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
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.
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.
“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.
Among the futuristic items the blue-and-white robotic cat pulls from his magical pocket are a bright pink “anywhere” door which allows instant travel to different places, a “take-copter” used for flying, a cloth that can age or de-age both objects and people, as well as a flashlight for enlarging or shrinking anything it shines on.
