiko F. Fujio Museum in Kawasaki, where Jitsuko Katsumata, a daughter of the late Japanese manga master, told the Post more about the origins of her father’s greatest work ahead of a major exhibition being held in Hong Kong this summer.
Katsumata said she had fond memories of Fujio reaching for the briefcase that he carried with him wherever he went, jotting down flashes of inspiration for Doraemon’s tech, among other ideas, in a notebook inside.
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“In my memory, whenever I accompanied my father on outings, he would gaze at the scenery outside and suddenly, as if struck by an idea, take out his notebook from the briefcase and start writing,” she said.
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