The Banana Sprout

Synopsis

In the 1930s, a new student enters the Shichisei Dorm at Taiwan's most prestigious high school which flies the banner of freedom and independence. Yeh Hsing-Chiao successfully passes through the "narrowest of narrow gates" to get admitted into Taihoku High School. He muddles his way through life and moves to Taipei to fulfill his family's expectations of him to become a doctor. His roommate Nanjou Yuntarou is widely known at the school to be a problem figure for his unruliness and love of reading, but he is in danger of being kicked out of school because he has skipped too many classes. These two young men with completely different personalities become good friends. In this cradle of freedom and intellectualism, they share the same feeling of youthful confusion and longing. One day, Nanjō Yuntarō suddenly says to Yeh Hsing-Chiao with great excitement, "The style of the Syohfu Magazine is so rigid, let's create our magazine!" Comic artist Zuo Hsuan did a lot of research to vividly depict student life inside and outside the gates of Taiwan's most prestigious high school during the Japanese colonial period. This comic not only presents the unrestrained spirit of high school students, but also provides a detailed illustration of the history, architecture, and clothing of Taihoku High School. Through the adventure of these two young students, this work also reconstructs a charming and beautiful story about high school in the 1930s. (Source: Taiwan Comic City) Note: Winner of the the Silver Prize at the 18th Japan International Manga Awards.