by From ancient times, in manga and anime, episodes with the motif of “Christmas,” centered on romantic comedy works, can be said to be a staple. While emotional and happy stories stand out, what remains as a vivid memory may be the Christmas episode depicted in the “gag manga.”
Therefore, this time, we carefully selected the most impressive episodes from the best masterpieces in the history of gag manga. Here are three shocking Christmas episodes.
“Counterattack of a man who is not popular” against Christmas
There is an impressive episode drawn on the stage of Christmas in Mr. Osamu Akimoto’s “Here Katsushika Ward Kameari Koenmae Hakkosho” (Shueisha). It is “Christmas VS Men’s Festival !! ~ Midwinter Duel ~ Volume” recorded in Volume 151 of the comics.
The main character, Kankichi Ryotsu, gathers unpopular men who have no plans for Christmas and shows anger at Christmas, which has become an event for couples. Then, in opposition to Christmas, we plan a festival called “Otoko Matsuri.” The content was to wear a “torch” instead of a candle, eat a “gyudon” instead of a Christmas cake, and men who are not popular in loincloths parade through popular spots where couples gather.
The event filled with Ryotsu’s envy, which destroys the excellent atmosphere of Christmas couples, will start on December 24th. The dubious men in loincloths appearing at date spots in Tokyo were featured in a news program. A reporter explained “a demonstration march of unpopular men who oppose Christmas.”
The legendary power word is born!
Next, I would like to introduce the Christmas episode in Minoru Furuya’s “Go! Inanaka Table Tennis Club” (Kodansha). The story of “Santa Lucia,” recorded in the 7th volume of the comic, has a shocking word that cannot be forgotten.
Izawa, who has a unique hairstyle like Joe Yabuki from “Ashita no Joe,” is invited to a Christmas party hosted by Chiyoko Kamiya’s family, who has just begun dating—knowing that Maeno revealed that he was planning a mysterious event called “Santa Hunting” in front of Izawa.
After that, Izawa participated in the Kamiya family’s home party, but he was more interested in the “Santa hunting” that his best friend Maeno left behind. Even the Kamiya family was in the sky. In the end, the content of “Santa hunting” remained a mystery until the end, but the word full of impact burned into the reader’s mind.
“Rare episode” that truly celebrates Christmas
Hikaru Nakamura’s “Saint Young Men” (Kodansha) is a story about the daily lives of Buddha and Jesus on vacation in the lower world (Japan) after successfully surviving the end of the century. In the second volume of the comic, there is an episode with a Christmas motif.
Jesus misunderstands Christmas, which is booming in the lower world, as “the day when Santa Claus succeeded in flying with a reindeer.” He also has a lot of misunderstandings, such as decorating Buddha statues as Christmas trees and is unaware that Christmas is an event to celebrate his birthday.
On the other hand, Buddha plans to give Jesus a surprise birthday surprise. The content was preparing for the party, struggling to remind us that the 25th was Jesus’ birthday.
In the original sense, it can be said that the birthday story of the “Christmas hero” was drawn only by “Saint Young Men.”
