A Historic Encounter That Shook the World

On January 16, 2026, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with legendary manga artist Tetsuo Hara in Tokyo during her official visit to Japan. The meeting fell right around Meloni's birthday, and Hara presented her with a special giclée print featuring the iconic protagonist Kenshiro, complete with a birthday message.

"Your art is wonderful, Sensei," Meloni expressed with admiration. Hara responded with a gracious compliment: "Prime Minister Meloni, you make a beautiful subject for a drawing." The two exchanged handshakes, creating a symbolic moment where Japanese manga culture served as a bridge for international cultural diplomacy.

Why Is Prime Minister Meloni a Fist of the North Star Fan?

This extraordinary meeting came about because Meloni is an avid fan of Tetsuo Hara's works, particularly "Fist of the North Star" (Hokuto no Ken). Since the manga was published in Italy in the 1980s under the title "Ken il Guerriero" (Ken the Warrior), Hara has enjoyed tremendous popularity in the country.

The animated television series was also broadcast with complete Italian dubbing, leaving a profound impression on an entire generation of Italian youth. Born in 1977, Prime Minister Meloni belongs to that very generation, she grew up watching "Ken il Guerriero" as a young girl.

Tetsuo Hara's Prestigious Recognition in Italy

Hara's deep connection with Italy was further strengthened in autumn 2025. He was invited as the main guest to "Lucca Comics & Games," the world's largest pop culture festival held in the medieval city of Lucca in Tuscany.

This festival, which began in 1966, is the largest comics and games convention in Europe. Having a Japanese manga artist as the featured guest is an exceptional honor. Moreover, Hara was awarded the prestigious "Yellow Kid Award" as "Master of Comics", one of the most distinguished accolades in the international comics world.

Most remarkably, Hara became the first Japanese manga artist ever to be commissioned by Florence's Uffizi Gallery to create a self-portrait for their collection. The Uffizi, a temple of Renaissance art, houses self-portraits of masters like Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Rembrandt. The inclusion of a Japanese manga artist's work in this collection represents worldwide recognition of manga as a legitimate art form.

What Is 'Fist of the North Star'? The Legend That Built Jump's Golden Age

"Fist of the North Star" (Hokuto no Ken) is a violent action manga written by Buronson and illustrated by Tetsuo Hara, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1983 to 1988.

Synopsis

In 199X, global nuclear war has devastated the world, destroying civilization. In this post-apocalyptic wasteland where only violence rules, Kenshiro, the successor to the ancient assassination art of Hokuto Shinken, fights to reclaim his kidnapped fiancée Yuria and protect the weak against tyranny.

What Makes It Special

  • Overwhelming Artistic Power: Hara's detailed and powerful artwork brings muscle-bound characters and intense battle scenes to life with tremendous impact
  • The Innovative "Pressure Points" Concept: The Hokuto Shinken technique, which destroys enemies from within by striking hidden pressure points (tsubo), was revolutionary for martial arts manga
  • Drama of Men Bearing Sorrow: Beyond mere action, the series depicts deep backstories and philosophies for antagonists, creating bonds between "rivals" (pronounced "tomo," meaning "friends" in the series)
  • Legendary Quotes: Lines like "You are already dead" (Omae wa mou shindeiru) and "My life has not a single regret!" remain iconic to this day
  • Humorous Death Cries: The unique death screams like "Hidebu!" and "Abeshi!" as villains are defeated added a satisfying comedic element

The Manga That Saved Weekly Shonen Jump

The arrival of "Fist of the North Star" marked a turning point in the history of Weekly Shonen Jump. At the time of its serialization, Jump was struggling against Weekly Shonen Sunday's popular romantic comedy lineup, with circulation stuck at around 3 million copies.

However, the massive success of "Fist of the North Star" pushed Jump's circulation past 4 million by late 1984. Editor-in-chief Shigeo Nishimura famously stated, "Hokuto's fist shattered Sunday's rom-com lineup." This victory preserved Jump's traditional editorial philosophy of "friendship, effort, victory" and laid the foundation for the magazine's eventual 6-million-copy circulation era, which would spawn later hits like "Dragon Ball" and "SLAM DUNK."

The "Senior" to Dragon Ball, Naruto, and One Piece

Today, the most globally recognized Japanese manga are "Dragon Ball" (serialization began 1984), "NARUTO" (1999), and "ONE PIECE" (1997). However, it was "Fist of the North Star" that cultivated the environment in which these works could flourish.

Influence on Subsequent Works

  • Establishing the Battle Manga Format: The success of "Fist of the North Star" made combat-focused shonen manga mainstream
  • Character Depth: The approach of giving villains tragic backstories and personal philosophies was inherited by countless later works
  • The Concept of Signature Moves: Iconic techniques like "Hokuto Hyakuretsu Ken" (Hundred Crack Fist) became standard in subsequent manga
  • Art Style: Hara's powerful gekiga-style artwork influenced many works, including "Sakigake!! Otokojuku" and "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure"

Circulation Comparison

Series Total Copies Sold
ONE PIECE 500+ million
Dragon Ball 260+ million
NARUTO 250+ million
Fist of the North Star 100+ million

The 100 million copies figure for "Fist of the North Star" remains an impressive achievement more than 35 years after the series ended. More importantly, without this work, the environment for later mega-hits might never have developed.

Global Impact of 'Fist of the North Star'

"Fist of the North Star" is beloved not only in Japan but worldwide.

  • France: Known affectionately as "Ken le Survivant" (Ken the Survivor)
  • Italy: Enjoys immense popularity as "Ken il Guerriero" (Ken the Warrior)
  • United States: "Fist of the North Star" maintains cult classic status
  • Influence on JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Hirohiko Araki's masterpiece was notably influenced by the series

Additionally, the "Hokuto no Ken" pachinko slots have shipped over 600,000 units, a record in the industry, demonstrating how the manga has become a cultural phenomenon beyond its original medium.

When Manga Transcends Borders: A New Form of Cultural Diplomacy

The meeting between Prime Minister Meloni and Tetsuo Hara demonstrates how manga and anime, Japan's soft power, can play crucial roles in diplomacy.

A political leader officially meeting with a manga artist and publicly declaring love for their work was once unthinkable. However, now that the generation who grew up watching "Fist of the North Star" in the 1980s has reached leadership positions around the world, Japanese manga and anime culture has truly become part of global heritage.

In the photos Meloni posted to Instagram, her beaming smile while holding the Kenshiro print showed not the face of a national leader, but the pure joy of a fan who has loved the series since childhood.

How is "Fist of the North Star" received in your country? Do people around you know the phrase "You are already dead"? What is the most popular Japanese manga or anime in your country? Please share your thoughts in the comments!

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