Manga Edition of ‘Botchan’ to Be Published

"Sōseki Natsume's Botchan: The Manga Edition," adapted by Kaori Okura and translated by Makiko Itoh, will be released by Tuttle Publishing in September.

"Filled with light, satirical touches." — Donald Keene

Reckless but unfailingly honest, Botchan is the youngest son in a middle-class Tokyo family. Following his graduation from college, he takes a job as a math teacher on the island of Shikoku, far from the city. Thrust into this alien small-town environment, Botchan encounters nothing but trouble from his students and fellow teachers.

Among his tormentors are the pompous, two-faced vice-principal; his fawning sidekick, the art teacher; the spineless principal; and a pack of brawny, prankster students — all of whom seem out to get him. Mayhem ensues, but in the end Botchan prevails through honesty and dogged determination.

A modern classic, "Botchan" rivals Sōseki's famous "I Am a Cat" in popularity in Japan. This is the funniest of Sōseki's novels, a penetrating portrait of a young man's quest to survive the suffocating hypocrisy of everyone around him while remaining true to his beliefs.

Recommended for readers ages 14 and up due to explicit language.

Sōseki Natsume (1867-1916) was born in Tokyo and taught English in a small town before studying for three years in England. Returning to teach at prestigious Tokyo University, he began his writing career and soon achieved widespread acclaim. His novels include "Kokoro" and "Kusamakura."

Kaori Okura is a manga artist in Japan. She is the creator of many comics for young adult and female readers.

Makiko Itoh is the author of the "Just Bento" cookbook series and has translated many Japanese works into English, including "Zen Wisdom for the Anxious" and "Modern Japanese Ikebana." She writes regular columns on food for The Japan Times.

Also available from Tuttle: "Botchan" by Sōseki Natsume (2013), translated by Umeji Sasaki with a new foreword by Dennis Washburn.