Doraemon Matters: How the Manga Robot Cat from the Future Lives on in Japan Today

CAS Speaker Series

September 19, 6:00pm-7:00pm

Lecture by Dr. Jon Holt, Portland State University
Posner Hall 340

Who is Doraemon? Where did he come from? Why does he still remain popular in Japan and in Asia? Dr. Jon Holt explores the blue robot cat's multiple manga origins as he went on to become one of Japan's most beloved characters. In 1970, he stood in sharp contrast to the then-popular mature-comics (gekiga) movement. Doraemon is more than a pop icon, he is a harbinger of Japan's future from its future.

Jon Holt is Professor of Japanese at Portland State University. His research interests include modern Japanese poetry, Japanese Buddhism, and manga. He recently published “Type Five and Beyond: Tools to Teach Manga in the College Classroom” in Exploring Comics and Graphic Novels in the Classroom (IGI Global, 2022). He has published numerous English translations of essays on manga by Natsume Fusanosuke in journals such as The Comics Journal, INKS, ImageTexT, Electronic Journal of Contemporary Japanese Studies, International Journal of Comic Art, and U.S.-Japan Women’s Journal.

This event is hosted by the Department of Modern Languages and co-sponsored by the Center for the Arts in Society.