Balinese comics, a must read in 77 kindergartens in Japan

Balinese people hold a religious ceremony in Gianyar, Bali. Concern over Balinese tradition among modern life makes Akiko Nozawa wants to introduce the culture to Japanese kindergartens through comics. (illustration)

Comic contains of Balinese folktales, published by Bona Studio in Bali, becomes a reading book of Japanese kindergarten students. The comics present classic Balinese stories familiar among children in 1970s, such as Sang Cangak, Sang Mong, I Bawang lan I Kesuna, Ii Lutung and The Mouse Deer. 

 

"The idea for this comics came from our Japanese student, Akiko Nozawa, who wanted to introduce Balinese folktales in her country," Head of Bona Studio, I Gusti Ngurah Adiputra on Tuesday.

According to Adiputra, his student -now living in Nagoya, Japan- concerned with human and environmental condition in Bali in the middle of modern civilization. The student wanted to revitalize and save Bali's literature through classical stories and introduce them to Japanese children from an early age.

Balinese comics have now spreaded in 77 Kindergarten Schools in Japan, especially in the areas hit by tsunami, such as Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima. While in Bali, the comics have been  donated to 24 Kindergarten Schools in Gianyar regency (Bona, Blahbatuh and Pering), as well as Badung regency (Legian and Kuta).

Some people involved in the comics making are Ni Gusti Made Rai Sumadi and I Gusti Agus Susana as comics writers. Next, I Wayan Sumita and I Wayan Asin Sudira as draftsmen, and also Arya Dwi Bahagia Putra as editor.

Sources :

http://www.republika.co.id/berita/en/jakarta-region-others/13/06/18/molftc-balinese-comics-a-must-read-in-77-kindergartens-in-japan