A question completely unrelated to my current academic predicament.

[zuki_san]

Hey, why aren't there any comics or graphic novels or anime about fencing? The modern sport, ideally. Japan would probably rather write a manga about kendo, I suppose, but there seems to be at least a tertiary interest in it you look at things like Le Chevalier D'Eon, Utena, historical stuff or faux-historical set in Europe, etc. However, there's a

Comments

[lupagreenwolf]

Hey, totally off topic, I don't know if you saw my reply on the WS forum a few weeks back about your necklace, but I do free repairs on everything I make. if you want me to restring your dragon necklace, I'd be happy to--just mail it to me :)

[zuki_san]

I saw! I'm definitely considering the offer, but I'm very busy this time of year and terribly forgetful when it comes to postal things. I'll inform you when it's coming--once I actually get it in the mail.

[acdragonmaster]

Clearly, the answer is, "because no one's been able to make it appropriately badass". ;p

[zuki_san]

A shame. There's a lot of badassery to be had!

[acdragonmaster]

Indeed. But on the other hand, perhaps there's just no one with an idea good enough to do it proper justice yet.

[zuki_san]

Oh, my brother and I are full of ideas!

What we lack is skill in drawing, and practice in writing. D:

[kentrin]

I don't think I would associate "fencing" with "realistic swordplay", really.
But my guess as to why it's not likely to be made: It's a sport, a niche one at that, without the mass market appeal of, say, football (the kind you guys call "soccer"). And considering that modern-day fencing is a western thing with no roots in or links to japanese culture, any sort of manga production would be done for mass market appeal. Western comic tradition has it's own topical traditions, and isn't known for straying from them (the superhero genre being the most prominent, I guess). At the most, "fencing", that is what comic artists think a rapier and vaguely renaissance-ish clothes would look like, could appear as part of a character's quirks or Improbable Weapon Usage.

[zuki_san]

Hmm...no, I guess sport fencing isn't exactly 'realistic,' in some ways, but things like the basic techniques for parrying, the way you move your lower legs and body, and the kinds of attacks you use, depending on the sword, that stuff is more universal.

I guess it just irks me because there are manga for every other niche you could think of (Off the top of my head: american football, boxing, golf, tennis, baseball. And none of those have 'roots in japanese culture'. 'Sports Manga' is a genre.), but none for fencing. Manga might have certain traditions, but it's more diverse than you'd expect at first glance.