Japan to do manga of the Koran

[dragon]

Oh boy is going piss a few people off

Manga de Dokuha, a branch of Japanese publishing company East Press, is known for releasing classic pieces of literature in Manga form. The company's latest endeavor is the Quaran.

Team Banmikasu is in charge of the adaptation, named "Manga de Dokuha: Koran," which will begin shipping to Japan on Sunday, Feb. 22.

The central text of Islam is known as "the foundation of the daily life and ideology of people who believe in the teachings of Islam," according to East Press' website listing for the manga adaptation.

"The name Islam is often heard in the daily news, but because we Japanese aren't usually familiar with it, a perverted image [of Islam] as abstemious or linked to terrorism is liable to persist," the description reads. "So what kind of teachings do [Muslims] actually believe in? What are they thinking about? To understand the modern international community and Islam, let's try to experience the scriptures where all that is written down."

The Quaran is not the first religious piece of literature that Manga de Dokuha has tackled.

East Press began the Manga de Dokuha series in 2007 and has translated more than 130 titles to manga, including both testaments of the Bible. One Peace Books adapted other worldwide-known titles for the series, such as Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf," F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick," Miguel de Cervantes' "Don Quixote" and James Joyce's "Ulysses," among others.

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[itb7]

I think that's an interesting idea on their part. They might want to be careful though, just because of what happened to Charlie Hebdo.

[Purple]

I can't wait for the fan sub to show up online. Because frankly I doubt this is going to get translated to english and exported to the western world.

[Zixinus]

I can't wait for the fan sub to show up online. Because frankly I doubt this is going to get translated to english and exported to the western world.

Why not? Unless the publisher doesn't do it anyway, I really don't see why they wouldn't do it. Unless everyone agreed after Charlie Hebdo to not touch Islam anymore, I don't see why not. People in the West are more than happy to criticize Islam right now.

From the OP's post, the manga actually seems benevolent: it wants to show what Islam is and what's in the Koran trough comics. It wants to show what Muslim must do trough their faith and not the interpretation of their faith as understood by homicidal fundamentalists. If anything, it seems that the desire to make it comes from wanting to educate people about the Koran and consequently Islam and help people understand what's it about and how it relates to current events. That's a good thing in of within itself.

[bilateralrope]

East Press began the Manga de Dokuha series in 2007 and has translated more than 130 titles to manga, including both testaments of the Bible. One Peace Books adapted other worldwide-known titles for the series, such as Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf," F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick," Miguel de Cervantes' "Don Quixote" and James Joyce's "Ulysses," among others.

Does anyone know about how well they converted those other works to manga ?

They might want to be careful though, just because of what happened to Charlie Hebdo.

They might have bumped the Koran to the top of their list because of Charlie Hebdo.

[AniThyng]

Mainstream global Islam is still against any depictions of the prophets, I would not assume this will be waived for a visual depiction of the Qur'an. Just because they don't support killing over it does not mean they condone it...

[Havok]

It would be interesting to see the no quit Japanese against the quasi no quit Muslim extremists in an all out war.

[loomer]

They may not show the Prophets. Just like the film The Message, they could easily avoid it.

[Purple]

Why not? Unless the publisher doesn't do it anyway, I really don't see why they wouldn't do it. Unless everyone agreed after Charlie Hebdo to not touch Islam anymore, I don't see why not. People in the West are more than happy to criticize Islam right now.

Because from my experience japanese manga and anime get horribly mangled in editing as it is with official translations. Although to be honest I've seen far more anime than manga in my days. I read fan subs when ever I can anyway simply because of that. So I can imagine that who ever is doing that is also going to be under pressure to censor things.

[Ralin]

I think that's an interesting idea on their part. They might want to be careful though, just because of what happened to Charlie Hebdo.

I expect there are a lot fewer pissed off Muslims with chips on their shoulders in Japan than in France.

[houser2112]

I expect there are a lot fewer pissed off Muslims with chips on their shoulders in Japan than in France.

Does it really matter where the pissed off Muslims with chips on their shoulders live, if someone needs to be taught a lesson not to depict Mohammed?

[Ralin]

I expect there are a lot fewer pissed off Muslims with chips on their shoulders in Japan than in France.

Does it really matter where the pissed off Muslims with chips on their shoulders live, if someone needs to be taught a lesson not to depict Mohammed?

Probably harder to get guns and explosives in Japan too. Also they might have trouble blending in.