Doing Time [Paperback] Hanawa, Kazuichi

Up to now, Kazuichi Hanawa expressed himself through works of fiction. The fantastic world of tales from the Middle Ages in Japan was his favorite setting. In 1994 Hanawa was arrested for owning a firearm. An avid collector of guns, he was caught whilst testing a remodeled handgun in the backwoods, miles away from anyone, and imprisoned for three years. Forbidden to record any details whilst incarcerated, Hanawa recreated his time inside after his release. He did so with a meticulousness rarely found in comics as every detail of his cell, every meal that was served, the daily habits of his cell-mates and, above all, the rigid regime are minutely noted and bring us into the very mindset of a Japanese prisoner. Made into a live action movie in 2002 by Sai Yoichi (All Under the Moon).

Born April 17, 1942 (or 1947) in Japan, cult horror manga-ka Hanawa began his career in Garo in 1971 with [i]Kan no Mushi[/i], a tale about a destructive boy who is taken to a sadistic accupuncturist. He then focused on macabre satires based on Japan's medieval aristocracy. In 1994 he was arrested and put in jail for possession of illegal firearms. After his release he collected his experiences in this book [i]Doing Time[/i] which was first serialized in the magazine AX in 1998.