The Day After Her Birthday, in Tokyo

On 16 January 2026, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met manga artist Tetsuo Hara in Tokyo during her official visit to Japan. She had turned 49 the previous day, and Hara gave her a giclée print of Kenshiro and his great rival Raoh, inscribed with a birthday message in Italian: "BUON COMPLEANNO".

"Your art is wonderful, Sensei," Meloni said. Hara answered: "Prime Minister Meloni, you make a beautiful subject for a drawing." They shook hands. Meloni's state visit ran from 15 to 17 January.

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, Meloni belongs to that generation; she grew up watching "Ken il Guerriero" as a girl. She is also known as a fan of Lupin III and Captain Harlock.

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

That 100 million figure still stands nearly 40 years after the series ended. What matters more is that without it, the conditions for the later mega-hits might never have formed.

Global Impact of 'Fist of the North Star'

The title changed shape from country to country. France got "Ken le Survivant" (Ken the Survivor), Italy "Ken il Guerriero" (Ken the Warrior), the English-speaking world "Fist of the North Star", where it settled into cult status. The names differ; the readership has lasted in all of them. Hirohiko Araki's JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is frequently cited as carrying its influence.

The "Hokuto no Ken" pachislot machines have also shipped more than 600,000 units, an industry record, making the series a phenomenon well beyond print.

The Kids Who Watched in the 1980s Now Run Countries

A head of government making time in an official schedule to meet a manga artist, and saying publicly how much the work means to her, would have been hard to picture not long ago. But the children who watched Ken il Guerriero on Italian television in the 1980s are now the age at which people run institutions.

Meloni posted the photographs to Instagram, writing that she was honoured to meet Hara and thanking him for a work that grew up alongside several Italian generations and became part of the country's collective imagination. That is a fan talking, not a prime minister.

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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