The Minamata Story

This graphic novel dramatizes the story of Minamata, famous around the world as one of the most egregious examples of environmental poisoning. Identified in 1956, a final compensation settlement was not reached until 2010. Over 2,000 people were affected and over 1,700 have died.

Many people have heard about Minamata, but few know the real story or the human cost. The artist is Japanese, and the writer a UK citizen residing in Japan, giving the book a great mix of narrative and authentic representation.

Movie connection: A movie titled Minamata starring Johnny Depp is currently being filmed in Japan; release date TBD (2020?). It is based on the life of W. Eugene Smith, whose photo essay on Minamata in the 1970s stunned the world. Note that our book is not a direct or licensed tie-in.

Author Wilson has a solid track record of historical documentation of Japanese history and culture. His works include The Book of Five Rings, Yakuza Moon, and Black Ships. New Internationalist, a CBSD client, publishes Wilson's recent book The Many Not the Few, ISBN 9781780264448.

This book appeals to ecowarriors of all ages, but the manga presentation makes it a good choice for younger readers, although it is not marketed as a children's title. Most recently, the story of Minamata reminds us of the problem of lead-poisoned water in Flint, Michigan, and represents the same kind of governmental bungling and indifference.

AUTHOR PAGE ON WIKIPEDIA

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Michael_Wilson

MARKETING POINTS

Graphic Novels are hot:

• According to Publishers Weekly re Y2018: This is a marked difference from the 1.3% increase seen across all print publishing (not just graphic novels) in the U.S. and it indicates healthy growth for the category.
• According to Publishers Weekly:
• According to comicbook.com May 2019: with shonen bringing in the bulk of money.
• Not only is the sale of manga on a rise in North America, but the report reveals that about 25% of the entire graphic novel market belongs to manga in the United States.

Statistics on Eco Activism groups:

According to Wikipedia, there are 150 active Eco Activism groups in the US. Some of the biggest include:

• The Sierra Club: 1.3 million members
• World Wildlife Fund: 5 million members
• Greenpeace: 2.5 million members
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): 1.2 million members