In-Person Lecture Series

The Myriad Worlds of Manga
Wartime and Postwar Manga

7PM - 8:30PM, Wednesday, December 16, 2026
Murasaki Hall at The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles
(5700 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90036)

Admission FREE
Please register HERE

Manga was an effective political tool during the mid-twentieth century. It was used to galvanize the Japanese public towards support for the war machine until 1945, after which it was used to envision a stable postwar Japan. A subgenre known as “A-Bomb Literature” includes popular manga such as Barefoot Gen and the later In this Corner of the World. In this talk, Michael VanHartingsveldt introduces the multiple functions of manga during and following the war, and navigates the pivotal roles of manga as a vehicle for propaganda and activism.

This is the second session of six monthly classroom-style lectures that trace the development of manga in Japan. These lively conversations explore the diverse approaches to storytelling in Japanese manga by presenting topics such as demographic, art style, and historical context. Participants will be assigned readings from select manga in advance of meetings for a deeper appreciation of the medium.

Michael VanHartingsveldt

A PhD candidate in Art History at the University of Kansas, Michael VanHartingsveldt is currently writing his dissertation about the Buddhist sculptor profession in medieval Japan. In addition to his work as an Arts and Culture Program Officer at The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, he teaches the course Approaches to Manga at California State University, Long Beach, and Japanese Culture through Anime and Manga at Mt. San Antonio College.