Here are five recommended works by Taiyo Matsumoto. Taiyo Matsumoto has many fans for his unique painting style and world view. He continues to publish works that are not caught up in the times or trends, but rather, carry on his own unique world of Taiyo Matsumoto. Some of his works may seem difficult to understand due to their abstract expressions. However, in fact, he expresses very simple things in the style of Taiyo Matsumoto. Once you read his works, you will surely be drawn into his world.
1. Ping Pong
Title : Ping Pong
Written by : Taiyo Matsumoto
Published by : Shogakukan
Magazine : Big Comic Spirits
Original run : 1996 – 1997
Volumes : 5
This is a sports manga about table tennis. What makes this work unique is that, unlike most manga, it does not feature a single good-looking character, nor is it a royal story of a weak man working hard to become strong. It is also extremely pure and exciting by concentrating it in only five volumes. It is the simplest and most readable of Taiyo Matsumoto’s manga, making it an ideal introduction.
2. Tekkon Kinkreet / Black & White
Title : Tekkon Kinkreet / Black & White
Written by : Taiyo Matsumoto
Published by : Shogakukan
Magazine : Big Comic Spirits
Original run : 1993 – 1994
Volumes : 3
The story seems to be a battle manga about two bad boys who go on a rampage against the police and yakuza, but it is not such a simple story. Black believes in pure power and White believes in pure heart, and what is seen through them is very “philosophical,” and the way it is perceived varies greatly depending on the reader.
3. Cats of the Louvre
Title : Cats of the Louvre
Written by : Taiyo Matsumoto
Published by : Shogakukan
Magazine : Big Comic Original
Original run : 2016 – 2017
Volumes : 1
It is like a cat story and it is not; it is like an art story and it is also not. The freehand drawings, including the frame lines of the panels, are warm and fit the world of the story. Although not as straightforward as “Ping Pong” or “Tekkon Kinkreet / Black & White,” this manga is a masterpiece that gives us a sense of Taiyo Matsumoto’s worldview.
4. No. 5
Title : No. 5
Written by : Taiyo Matsumoto
Published by : Shogakukan
Magazine : Monthly Ikki
Original run : 2000 – 2005
Volumes : 8
Taiyo Matsumoto’s masterpiece of science fiction action. It’s just super cool. Talking about “peace” and “love” is a courageous thing for an author to do, as it risks becoming preachy or clichéd. I am deeply impressed by the author who dared to depict such themes head-on. When you read the story for the first time, you will not notice the meaning of some of the panels, but when you reread them, you will realize that they have a meaning and will be related later on. The more you reread it, the more you get hooked.
5. Sunny
Title : Sunny
Written by : Taiyo Matsumoto
Published by : Shogakukan
Magazine : Monthly Ikki (2010 – 2014), Monthly Big Comic Spirits (2015)
Original run : 2010 – 2015
Volumes : 6
This is a masterpiece that many people should read. “Sunny” is based on the author Taiyo Matsumoto’s own childhood experiences. Although he had the idea for this manga since his debut, he finally drew it more than 20 years later. This is because it took him that long to be able to look at his past experiences objectively.
