Kenji Tsuruta's 'La Pomme Prisonnière': A Surreal Manga Journey Through Venice
Kenji Tsuruta, born in Hamamatsu in 1961, is a visionary master of contemporary manga. His work 'La Pomme Prisonnière', published by J-POP Manga in Milan in 2018, follows the nude protagonist Imari as she wanders through a surreal, deserted Venice with her cat. The manga eschews traditional narrative, offering instead a dreamlike, romantic, and erotic aesthetic experience with minimal dialogue and emphasis on illustrations. Tsuruta is known in Italy for 'I viaggi di Emanon' (Panini Comics, 2016) and 'Spirit of Wonder', a fantasy series from the late 1980s. Jacopo Costa Buranelli, literary director of J-POP Manga, describes Tsuruta's style as featuring female figures drawn as symphonies—lazy, sleepy, languid, and free from stereotypes, expressing femininity without censorship. The volume also includes illustrations by Hiroaki Samura, Katsuya Terada, and Asumiko Nakamura. The book is 152 pages, priced at €9.90, with ISBN 9788832752311.
Key facts
- Kenji Tsuruta was born in Hamamatsu in 1961.
- La Pomme Prisonnière was published by J-POP Manga in Milan in 2018.
- The manga features a nude protagonist named Imari wandering through a surreal Venice.
- The work has minimal dialogue and focuses on illustrations.
- Tsuruta is known for I viaggi di Emanon (2016) and Spirit of Wonder (late 1980s).
- Jacopo Costa Buranelli is the literary director of J-POP Manga.
- The volume includes illustrations by Hiroaki Samura, Katsuya Terada, and Asumiko Nakamura.
- The book has 152 pages, costs €9.90, and ISBN 9788832752311.
Entities
Artists
- Kenji Tsuruta
- Hiroaki Samura
- Katsuya Terada
- Asumiko Nakamura
Institutions
- J-POP Manga
- Panini Comics
Locations
- Hamamatsu
- Japan
- Milan
- Italy
- Venice