of which are on display. Influence Both before and after his retirement, Kitazawa trained many young manga artists and animators, including Hekoten Shimokawa, creator of Japan's first cartoon animation. Along with Ippei Okamoto, he was one of the favorite cartoonists of the young Osamu Tezuka. Notable works Kitazawa drew many political cartoons for Jiji Shimpō and Tokyo Puck. His early style was critical of the government, but after the High Treason Incident it became more conservative. Many of Kitazawa's most popular comic strips were published in Jiji Manga. – started 1902. The story of two country bumpkins on a sightseeing trip in Tokyo. Knowing nothing about modern culture, they behave foolishly (for example, by separately eating lumps of sugar for coffee). – started 1902. The story of a young man who boasts of his imperfect knowledge of the West but ends up embarrassing himself. His name can be read "Mr. European style affected man". – Stories about two mischievous boys, counterparts of the Katzenjammer Kids in Japan. The characters Chame and Dekobo appeared as dolls and on playing cards in one of the first examples of character merchandising in Japan. – started 1915. The story of a wooden-head man, Nukesaku Teino, whose name can be read "Mr. Foolish Wooden-head". He was a popular character during the Taishō era in Japan. – started 1928. The story of a tomboyish girl, Haneko Tonda, whose name can be read "Hopping-jumping girl". Haneko was the first girl protagonist in manga and influenced early shōjo manga like Machiko Hasegawa's Nakayoshi Techō. Notes References Isao Shimizu, Manga Tanjō (Birth of manga), Isao Shimizu, Zusetsu Manga no Rekishi (Illustrated history of manga), External links Rakuten Kitazawa in Lambiek Comiclopedia Saitama Municipal Cartoon Art Museum http://www.tenkai-japan.com/2011/01/10/saitama-municipal-cartoon-art-museum/ 1876 births 1955 deaths Manga artists from Saitama Prefecture Nihonga painters People from Saitama (city) Recipients of the Legion of Honour