Japanese manga artist Inoue Takehiko, ( of Slam Dunk and Vagabond fame ) who is something of a cultural hero in Japan, teams up with Cup Noodle maker Nissin in the first from a series of motivational “Ganbarre Japan” commercials, aimed at raising the spirit of the nation battered by the recent earthquake and nuclear fallout. Watch the Gundam Nissin commercial here.

An enlarged mural of the above art work was on display at the Laforet building in Shibuya, Tokyo in early May. ( see below ) I’m not sure if it has since been taken down.

I myself have enormous respect for Inoue-san, whose skill level as a manga artist has risen to sublime levels since the early days of his first Slam Dunk comics. He has somehow developed a taste for creating larger than life pieces of his art works ever since the LAST Manga exhibition, first held in Ueno and which I had the great fortune of seeing. Truly inspiring pieces of manga + art.

Also be sure to check out this fantastic magazine special on Inoue Takehiko.