This year, Japan celebrates one hundred years of Japanese animes. H. Hosokawa (1982 – 1973), J. Kouuchi (1886-1970), and S. Kitayama (1888-1945) were said to be the first Japanese creators of anime. They created their own anime in 1917 though, only the work by J. Kouuchi exists today. At that time, cel sheets were so expensive in Japan that those creators made their animes with cutting papers. This is the first Japan-made anime, entitled, “Namakura Gatana” (The blunt Katana):



Who could imagine that Japan would be one of the leading countries of animes in 100 years?