
Japan manga man revives story-telling with modern twist
Rikimaru Toho doesn’t mind being stared at as long as he can hold the gaze of passers-by long enough to entice them to stop and sit down for an unusual show: a comic book reading.
And stay they do, hunched on low plastic stools inches away from Rikimaru, who offers the equivalent of an animated movie for the ears, his vast vocal registry bringing to life any character, from humans to robots.
The roaring overhead train, orange street lamps and the station walls comprise the setting for his performances of “manga” comics in Shimokitazawa, the cradle of Tokyo’s underground culture.
“I find it appealing to do, and to offer something that one doesn’t usually experience,” said the 34-year-old, whose real name is Satoshi Arikawa.
“By making all kinds of voices including female ones, I enjoy watching my audience’s reactions, and I am very grateful to them,” he added, with a slight bow of his head.
With long, black, dishevelled hair held in place with a rudimentary bandana, along with glasses and a black goatee, Rikimaru’s looks invite as much curiosity as his punchy voice which swings between bass and falsetto.
From action hero Kenshiro of the popular “Hokuto no Ken” series to the earless blue cat Doraemon and the lovelorn heroines of “The Rose of Versailles,” Rikimaru has done them all. And that’s not everything.
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