The Representation Of Manga Artist In Japan Through The Character Of Fujino In Movie Look Back

Abstract

This study analysis the portrayal of a manga artist’s life in Japan through the character Fujino in the movie Look Back (2024), directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama and adapted from the manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto. The aims of the study are to analyze the relation of Fujino’s character to the social and cultural pressures of working in the Japanese manga industry and to find the causes of the representation. Using Hall’s theory of representation within a qualitative content analysis framework, primary data were collected through documentation of relevant scenes and dialogues in the movie and supported by secondary data from related literature, then verified through triangulation to strengthen the validity of the interpretation. The findings indicate that Fujino's character reflects the real pressures faced by manga artists, including intense competition, creative anxiety, self-doubt, and social isolation. It also represents broader industry pressures such as an identity entirely tied to one's work, ongoing pressure even after achieving success, and the expectation to continue producing work despite personal suffering. This suggests that Look Back serves as a cultural text that reveals the demanding and often unseen realities of work in Japan’s creative industries, and that the movie can serve as authentic material to support English language instruction, particularly in developing students’ multimodal literacy, character analysis skills, and intercultural understanding.