A Historic Encounter That Shook the World
On January 16, 2025, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with legendary manga artist Tetsuo Hara in Tokyo during her official visit to Japan. The meeting coincided with Meloni's 48th birthday, and Hara presented her with a special giclée print featuring the iconic protagonist Kenshiro, complete with a personal 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 2024. 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.
In Japan, "Fist of the North Star" has been beloved for over 40 years and is now recognized worldwide as a classic representing Japanese manga and anime culture. A work so influential that the Prime Minister of Italy proudly calls herself a fan truly deserves to be called a "cultural treasure."
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!
References
Reactions in Japan
It's amazing that Prime Minister Meloni is a fan of Tetsuo Hara! We've reached an era where people who grew up with Fist of the North Star are becoming world leaders. Really shows the power of manga.
Tetsuo Hara's self-portrait being collected by the Uffizi Gallery... I never imagined manga would stand alongside Renaissance art. I'm deeply moved.
This is true art diplomacy. Kenshiro becoming a birthday gift that makes the Italian PM smile - stranger than fiction.
Without Fist of the North Star, Dragon Ball, Naruto, and One Piece might never have been born. Tetsuo Hara is truly a legend.
Ken il Guerriero is really popular in Italy. Everyone in their 40s and 50s knows it here. PM Meloni is from the same generation, so she's probably a genuine fan.
A manga artist meeting with a prime minister in a diplomatic setting - what an era we live in. This is what Japan's soft power looks like.
I never imagined 'You are already dead' would become a global phrase. Didn't expect this when I was reading Jump in the 80s.
Being collected by the Uffizi is truly remarkable. A Japanese manga artist's self-portrait alongside Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael. A historic moment.
It's a nice story, but I wonder if we should make such a big deal about a manga artist meeting a politician. Aren't the actual diplomatic matters more important?
Fist of the North Star is legendary not just as manga but in pachinko too. The 600,000 units shipped is still unbroken I think.
The story of Fist of the North Star saving Jump is well-known among editors. The expression 'crushed Sunday's rom-com lineup' is so accurate.
Italy was one of the first European countries to embrace Japanese anime and manga culture. Both Fist of the North Star and Lupin are national treasures there.
Honestly, I only knew Fist of the North Star from parodies, but it was actually this influential? Maybe I should properly read it.
Speaking of Tetsuo Hara, 'Hana no Keiji' is also amazing. It's incredible that he's known for more than just Fist of the North Star.
Tetsuo Hara's artistic skill is truly otherworldly. The technique of combining such detail with such power hasn't aged at all.
If PM Meloni is a Fist of the North Star fan, I wonder which character she likes? Is she team Raoh or team Toki? lol
As an Italian, I'm proud that PM Meloni met with Maestro Hara. Ken il Guerriero is truly special to our generation. I watched it every week on TV in the 80s.
In France it's known as 'Ken le Survivant'. I was shocked when I watched it as a child. There was criticism about violence, but it was still hugely popular. Great that a PM is a fan.
Fist of the North Star has cult status in the US. Not mainstream, but legendary among anime fans. 'You are already dead' is now famous as a meme too.
Fist of the North Star is known in Germany too, but not as popular as in Italy or France. But 'Omae wa mou shindeiru' has become a universal phrase.
In Spain it's known as 'El Puño de la Estrella del Norte'. Hara-sensei's art is truly beautiful. He deserves to be in the Uffizi.
Lucca Comics is a source of pride for us Italians. It was truly an honor to have Hara-sensei as the main guest. The Yellow Kid award was well deserved.
Not well known in the UK, but recently younger people know it through the 'You are already dead' meme. Interesting cultural phenomenon.
Fist of the North Star is popular in China too. The pressure point concept is based on Chinese meridian theory, so it feels familiar. Shows the power of Japanese manga culture.
Isn't it a bit excessive that a politician meeting a manga artist makes news? There must be more important diplomatic issues to cover.
In Brazil it's known as 'Hokuto no Ken'. Many fans since it aired on TV in the 90s. Japanese manga and anime culture has major influence in Brazil too.
My father is still a huge Ken il Guerriero fan. He was so happy to hear PM Meloni met Hara-sensei. Manga connects people across generations.
There will be mixed opinions from traditional art perspectives about a manga artist in the Uffizi. However, this is an important step in recognizing the value of contemporary pop culture.
As a Japanese person, I'm happy to see Japanese manga so loved overseas. Thanks to pioneers like Hara-sensei.
Giving a Kenshiro print on PM Meloni's birthday - what a perfect gift! You can see from her smile that she's a real fan.
Fist of the North Star is famous in Korea too. The phrase is often used in Korean internet culture. The influence of Japanese manga is truly amazing.