Japanese manga "Fist of the North Star," penned by Buronson and illustrated by Tetsuo Hara, boasts over 40 years of history and continues to inspire numerous projects and events. A new anime adaptation, "Fist of the North Star -FIST OF THE NORTH STAR-," is also slated for broadcast in 2026.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, currently on a visit to Japan, met with "Fist of the North Star" manga artist Tetsuo Hara in Tokyo on the 16th. The two shared a friendly handshake, and Hara presented her with original "Fist of the North Star" artwork, making for a lively atmosphere.
The meeting came about because Prime Minister Meloni herself is a devoted fan of Tetsuo Hara. Ever since "Fist of the North Star" was first published in Italy in the 1980s, Hara has maintained immense popularity there, even decades after the series debuted.
Coincidentally, it was also Prime Minister Meloni's birthday that day, so Hara presented her with a giclée print featuring a special congratulatory message. The two happily shook hands and posed for a commemorative photo amidst the celebratory mood.
This connection also led to Hara being invited as a main guest last autumn at "Lucca Comics & Games," one of the world's largest pop culture festivals, held in the medieval Tuscan city of Lucca, Italy.
Furthermore, thanks to this invitation, he became the first Japanese manga artist ever invited by Florence's Uffizi Galleries to create a self-portrait for their collection – quite an honor!
▼ Tetsuo Hara's artwork previously exhibited at Italy's Uffizi Galleries
It might be hard to imagine "Fist of the North Star" having such massive popularity even in Italy, but it just goes to show how this classic series has managed to maintain its incredible influence after all these years – no easy feat!
via： 原哲夫官方X