This historical manga portrays the way of life of the Vikings in and around northern Europe in the early 11th century. Thorffin, the hero, travels to find Vinland, the promised land of rest and fertility, while spending his life on the battlefield. Will the war ever end? Will the days of rest ever come? This manga gathers together the threads of a true warrior’s story.

YUKIMURA Makoto
Born on May 8, 1976, his debut work, PLANETES, appeared in Morning, published by Kodansha, as a serial in 2000. He drew sudden attention as a rising SF manga artist and won the Seiun Award with this work. In 2005, he started writing VINLAND SAGA. This serial moved from Shukan Shonen Magazine (Kodansha) to Gekkan Afternoon (Kodansha). He is the only artist of "Viking" manga in Japan.
This is a coming-of-age adventure tale about a boy’s attempt to avenge his father, who was killed by Vikings. The setting of the story, which may be unfamiliar to Japanese readers, is Northern Europe in the 11th century—a time when the Vikings were pillaging neighboring countries and massacring their inhabitants. One of the great skills of the author is to portray the various characters very attractively. While presenting the world of bloody combat, the author also excels in conveying to readers human love and the value of life. The power struggle around the second prince of Denmark drives the story to higher levels and produces a spectacular historical drama. It is the first “Royal Road Manga” in quite a while, and promises tantalizing future developments.
What makes you create a work?
At about 16 years old, it suddenly struck me that if I worked in a field other than manga, I would not be any good. However hard I tried, I would not be able to concentrate on anything except manga.
What tools do you use the most at present?
Paper, a pen, and ink. And occasionally a computer.
What do you place greatest value on in your work?
Reader-friendliness. I value it but I still have a long way to go.
What personal concept runs through your creative activities?
I don't understand well myself. There might not be one.
When you create a work, in what way do you think of a presentation using technologies or media as a means to communicate?
I draw something without considering the possibility of delivering it to the world on the Net.
Could you name a person, a work, or an event that has most influenced you?
Manga writer MORIMURA Shin influenced me a lot. He’s the first manga writer I ever met, and is a master.
What kind of work would you like to create in the future?
I would like to keep drawing without cutting corners.
What is the meaning or importance of creating for you?
Drawing manga is my work. I think I’m lucky I could find a job I like.
![2009 [13th] Japan Media Arts Festival Award-winning Works 2009 [13th] Japan Media Arts Festival Award-winning Works](/english/festival/images/h1_jusyousakuhin-en2009.gif)







