Gundam and Vagabond "Boil" Japan

Bandai's Gundam and Takehiko Inoue's Vagabond lends their support to the victims of the unprecedented disaster.



We have earlier witnessed Smile! Japan, a most admirable project initiated by Takehiko Inoue (井上雄彦) of which the legendary mangaka continue to produce an almost endless stream of portraits depicting the smiles of ordinary Japanese people to cheer the victims of the unprecedented disaster.



Together with another Japanese icon, Gundam, Inoue collaborated with Cup Noodle maker Nissin for a series of motivational "Ganbarre Japan" (Stand Up! Japan) commercials aimed to raise the spirit of the nation battered by the recent earthquake and nuclear fallout.



But why "boil"? YouTube user bukuroprince graciously explains:



The word "boil" in Japanese is "waku" or "wakasu". And it's used with not only water but also courage, power, energy and so on. So "Boil Japan" is a trans-language double meaning. Japanese viewers can understand it at ease. And the lyric of this song is "I know what I have to do. It's standing up. I stand up." The last line before "Nissin" is "This country has fundamental strengths." It's a message to encourage Japan of damaged after 3/11 quake.



Hit the jump to check out the first two of the series, featuring Gundam and Musashi from Takehiko Inoue's award-winning Vagabond manga series.