A Strange but True Superhero
Anpanman was published way back in 1973. The creator, Takashi Yanase, was not famous as a cartoonist when Anpanman was published. Anpanman is a superhero who offered a part of his head made of bread to hungry children. He wore an old cape with patches in the early books.
American culture affected Japan after World War II; superheroes like Superman were popular among children. Yanase, however, had a different idea about superheroes. “Those superheroes defeat their enemy and say justice has been done. But I don’t think they are true superheroes. True superheroes help people in need.”
Yanase thought about justice throughout his life. He wanted to be a cartoonist as a child but had to become a soldier to serve his country. He saw and experienced true hunger in the army. It was a bitter memory for him. Many people were still suffering after the war, and this caused Yanase to not believe that justice is defeating other people. He came to believe that justice is giving food to the hungry. This led him to the idea of Anpanman.