View source for Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths

{{Short description|Japanese manga about suicide missions of the Japanese Imperial Army during WW2}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name            = Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths
| image           = Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths.jpg
| caption         = Cover of ''Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths'' as published by [[Drawn & Quarterly]]
| ja_kanji        = 総員玉砕せよ!
| ja_romaji       = Sōin Gyokusai Seyo!
| genre           = [[War comics|War]],<ref name=pw/><!-- "war manga" --><ref name=tcj/><!-- "His biography is inextricably bound to his war comics" --> [[Autobiographical comics|autobiographical]]<ref name=tcr/><!-- "autobiographically tinged account" --><ref name=tcj2/><!-- "a fictionalized autobiography" -->
<!-- Genres should be based on what reliable sources list them as and not on personal interpretations. Limit of the three most relevant genres in accordance with [[MOS:A&M]]. -->
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type            = manga
| title           = 
| author          = [[Shigeru Mizuki]]
| illustrator     = 
| publisher       = [[Kodansha]]
| publisher_en    = {{English manga publisher | NA=[[Drawn & Quarterly]]}}
| magazine        = [[Shūkan Gendai]]
| magazine_en     = 
| published       = 1973 
| volumes         = 1
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type            = drama
| title           = Kitarō ga Mita Gyokusai: Mizuki Shigeru no Sensō
| director        = 
| producer        = Tsuyoshi Yanagawa
| writer          = Takuya Nishioka
| music           = 
| studio          = 
| network         = [[NHK General TV]]
| released        = August 12, 2007
| episodes        = 1
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}

{{nihongo|'''''Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths'''''|総員玉砕せよ!|Sōin Gyokusai Seyo!|lead=yes|extra=literally "Whole Unit Ought to Fight to Death!"}}{{refn|group=note|Also translated as "Let us all die honorably!"<ref name=mort/> and "Let's All Commit Ritual Suicide!"<ref name=comixology/> by other sources.}} is a [[one-shot (comics)|one-shot]] [[manga]] written and illustrated by [[Shigeru Mizuki]]. In it, Mizuki describes his experiences as a soldier participating in the [[New Guinea campaign]] during [[World War II]]. He portrays the final weeks of his infantry service as the soldiers were instructed to die for their country to avoid the dishonor of survival.

The manga was first published in [[Kodansha]] magazine ''[[Shūkan Gendai]]'' in 1973, based on Mizuki's work of 1970. After being translated and published by [[Drawn & Quarterly]] in 2011, ''Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths'' has been well received by English-speaking critics. It also received awards in France and in the United States, and was adapted into a [[Japanese television drama|television drama]] in 2007 by Japanese broadcaster [[NHK]].

==Overview==
[[Shigeru Mizuki]] is a Japanese manga artist who is best known for his ''[[yōkai]]'' (Japanese folklore monsters)-themed manga, especially ''[[GeGeGe no Kitarō]]''.<ref name=jpt>{{cite web | url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2005/02/06/to-be-sorted/drawing-on-experience-2 | title=Drawing on experience | author=Otake, Tomoko | date=February 6, 2005 | work=[[The Japan Times]] | accessdate=August 30, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117021946/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2005/02/06/to-be-sorted/drawing-on-experience-2 | archivedate=November 17, 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=pw>{{cite web | url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/47975-d-q-publishes-shigeru-mizuki-s-classic-war-manga.html | title=D&Q Publishes Shigeru Mizuki's Classic War Manga | author=Cha, Kai-Ming | date=July 13, 2011 | work=[[Publishers Weekly]] | publisher=PWxyz LLC | accessdate=August 30, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017234010/http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/47975-d-q-publishes-shigeru-mizuki-s-classic-war-manga.html | archivedate=October 17, 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref> Mizuki enjoyed writing about the monsters' histories, which a local woman related to him; however in 1942, at the age of 21, Mizuki was drafted into the [[Imperial Japanese Army]].<ref name=jpt/> He was sent to [[Rabaul]], a city on [[New Britain]] island in [[Papua New Guinea]], where his comrades died and Mizuki lost his left arm.<ref name=jpt/> Based on these experiences, Mizuki wrote ''Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths'', containing "90 percent fact".<ref name=pw/><ref name=tcj>{{cite web | url=http://www.tcj.com/reviews/onward-towards-our-noble-deaths/ | title=Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths | author=Robinson, Sean Michael | date=June 29, 2011 | work=[[The Comics Journal]] | publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]] | accessdate=August 30, 2014}}</ref> Fictionalizing himself as private Maruyama, Mizuki tells the story by combining drawings with photographs.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://herocomplex.latimes.com/comics/onward-towards-our-noble-deaths-a-graphic-novel-of-wars-rage/ | title='Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths': A graphic novel of war's rage | date=October 10, 2011 | author=Solomon, Charles | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331091338/http://herocomplex.latimes.com/comics/onward-towards-our-noble-deaths-a-graphic-novel-of-wars-rage/ | url-status=live | archivedate=March 31, 2015}}</ref>

==Release==
Shigeru Mizuki wrote and illustrated ''Sōin Gyokusai Seyo!'', which was first published in the August 1973 issue of ''[[Shūkan Gendai]]''.<ref>{{cite book | url=http://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000039-I001181037-00 | script-title=ja:週刊現代 15(増刊) | publisher=[[National Diet Library]] | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | language=Japanese | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021222150/http://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000039-I001181037-00 | archivedate=October 21, 2014 | url-status=live | date=August 1973 }}</ref> In the same year, Kodansha released it in ''[[tankōbon]]'' format with the subtitle {{nihongo4|''Sento Jōji Misaki Aika''|聖ジョージ岬・哀歌|extra="[[Cape St. George]] Lamentations"}}.<ref>{{cite book | url=http://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000001294663-00 | script-title=ja:総員玉砕せよ : 聖ジョージ岬・哀歌 | publisher=National Diet Library | accessdate=August 2, 2014 | language=Japanese | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021222147/http://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000001294663-00 | archivedate=October 21, 2014 | url-status=live | year=1973 }}</ref> In July 1985, [[Holp Shuppan]] published the work,<ref>{{cite book | url=http://ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BN11456055 | script-title=ja:総員玉砕せよ : 聖ジョージ岬・哀歌 | trans-title=[[CiNii]] | year=1985 | publisher=[[National Institute of Informatics]] | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | language=Japanese | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019235649/http://ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BN11456055 | archivedate=October 19, 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref> and Kodansha re-released it on June 15, 1995.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=1859935 | script-title=ja:総員玉砕せよ! | publisher=[[Kodansha]] | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | language=Japanese | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723234433/http://bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=1859935 | archivedate=July 23, 2014}}</ref> [[Ohzora Publishing]] released the manga on August 9, 2007, as {{nihongo4|''Ā Gyokusai: Mizuki Shigeru Senki Senshū''|ああ玉砕～水木しげる戦記選集～}},<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ohzora.co.jp/release/detail/?format=biblio&isbn=978-4-7767-9380-9 | script-title=ja:ああ玉砕～水木しげる戦記選集～ | publisher=[[Ohzora Publishing]] | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | language=Japanese | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018142923/http://www.ohzora.co.jp/release/detail/?format=biblio&isbn=978-4-7767-9380-9 | archivedate=October 18, 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref> and on July 30, 2010, as {{nihongo4|''Mizuki Shigeru no Senki Senshū''|水木しげるの戦記選集}}.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ohzora.co.jp/release/detail/?format=comics&isbn=978-4-7767-2962-4 | script-title=ja:水木しげる戦記選集 | publisher=Ohzora Publishing | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | language=Japanese | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018142844/http://www.ohzora.co.jp/release/detail/?format=comics&isbn=978-4-7767-2962-4 | archivedate=October 18, 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref> It was released under the ''[[konbini]]'' comic format by [[Shueisha]] on August 11, 2007, and on August 16, 2008.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://mizukipro.com/oldsyuppan2.htm | script-title=ja:過去の出版物一覧＜1＞ 平成19（2007）年 ～平成21（2009）年 | publisher=Mizuki Production | accessdate=July 19, 2014 | language=Japanese | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808225732/http://mizukipro.com/oldsyuppan2.htm | archivedate=August 8, 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref>

At the 2010 [[San Diego Comic-Con]], comic book publisher [[Drawn & Quarterly]] announced it had acquired the manga's publishing rights and would release it in North America under the title ''Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths''.<ref name=tcr>{{cite web | url=http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/notes_from_the_2010_cci_floor072410/ | title=Notes From The 2010 CCI Floor | date=July 24, 2010 | author=[[Tom Spurgeon|Spurgeon, Tom]] | work=The Comics Reporter | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018060837/http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/notes_from_the_2010_cci_floor072410/ | archivedate=October 18, 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref> The company released the manga in May 2011; it was the first manga by Mizuki published in English.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.drawnandquarterly.com/shopCatalogLong.php?st=art&art=a4cb61ca4344d4 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530084637/http://www.drawnandquarterly.com/shopCatalogLong.php?st=art&art=a4cb61ca4344d4 | archivedate=May 30, 2014 | title=Products by Shigeru Mizuki | publisher=[[Drawn & Quarterly]] | accessdate=July 18, 2014}}</ref> The Drawn & Quarterly edition was 368 pages and had an introduction written by manga commentator [[Frederik L. Schodt]], as well as an interview with Mizuki.<ref name=comixology>{{cite web | url=https://pulllist.comixology.com/articles/474/Lets-All-Commit-Ritual-Suicide- | title=Let's All Commit Ritual Suicide! | author=Green, Karen | date=September 30, 2011 | website=[[ComiXology.com]] | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104192450/https://pulllist.comixology.com/articles/474/Lets-All-Commit-Ritual-Suicide- | archivedate=January 4, 2018}}</ref><ref name=tcj2>{{cite web | url=http://www.tcj.com/preview-onwards-towards-our-noble-deaths/nggallery/image/onward-interior_248/ | title=Preview: Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths | date=April 20, 2011 | author=Nadel, Dan | work=The Comics Journal | publisher=Fantagraphics Books | accessdate=November 8, 2015}}</ref> The publisher chose the work because they thought it was "an excellent introduction" to Mizuki's work, and because "readers have knowledge of and thus can relate to on a certain level".<ref name=pw/>

==Reception and legacy==
''Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths'' has been critically acclaimed. At the 2009 [[Angoulême International Comics Festival]], the manga won the [[Angoulême International Comics Festival Prize for Inheritance|Prize for Inheritance]].<ref name=mort>{{cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-02-02/mizuki-operation-mort-wins-angouleme-heritage-award | title=Mizuki's Opération Mort Wins Angoulême's Heritage Award  | author=Loo, Egan | date=February 2, 2009 | website=[[Anime News Network]] | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106042337/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-02-02/mizuki-operation-mort-wins-angouleme-heritage-award | archivedate=November 6, 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref> In 2012, it was nominated for a [[Harvey Award]] in the Best American Edition of Foreign Material category.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-07-02/mizuki-onward-towards-our-noble-deaths-gets-harvey-nod | title=Mizuki's Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths Gets Harvey Nod | date=July 2, 2012 | author=Hodgkins, Crystalyn | website=Anime News Network | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021142649/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-07-02/mizuki-onward-towards-our-noble-deaths-gets-harvey-nod | archivedate=October 21, 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref> It was selected for the [[Eisner Award]] in the categories [[Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia|Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia]] and Best Reality-Based Work, winning the former at [[San Diego Comic-Con]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-07-14/mizuki-manga-onward-towards-our-noble-deaths-wins-eisner-award | title=Mizuki's Manga Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths Wins Eisner Award | author=Loo, Egan | date=July 14, 2012 | website=Anime News Network | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106042341/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-07-14/mizuki-manga-onward-towards-our-noble-deaths-wins-eisner-award | archivedate=November 6, 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref>

According to a compilation by Deb Aoki of [[About.com]], ''Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths'' was considered the best new manga of 2011 because it was included in 18 critics lists of best comics/graphic novels.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://manga.about.com/od/recommendedreading/tp/Critics-Choice-Best-Manga-Of-2011.htm | title=Critics' Choice: Best Manga of 2011 | author=Aoki, Deb | work=[[About.com]] | publisher=[[InterActiveCorp]] | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723143520/http://manga.about.com/od/recommendedreading/tp/Critics-Choice-Best-Manga-Of-2011.htm | archivedate=July 23, 2014 }}</ref> Aoki said the manga is "dense with details, and filled with pathos, humor and horror".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://manga.about.com/od/recommendedreading/tp/2011-Best-New-Manga.htm | title=2011 Best New Manga | author=Aoki, Deb | work=About.com | publisher=InterActiveCorp | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140710203713/http://manga.about.com/od/recommendedreading/tp/2011-Best-New-Manga.htm | archivedate=July 10, 2014 }}</ref> ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]''{{'}}s Garrett Martin wrote that the "realistic depictions of normal men trapped in a horrible situation" makes ''Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths'' "brutally honest".<ref name=paste>{{cite web | url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2011/12/the-20-best-comic-books-of-2011.html?p=4 | title=The 20 Best Comic Books of 2011 | author1=Martin, Garrett | author2=Brown, Hillary | author3=Edgar, Sean | date=December 4, 2011 | work=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] | publisher=[[Wolfgang's Vault]] | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223085151/http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2011/12/the-20-best-comic-books-of-2011.html?p=4 | archivedate=December 23, 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref> Brigid Alverson of [[MTV Geek]] said, "this is not an easy story to read, but its historical importance and the lessons it holds for the future are undeniable".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://geek-news.mtv.com/2011/11/28/the-best-manga-series-of-2011/ | title=The Best Manga Series of 2011 | author=Alverson, Brigid | date=November 28, 2011 | work=[[MTV Geek]] | publisher=[[Viacom International]] | access-date=July 18, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101122401/http://geek-news.mtv.com/2011/11/28/the-best-manga-series-of-2011/ | archive-date=January 1, 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Noel Murray writing in ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' said the manga's artwork is "detailed, often beautiful illustrations of small Pacific islands with characters rendered far less elaborately".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.avclub.com/article/the-best-comics-of-2011-graphic-novels-art-comics-67030 | title=The best comics of 2011: Graphic novels & art comics | author=Murray, Noel | date=December 29, 2011 | work=[[The A.V. Club]] | publisher=[[The Onion]] | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115090605/http://www.avclub.com/article/the-best-comics-of-2011-graphic-novels-art-comics-67030 | archivedate=January 15, 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref> Karen Green of [[Comixology]] wrote that the "story is so human and its message so powerful" and that is a good book to eliminate the preconceptions American may have of the Japanese Army that are frequently propagated by Hollywood.<ref name=comixology/> Among others, ''[[Library Journal]]'',<ref>{{cite web | url=http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2011/12/best-of/best-graphic-novels/best-books-2011-graphic-novels/ | title=Best Books 2011: Graphic Novels | author1=Cornog, Martha | author2=Raiteri, Steve | date=December 1, 2011 | work=[[Library Journal]] | publisher=[[Media Source Inc.]] | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228223647/http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2011/12/best-of/best-graphic-novels/best-books-2011-graphic-novels/ | archivedate=December 28, 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Dan Kois and Glen Weldon of [[NPR]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.npr.org/2011/12/21/142899602/six-graphic-novels-that-will-draw-you-in | title=Six Graphic Novels That Will Draw You In | author=Kois, Dan | date=December 21, 2011 | publisher=[[NPR]] | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107073246/http://www.npr.org/2011/12/21/142899602/six-graphic-novels-that-will-draw-you-in | archivedate=January 7, 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/12/22/144068495/the-best-comics-of-2011-yep?ft=1&f=93568166 | title=The Best Comics Of 2011. Yep. | author=Weldon, Glen | date=December 22, 2011 | publisher=[[NPR]] | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019174400/http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/12/22/144068495/the-best-comics-of-2011-yep?ft=1&f=93568166 | archivedate=October 19, 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref> [[Comic Book Resources]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=36120 | title=CBR's Top 100 Comics of 2011, #75 - 51 | date=December 27, 2011 | publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]] | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022160855/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=36120 | archivedate=October 22, 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref> Ed Sizemore of Manga Worth Reading,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://comicsworthreading.com/2011/12/30/ed-returns-to-present-his-top-10-manga-of-2011/ | title=Ed Returns to Present His Top 10 Manga of 2011 | date=December 30, 2011 | author=Sizemore, Ed | work=Manga Worth Reading | publisher=Comics Worth Reading | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020122715/http://comicsworthreading.com/2011/12/30/ed-returns-to-present-his-top-10-manga-of-2011/ | archivedate=October 20, 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> and ''[[Publishers Weekly]]'' included it on their lists of best comic books of 2011.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/50137-hark-a-vagrant-tops-2011-pw-comics-world-critic-s-poll.html | title=Hark! A Vagrant Tops 2011 PW Comics World Critic's Poll | date=January 10, 2012 | work=Publishers Weekly | publisher=PWxyz LLC | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018003040/http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/50137-hark-a-vagrant-tops-2011-pw-comics-world-critic-s-poll.html | archivedate=October 18, 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref> Further, in 2014, Joe Gross of the ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' qualified it as the 46th "Best Non-Superhero Graphic Novel" of all time.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/lists/drawn-out-the-50-best-non-superhero-graphic-novels-20140505 | title=Drawn Out: The 50 Best Non-Superhero Graphic Novels | date=May 5, 2014 | author=Gross, Joe | magazine=Rolling Stone | accessdate=November 8, 2015}}</ref>

[[David Maine]] wrote for ''[[PopMatters]]'' that "there is little here to criticize. Perhaps some of the transitions are a bit abrupt, [and] maybe some of the characterization could be sharper."<ref name=pop>{{cite web | url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/142446-onward-towards-our-noble-deaths-by-shigeru-mizuki/ | title=A Manga Superstar Gets Serious with This Tragic Tale: 'Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths' | author=Maine, David | date=June 13, 2011 | work=[[PopMatters]] | accessdate=January 17, 2015 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150117153215/http://www.popmatters.com/review/142446-onward-towards-our-noble-deaths-by-shigeru-mizuki/ | archivedate=January 17, 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref> Similarly, Sean Michael Robinson of ''[[The Comics Journal]]'' said ''Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths'' for its theme "as well as its many strengths and virtues, it is a very difficult book to criticize".<ref name=tcj/>  Robinson's critics was that it has "loosely characterized" characters and that its art "can also be a stumbling block". He said the art is "problematic", is "the hand-off—when characters suddenly leap modes, bouncy and expressive one moment, and photo-rendered and flat the next".<ref name=tcj/> [[Tom Spurgeon]], writing for ''The Comics Reporter'', said he had difficulty "in not being able to easily track which soldiers are which at any one point in the book".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/briefings/cr_reviews/32947/ | title=Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths | date=May 26, 2011 | author=Spurgeon, Tom | work=The Comics Reporter | accessdate=August 30, 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018071549/http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/briefings/cr_reviews/32947/ | archivedate=October 18, 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Television adaptation===
On August 12, 2007, [[NHK General TV]] broadcast {{nihongo4|''Kitarō ga Mita Gyokusai: Mizuki Shigeru no Sensō''|鬼太郎が見た玉砕 〜水木しげるの戦争〜}}, a Japanese television drama based on ''Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nhk.or.jp/nagoya/kitaro/index.html | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821004018/http://www.nhk.or.jp/nagoya/kitaro/index.html | archivedate=August 21, 2007 | title=NHKスペシャル「鬼太郎が見た玉砕〜水木しげるの戦争〜」 8月12日 (日) 総合•午後9:00~10:29放送 | publisher=[[NHK]] | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | language=Japanese}}</ref> It was written by Takuya Nishioka and produced by Tsuyoshi Yanagawa, and starred [[Teruyuki Kagawa]] as Shigeru Mizuki.<ref name=blog>{{cite web | url=http://www.nhk.or.jp/nagoya/kitaro/blog.html | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207120247/http://www.nhk.or.jp/nagoya/kitaro/blog.html | archivedate=December 7, 2008 | script-title=ja:ドラマ「鬼太郎が見た玉砕」スタッフ・ブログ | publisher=NHK | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | language=Japanese}}</ref><ref name=hbf/> On July 16, 2008, [[Pony Canyon]] released the drama in DVD format.<ref name=blog/> The [[Agency for Cultural Affairs]] awarded it the Excellence Prize for a television drama during the National Arts Festival.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nhk.or.jp/pr/keiei/otherpress/pdf/20071221.pdf | script-title=ja:文化庁芸術祭での受賞について | date=December 21, 2007 | publisher=NHK | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | language=Japanese | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724224143/http://www.nhk.or.jp/pr/keiei/otherpress/pdf/20071221.pdf | archivedate=July 24, 2014}}</ref> The drama was awarded the Excellence Prize for television program at the 45th [[Galaxy Award (Japan)|Galaxy Award]]s by the Japan Council for Better Television and Radio.<ref>{{cite web | script-title=ja:第45回ギャラクシー賞受賞作品 | url=http://www.houkon.jp/galaxy/45th.html | website=Hōsō Hihyō Kondankai | publisher=Japan Council for Better Radio and Television | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | language=Japanese | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027103214/http://www.houkon.jp/galaxy/45th.html | archivedate=October 27, 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref> At the [[Hōsō-Bunka Foundation|34th Hoso Bunka Foundation Awards]], ''Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths'' won the awards for Best Television Drama, Best Actor (Kagawa), and Best Production (Yanagawa).<ref name=hbf>{{cite web | url=http://www.hbf.or.jp/awards/34.html | script-title=ja:第34回 放送文化基金賞 受賞一覧 | publisher=Hoso Bunka Foundation | accessdate=July 18, 2014 | language=Japanese | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725214527/http://www.hbf.or.jp/awards/34.html | archivedate=July 25, 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Cast====
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Teruyuki Kagawa]] as Shigeru Mizuki/Maruyama
*[[Tomoko Tabata]] as Nunoe
*[[Sansei Shiomi]] as Honda
*[[Kyūsaku Shimada]] as Ishiyama
*[[Takaaki Enoki]] as Kido
*Yukiya Kitamura as Akasaki
*[[Renji Ishibashi]] as a company commander
*Hiroshi Kanbe as Kayama
*[[Haruhiko Jō]] as the chief of staff
*[[Tetsurō Sagawa]] as the brigadier
*[[Atsushi Miyauchi]] as Mizumoto
*[[Masako Nozawa]] as Kitarō (voice)
*[[Isamu Tanonaka]] as Medama Oyaji (voice)
*[[Chikao Ōtsuka]] as Nezumi Otoko (voice)
{{div col end}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{ann|manga|1332}}

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