Shuna's Journey

Beautiful illustrations. Very light on text and so the story isn’t very “deep” (although it does deal with some more “mature” themes like slavery and capitalism!). Buy it for the illustrations not the story (story isn’t bad, just not as good as his films). You can see similar images in Miyaki’s films, in particular Nausicaa, Laptua and the main character and his “deer” is similar to Mononoke. Nicely printed and designed book.

For fans of Miyazaki. Not for younger children as contains violence. Work on this was around the time the film Nausica was being made and it shows in the designs. Japanese style book- read from the back to the front, from right to left. English text. Headstrong boy heads out for nourishing crops, finds slave traders feeding humans to creature that produces nutritious seeds. Boy takes and is punished with mindlessness, restored by wise girl he had earlier rescued from slavery... usual Miyazaki strong female. The watercolours on every page are delightful.

Amazing story and watercolour illustrations by Miyazaki! As regards the other reviews about the reverse binding, this is the Japanese way; it has been translated well into English, but the printing is in the Japanese style (which I love). The story, itself, is touching and something I can read again and again. If you’re a fan of Spirited Away and other Miyazaki creations or simply love folklore and graphic novels, you won’t be disappointed with this hardback manga.

Brilliant! A master story teller at work. There are so many elements presented here that bring to mind other works. So happy with this purchase.

So great to see this translated into English at last. I read the Japanese version many moon ago and never thought I'd see an English version, especially not one so beautifully reproduced and bound. Amazing artwork by Miyazaki of course, and a wonderful story. Highly recommended for all fans of Hayao Miyazaki.

From the colour washed art to the sparse prose this has all the feel of classic Miyazaki. Love it.

Fast delivery. Beautiful illustrations, a beautiful book.

Shuna’s Journey is a stunningly illustrated, deeply atmospheric tale that feels like a hidden gem in Hayao Miyazaki’s body of work. Originally published in the 1980s, this graphic novel blends elements of folklore, fantasy, and adventure, offering an early glimpse into the themes and imagery that would later define Studio Ghibli’s films. The story follows Shuna, a prince who embarks on a perilous journey to find a mysterious golden grain that could save his starving people. Along the way, he encounters breathtaking landscapes, dangerous foes, and moments of quiet beauty. The watercolor artwork is absolutely mesmerizing—I adored how it brought the world to life, adding an ethereal, hand-painted quality that made every page feel like a piece of art. While the narrative is simpler and more meditative than some of Miyazaki’s later works, it still resonates with themes of environmentalism, resilience, and the cost of knowledge. Fans of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind or Princess Mononoke will recognize echoes of those stories here. Shuna’s Journey isn’t just a must-read for Miyazaki enthusiasts—it’s a beautifully crafted fable that lingers in the mind long after you turn the last page.

The story is beautiful, the illustrations are gorgeous and in color, and the total presentation is perfect. The hard cover is the completion to the whole package. All-in-all, I couldn't be happier. If you are a Studio Ghibli fan, and have a respect for all things Hayao Miyazaki, but don't already have this book, GET IT ASAP!

Book is must read uplifting and Intresting narration from master class story teller.

If you like Miyazaki, this is a must

Pouco conhecido fora do círculo de fãs mais ardorosos de Miyazaki, a Jornada de Shuna (シュナの旅 Shuna no Tabi) é uma pequena preciosidade escrita, ilustrada e colorida pelo artista publicada em 1983 pela Tokuma Shoten dentro da sua série Animage Ju Ju Bunko. Ela conta a história de Shuna, um jovem que parte de seu vale para "a terra onde a lua dorme" a procura de sementes de um grão dourado (= trigo?) que pode salvar o seu povo da fome. No geral, trata-se de uma aventura que se encaixa na teoria do monomito (ou mito do herói) de Joseph Campbell, mas que também é considerada uma precursora de outras obras mais conhecidas de Miyazaki como Nausicaa ou Princesa Mononoke já que diversas idéias (como cavalgar num cervo) e elementos visuais como paisagens, pessoas, animais e objetos desses filmes apareceram primeiro em Shuna. De fato, reza a lenda que Miyazaki queria mesmo era fazer um anime de longa metragem dessa história (inspirada num conto popular tibetano), mas ela era muito simples e curta, de modo que no fim — com o apoio da editora Tokuma Shoten — a Jornada de Shuna virou um pequeno livro de 152 páginas. E isso não é uma figura de linguagem porque a edição japonesa é realmente pequena (10 x 15 x 0,7 cm) ao contrário dessa nova edição americana, cujas dimensões seguem um padrão mais de mercado (15,9 x 22,2 x 1,83 cm) assim como sua apresentação que é bastante rica com encadernação em capa dura, lombada costurada e sobrecapa em cores. A única diferença em relação ao original é que o papel usado no interior da nova edição é do tipo fosco, ao contrário do japonês ele é brilhante, o que não faz muita diferença já que Miyazaki costuma colorir seus desenhos com aquarela. Se comparado com sua filmografia, Miyazaki escreveu poucos livros (e menos ainda ilustrados), de modo que Shuna é um belo e raro exemplo de um conto original que não virou anime, mas ajudou a criar outros dois de grande sucesso.

A beautiful story, a masterpiece of art.