Astro Boy Translator Fred Schodt Shares Japan's Impact on His Life in Video

Writer, translator, and interpreter Frederik L. Schodt's impact on the North American manga world began in the 1970s. Schodt has translated manga, including Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy series, and he has written books on the industry. The Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco posted its sixth installment in the "Japan & I" video series on Tuesday. The video, designed to encourage interest in Japanese culture, highlights Schodt's relationship with Japan.

In the video, Schodt describes what brought him to Japan, how he got involved in manga, and the influence Tezuka had on his involvement in the industry. Schodt also discusses what Japan means to him and how his time there has shaped his worldview.

Schodt's translation of Henry Yoshitaka Kiyama's The Four Immigrants Manga is inspiring a stage play adaptation in Palo Alto, California this summer. Stone Bridge Press has published most of Schodt's books, including The Osamu Tezuka Story: A Life in Manga and Anime (Tezuka Osamu Monogatari) manga that he translated. The Japanese government gave Schodt The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette (Kyokujitsu Jūkō Shō) award in 2009.

Before becoming a translator and scholar, Schodt moved to Tokyo in 1970 as a university student. He and his friends convinced Tezuka Productions to allow them to translate Tezuka's Phoenix manga into English. Schodt became friends with the "God of Manga" and often acted as his interpreter. He published the pioneering Manga! Manga! The World of Japanese Comics book in 1983. Schodt translated Naoki Urasawa's Pluto manga with Jared Cook. He has also contributed hundreds of newspaper articles and columns related to Japan and manga. Schodt lists his two greatest inspirations as Leiji Matsumoto and Masamune Shirow.