Danica Davidson
July 29, 2021 
Is France’s President Emmanuel Macron an otaku? The world leader recently flew into Japan for the Olympics and to talk to the prime minister, but his trip has also included some real otakudom. In addition to getting an original illustration of One Piece from creator Eiichiro Oda, President Macron shared a video of himself meeting Fairy Tail creator Hiro Mashima, Dark Souls creator Hidetaka Miyazaki, and Akira creator Katsuhiro Otomo.
このひと時を皆さんと分かち合えることをとても嬉しく思います。「AKIRA」「FAIRY TAIL」「ダークソウル」「光」をはじめとする皆さんの数々の作品は、日本だけでなくフランスでも神話になっています。文化は人々を結びつけます。友情を込めて。pic.twitter.com/Itnd9c4KFP
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 23, 2021
President Macron told Mashima how much he appreciates the creator’s work and that it is quite popular in France. Mashima responded by talking about his own appreciation for French culture.
When speaking with Otomo, President Macron noted that the creator had correctly predicted in his 1980s manga that Tokyo would host the 2020 Olympics. At the end of the video Otomo pulled out some of his artwork from Akira and you can hear the oohs and aahs as President Macron and others crowded around to see.
President Macron said in his tweet, “I was very happy to be able to spend this time meeting with everyone. Your many works, starting with Akira, Fairy Tail, Dark Souls, and Hikari, have become legends not only in Japan, but in France as well. Culture connects people, and deepens friendship.”
Source: SoraNews24
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, and its sequel, Manga Art for Intermediates, with professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
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