Despite the fact that more than three decades have passed since its arrival in Latin America, Knights of the Zodiac continues to be one of the most popular Japanese productions in our region. The story of Saint Seiya, of a group of teenagers in charge of protecting the goddess Athena, went deep into the hearts of fans.
But what is the reason for so much fervor for the creation of Masami Kurumada?
Hotta Junji, a Japanese manga artist and writer, took an in-depth look at Knights of the Zodiac and the value of the hero myth in an article for Nippon portal.
Junji is a graduate of the Faculty of Letters at Sofia University, and wrote several works such as Boku to tsundere to haidega: berushion adoresansu (Tsundere, Heidegger and I. Adolescent version) and the manga Wakaru tsuma no torisetsu (Manual for the use of handcuffs ).
He is also a member of the Japan Mangaka Society.
Here are the three reasons why the myth of the Knights of the Zodiac continues to grow over time.
The fight for justice with the spirit as a source of power
Junji remembers that the mission of the knights is to protect the goddess Athena, who fights for justice. But the key thing is that the warriors do not use weapons, only armor. In martial arts, the physical capacity for protection is manifested, but the source of his power is his spirit, the hidden microcosm within the body.
The appeal of the worldview in The Knights of the Zodiac
The series reflects an epic battle composition based on Greek mythology, the handsome appearance of the knights in their armor, and their dramatic special techniques, Junji notes in his text. “This environment made the children feel that as long as they had an unbreakable and indomitable heart they could (maybe) become like a gentleman,” tells the mangaka.
The universal values of the work of Masami Kurumada
Friendship, honor, commitment, solidarity, are the most outstanding values of the Knights of the Zodiac. “It didn’t matter how badly hurt they were,” Junji says, “If they fought for their fellow men instead of themselves they could rise up and fight again.”
