Fujiko Fujio A, a Retrospective

Motoo Abiko (known under his artist’s pseudonym Fujiko Fujio A) is a living legend of manga in Japan. In 2018, an exhibition entitled FUJIKO FUJIO Ⓐ THE EXHIBITION – Ⓐ’s Weird and Amazing Collection was held at the Roppongi Hills observatory in Tokyo (Tokyo City View, located on the 51st floor of Mori Tower).

It honoured the mangaka, born in 1934, and the location was transformed into a ‘fun photo spot’ for the occasion.

A master of dark humour

Throughout his career, Motoo Abiko worked with another mangaka, Hiroshi Fujimoto. Both originally from Takaoka, a coastal city in Toyama prefecture, they created their collaborative works under the pseudonym Fujiko Fujio. The duo were behind one of the most iconic characters in manga and anime: Doraemon, a robot-cat that travels from the future to help a young boy, Nobita.  

The pair separated in 1987 and Hiroshi Fujimoto steered his career towards manga for children, while Motoo Abiko preferred to pursue dark humour. It was from this point on that Hiroshi Fujimoto took the pseudonym Fujiko Fujio F., and Motoo Abiko took that of Fujiko Fujio A.

FUJIKO FUJIO Ⓐ THE EXHIBITION – Ⓐ’s Weird and Amazing Collection – (2018), an exhibition at Tokyo City View that took place from 19 October 2018 to 6 January 2019.