U.S. Navy Tries Hand at ‘Propamanga’

The U.S. Navy is appealing to Japan’s otaku to help win hearts and minds. To ease concerns over the arrival of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington in Japan this summer, navy officials commissioned a 200-page manga depicting life aboard the ship through the eyes of fictional Japanese-American petty officer Jack O’Hara. See a PDF here.

Stars and Stripes reports that 800 copies of the graphic novel were distributed to a long line of manga fans at Yokosuka Naval Base last week, but the jury’s out on whether it will soothe the sometimes tense relations between the U.S. military and Japanese public.

At least one Japanese blogger has dubbed the effort “propamanga.”

Though Salon’s Andrew Leonard finds the storyline “excruciatingly dull,” copies are going for $11.50 and up on eBay. 

©2026 World Hum, All Rights Reserved