Osamu Tezuka's Missing Pieces: 'Ari to Kyojin' and Other Youth Works Collected
The little-known early works of one of the most important figures in manga history, Osamu Tezuka, are coming to light in a long-awaited collection. Released in Japan on June 12, 2025, by the publishing house Rittousha, “Tezuka Osamu Missing Pieces Juvenile Works Ari to Kyojin” brings together stories that remained in magazines the master prepared for school-age children in the 1950s. The title piece, “Ari to Kyojin” (The Ant and the Giant), is one of the most notable parts.
This new book is a continuation of other collections previously published under Tezuka's “Missing Pieces” series. The series aims to bring to light the master's often forgotten works serialized in shōnen and shōjo magazines for elementary and middle school students during the early years of his career. Besides “Ari to Kyojin”, the book includes short stories, one-shot adventures, and experimental drawings from the same period. For Tezuka researchers, such collections are an invaluable resource for understanding the master's creative development.
Although Osamu Tezuka is known for masterpieces such as Astro Boy, Black Jack, and Phoenix, the early period of his career still awaits discovery. In the 1950s, school magazines common in Japan served as a kind of testing ground for young mangaka; Tezuka developed a unique language by blending traditional folktales with science fiction elements. “Ari to Kyojin” is a fine example of this approach: the story, which questions humanity's relationship with nature through the friendship of a giant ant and a tiny child, showcases Tezuka's early drawing style and narrative mastery.
The collection is of great importance not only for ordinary readers but also for manga historians and collectors. Most of these works had never been collected in a book before, and some stories only remained in original magazine pages. Thanks to the careful restoration efforts of Rittousha, faded pages have been made readable again, and short explanatory notes have been added to each chapter. A glossary section at the end of the book makes it easier to understand the cultural references of the period.
There is also a large fan base of Tezuka in Turkey, but the publication of such rare collections in our country is currently uncertain. Nevertheless, it is possible to access the Japanese edition through digital platforms. Especially those who follow other books in the “Missing Pieces” series say that this new volume is a must-have. For anyone interested in Tezuka's early works, this collection promises an enjoyable journey towards the roots of the master's genius.
