Ayako

Osamu Tezuka’s Ayako, released in English by Vertical in 2010, is a standalone graphic novel that distills the master storyteller’s epic, postwar family saga into a single, dense volume. Translated by Mari Morimoto, this work follows the dark, sprawling tale of the Tenge clan, whose secrets and betrayals mirror Japan’s transformation from World War II through the economic boom. A landmark of Tezuka’s later, more mature period, Ayako showcases his unflinching exploration of corruption, repression, and the cost of silence.