This week’s current interests paint greatness in its many facets. My list includes Izuku Midoriya‘s heroism, Nelson Mandela‘s riveting autobiography, and Yuto Suzuki’s hilarious manga series Sakamoto Days.
Izuku Midoriya from My Hero Academia
Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia has ended August last year, but its impact, both good and bad, has not left me yet. Today, I’m choosing the positives. I particularly remembered Izuku Midoriya as I was reading You Are Not So Smart by David McRaney a few days ago and came across the “Bystander Effect.” Apparently, when many people are in a vicinity where someone is in need of help, all of them tend to think that someone will jump in, resulting in no one helping the poor victim.
I was reminded of the manga’s first chapter, when Izuku jumped in to save Katsuki from a villain with his backpack as his weapon of choice. Prior to Izuku’s unhinged act, no one would help the guy, even when Katsuki was visibly struggling. At one point, Izuku was thinking the same thing as the rest of the onlookers: “Somebody will come. I’m so sorry.”
Turns out he’s the hero everyone was waiting for. He just had to see Katsuki’s eyes pleading for help, and that’s enough for Izuku’s body to move on its own.
I still get goosebumps whenever I reread and rewatch that sequence. Partly because that one scene confirmed that our protagonist is built as a great hero right from Day One, and partly because that act, reckless as it was, spurred another great hero to relinquish his reservations and step up!
Similarly, in the book I was reading, it said that it only takes one person to step up for others to follow. While the “Bystander Effect” is a tendency that humans are susceptible to, I believe that one’s good intentions, if backed by action, would overpower that.
Also, don’t you just love it when your favorite character is the spark the world had always needed?
Nelson Mandela and His Long Walk to Freedom
Being one of the fighters to end years of oppression and leading the people freed from it sounds a lot like fantasy stories with a happy ending, only that Nelson Mandela’s tale, Long Walk to Freedom, wasn’t fiction.
His greatness isn’t up for debate, either. A quick internet search yields a long list of the man’s achievements as a statesman, activist, and freedom fighter. You can say he’s an inspiration not only for the African people but also for the world.
But his accomplishments aren’t exactly what I found inspiring about him while reading his biography. Rather, it’s Nelson cherishing every human connection he made and learning from them.
Whether good or bad, encounters with people take up a sizeable space in Nelson’s biography, citing them as connections that shaped him into the great man he became. He is aware of how his talent and intellect propelled him to success but not too proud to forget that he only had a chance to wield all he had in his arsenal thanks to the help of the people around him.
Nelson is great because he knows the importance of human connections, acknowledges their role in his fight for freedom, and emphasizes that the wisdom he gained from them is a factor in his “becoming.” He’s great because he’s not hoarding all the glory for himself and recognizes that he needs the support.
I finished the book today and, thanks to it, I had a newfound interest in African culture, politics, and penal systems. Maybe one of these topics will be my next fixation.
Taro Sakamoto from Sakamoto Days
Sometimes, relinquishing one’s greatness and choosing a simpler life because of love is the greatest act man is capable of. Yuto Suzuki’s former hitman Taro Sakamoto exhibits this greatness in the shonen manga Sakamoto Days.
Unlike other shonen titles focused on coming-of-age stories and teenage character development, Suzuki chose an adult protagonist who has already reached the top but has given up his status to live a quiet life with his lovely wife and daughter.
With Sakamoto’s laid-back nature and the story’s early chapters, one might wonder how the author can keep it entertaining for his young readers. It turns out, doing that isn’t hard because an ex-criminal will always have people coming after him to eliminate him — hello, ex-yakuza tropes?
The manga recently got an anime, making the hype for the series louder. I’m in my fourth volume as of writing and I’d say that reading this series has been consistently delightful.
Indeed, greatness comes in many facets, and I love that I saw it in Izuku’s unassuming heroism, Nelson’s grounded insights, and Taro’s life priorities. To be humble, kind, and content; that is the bedrock on which the greatest people stand.
That’s it for this week’s wrap. See you next month!
