Black Jack Exhibition Opens in Okinawa with Rare Manuscripts

Jul 18, 2025 | News On Japan

NAHA - More than 500 original manuscripts from Osamu Tezuka's classic manga Black Jack are on display at a new exhibition opening July 18th at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum in Naha.

Black Jack, created by the so-called "God of Manga" Tezuka, follows an unlicensed genius surgeon who saves lives while demanding exorbitant fees. The story raises questions about the value of life and the ethics of medical care.

The exhibition features over 500 original works, including all 234 episodes published between 1973 and 1978 in serialized and one-shot formats. Highlights include detailed surgery scenes and storylines that reflect Black Jack's inner conflict as a doctor, presented through various themes with a modern art perspective.

Among the pieces is a story set in Okinawa, involving a politician and a child injured on a sightseeing boat, and an endangered Iriomote cat smuggled aboard. The dilemma: whom does Black Jack operate on first?

The 1975 episode Treasure Island, known as a fan favorite, explores the reason behind Black Jack’s demand for large sums of money and is considered one of the series’ most iconic installments.

The exhibition, which invites visitors to reflect on the essence of life and the nature of medicine, runs through September 15th.

Source: 沖縄ニュースOTV

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