Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Meets Fist of the North Star Creator Tetsuo Hara in Tokyo, Shares Handshake and Smiles Over Art Print

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met renowned manga artist Tetsuo Hara, best known as the creator of Fist of the North Star, during her visit to Japan. The meeting took place on the 16th at a location in Tokyo.

Hara is not only the creator of the legendary manga series but also serves as a board member of Coamix. The encounter was realized due to Prime Minister Meloni being a long time admirer of Hara’s work. Since Fist of the North Star was published in Italy in the 1980s, Hara has enjoyed enduring popularity throughout the country.

Owing to this strong fan base, Hara was invited as a main guest to Lucca Comics and Games, one of the world’s largest pop culture festivals, held last autumn in the medieval Tuscan city of Lucca in Italy. In conjunction with this invitation, Hara also achieved a rare honor. He became the first Japanese manga artist to be commissioned by the Uffizi Gallery in Florence to create a self portrait, which has since been added to the museum’s permanent collection.

During their meeting, Prime Minister Meloni praised the artist, saying, “Your art is wonderful.” Hara responded warmly, remarking, “The Prime Minister makes a wonderful subject.” As the day coincided with Meloni’s birthday, Hara presented her with a giclee art print featuring a personal message. The two exchanged a handshake and shared smiles, marking a memorable cultural exchange.

Source : ORICON NEWS