JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – Manga: Look Back by FUJIMOTO Tatsuki
June 10 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm EDT
Details »
For the upcoming JFT Book Club (Hybrid), we will discuss FUJIMOTO Tatsuki’s manga: Look Back (The original Japanese version: 藤本タツキ作『ルックバック』, translated into English by Amanda Haley). Join us to explore the joy and struggles of creative friendship and manga making through this poignant story of two young manga artists!
This hybrid book club is perfect for anyone intrigued by the medium of manga (Japanese comics) , the creative journey of artists, and/or a masterful coming-of-age story. Whether you’re in the GTA or joining virtually from other parts of the world, connect with fellow manga lovers to gain deeper insights into the story that you might not discover on your own!
We also have a limited number of “Observer” slots available for those wanting to listen this time, or for anyone curious about how a book club works without the pressure to speak – first-time participants are welcome!
*Please be aware that space may be limited.
*Depending on the number of participants and how the discussion goes, we might extend the end time until 7:30 pm (EDT). However, if you have other commitments, feel free to leave at 7:00 pm.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to email us at library_jftoronto@jpf.go.jp.
You can read a book by yourself, but when you read something thought-provoking or moving, it’s natural to want to discuss it with someone else. This will be an exciting opportunity to connect with other book lovers from different cultural backgrounds, find new and interesting books, authors, or themes, and develop a richer understanding of Japan that you wouldn’t gain from reading alone! Show HOW DOES THE UPCOMING JFT BOOK CLUB WORK? 1. Once you register for the event, you will receive guiding questions to help you think more deeply about the manga. 2. On the day of the event, we will meet via Zoom and in person at Japan Foundation Toronto Library (2 Bloor St E #300, Toronto, ON M4W 1A8 Canada). *How to find us: https://tr.jpf.go.jp/about-us/how-to-find-us/ 3. We will start with a quick introduction & ice-breaking activity (*Light refreshments will be served for in-person participants) 4. Depending on the number of the participants, we will break into a few small groups to discuss questions so that everyone has a chance to share their thoughts. 5. After each breakout session, each group will share what they have discussed with other groups. *There is no right or wrong answer. Different perspectives make discussion more fun and vibrant! Show WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE BOOK? Look Back (physical copies and ebooks) and the original Japanese version『ルックバック』(physical copy) are available at JFT Library! The checkout of the physical copies are limited to JFT Book Club participants for a 1-week loan period (non-renewable). To get a new library card or to renew your existing card, please follow the instructions found here. Borrow Ebook *COMING SOON* Email Library to place hold (physical copy) For more information about the book or where else you can get the physical copies, click here. Story and Art by FUJIMOTO Tatsuki Translated by Amanda Haley Published by Shueisha, 2021 / VIZ Media, 2022 The overly confident Fujino and the shut-in Kyomoto couldn’t be more different, but a love of drawing manga brings these two small-town girls together. A poignant story of growing up and moving forward that only Tatsuki Fujimoto, the creator of Chainsaw Man, could have crafted. FUJIMOTO Tatsuki won Honorable Mention in the November 2013 Shueisha Crown Newcomers’ Awards for his debut one-shot story, “Love Is Blind.” His first series, Fire Punch, ran for eight volumes. His breakout hit Chainsaw Man began serialization in 2018 in Weekly Shonen Jump. The award-winning Look Back was published in 2021. The Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF) returns in June 2025! This year, The Japan Foundation, Toronto (JFT) is excited to participate in a variety of ways – including a panel discussion, a special guest lecture, and an exhibitor booth. Let’s celebrate your love of manga with us! Friday, June 6, 8:30-5:00 (ET) TCAF LED is a FREE to attend, all day slate of programming open to library workers, students, educators, comic scholars, creators and anyone who wants to talk and learn more about comics, graphic novels, and education. Saturday, June 7 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM & Sunday, June 8 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (ET) The Japan Foundation, Toronto will set up a exhibitor booth at TCAF! Stop by our booth, learn about our centre and programs for those who are interested in Japan and Japanese culture, and say hello to our staff! *Booth number TBD – we will keep you posted on this webpage! Saturday, June 7, 10:00-11:30 AM (ET) Join us for a lecture with Jillian Rudes, author of Manga in Libraries and a New York-based school librarian, as we explore what manga is, why it matters, and how to integrate it into library collections and educational settings. JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – With Silent Reading Time – Japanese Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Landscapes – April 15, 2025 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – First Love by SHIMAMOTO Rio – February 8, 2025 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – With Silent Reading Time – Yōkai – November 21, 2024 Japanese Tadoku Book Club – October 26, 2024 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – Before the Coffee Gets Cold by KAWAGUCHI Toshikazu – September 4, 2024 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – With Silent Reading Time – Japanese Ceramics & Life in the Edo to Meiji Periods – June 18, 2024 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – Manga: BL Metamorphosis by TSURUTANI Kaori – April 18, 2024 JFT Book Club (Hybrid): Mild Vertigo by KANAI Mieko – February 13, 2024 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – With Silent Reading Time – Holiday Reading Recommendations – November 16, 2023 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – Manga: Planetes by YUKIMURA Makoto – September 28, 2023 JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – With Silent Reading Time – LGBTQIA+ Books -June 20, 2023 JFT Book Club Online – Manga: After the Rain by MAYUZUKI Jun -April 24, 2023 JFT Book Club Online – Three Short Works by NISHI Kanako: On beauty, the Female Experience and Othering – February 8, 2023 JFT Book Club Online: Temple Alley Summer by KASHIWABA Sachiko – September 15, 2022 JFT Book Club Online: Manga – June 15, 2022 JFT Book Club Online: Bring Your Own Book – April 13, 2022 JFT Book Club Online: The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura JFT Book Club Online: JFT Book Club Online: Heaven by Mieko Kawakami – August 12, 2021 JFT Book Club Online: Manga – June 10, 2021 JFT Book Club Online: Bring Your Own Book – April 8, 2021 JFT Book Club Online: The Memory Police – February 11, 2021 JFT Book Club Online: Breasts and Egg – November 5, 2020 JFT Book Club Online: Travel Japan – August 20, 2020 JFT Book Club Online – June 11, 2020 Memoirs of a Polar Bear – February 20, 2020 The Little House – December 12, 2019 Mystery Book Club – October 10, 2019 Movies and Books – August 8, 2019 Books and Tea – June 6, 2019WHY JOIN JFT BOOK CLUB?
HOW DOES THE UPCOMING JFT BOOK CLUB WORK?
WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE BOOK?
ABOUT THE BOOK
Look Back
(The original Japanese version:『ルックバック』)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
RELATED PROGRAMMING
The Japan Foundation, Toronto @ TCAF 2025!
TCAF Libraries & Education Day (LED) 2025
In-person @ Toronto Metropolitan University Special Collections & Archives | Admission Free | Registration Required
*Registration DEADLINE: Friday May 23rd at 11:59pm ET
TCAF Exhibitor Booth
In-person @ Toronto Metropolitan University Mattamy Athletic Centre | Admission Free | No Registration Required
So, What is Manga and Why Does It Matter? A Walkthrough with School Librarian Jillian Rudes
In-person @ The Japan Foundation, Toronto Event Hall | Admission Free | Registration Required
Previous Book Clubs
– February 9, 2022
Colorful by Eto Mori
– November 10, 2021
