[Magazine House Co., Ltd.] The author of the manga “Under the Palm Tree,” set in Saga, pays a courtesy visit to the Governor of Saga Prefecture and the Mayor of Saga City.
Magazine House Inc. Press Release: October 3, 2025 The author of the manga “Under the Palm Tree,” set in Saga, pays a courtesy visit to the Governor of Saga Prefecture and the Mayor of Saga City. A noteworthy work recommended by Yoshitomo Nara and Naoki Ishikawa — “The childhood I had forgotten is here” — A circle of empathy spreading from the local area to the whole country Meg Mileland, author of the manga “Under the Palm Tree,” set in Saga and published by Magazine House Co., Ltd. (headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Shuichi Tetsuo), visited the Saga Prefectural Government Office on Monday, September 22, 2025, and paid a courtesy call on Governor Yoshiyoshi Yamaguchi. In addition to paying a courtesy call on the mayor of Saga Prefecture, she also promoted her work at bookstores in the prefecture and toured famous sites, drawing attention for her efforts to promote local culture through her work.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/30125/558/30125-558-5c6f0f82d7c5a05af35bfa5c7fd0e890-2714×963.jpg Furthermore, at Saga City Hall, the group visited Mayor Hidetaka Sakai, who commented on their artwork, which was based on local scenery and memories, with comments such as, “We’re in the same place, with the same memories.” Prefectural and city officials who attended the visit also commented, “It reminded me of my own childhood,” creating an atmosphere of empathy throughout the venue.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/30125/558/30125-558-33734bbbfef3f26ab9ed43d21ddfaa29-1331×1000.jpg This work also includes numerous episodes from the author’s childhood in Saga, and the detailed descriptions of gestures and facial expressions will resonate with readers’ own personal memories. While the appearance of “familiar places” in the cityscape background will further strengthen empathy for readers in Saga, this reading experience is universally relatable to anyone with a childhood, not just Saga residents. The words “It’s just like my childhood,” spoken with shining eyes by local residents, will surely transcend the region and reach the hearts of readers nationwide.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/30125/558/30125-558-7a40194ac18d5ecd44f1d98be2b98e98-2028×2700.jpg Kinokuniya Bookstore Saga Branch Dear Kumazawa Bookstore Mallage Saga Branch
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/30125/558/30125-558-aca3fb22fc54578a4ba32b9a35e71868-877×1171.jpg Kumazawa Bookstore Saga Branch
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/30125/558/30125-558-deca10766557e392e636f84715f3c95b-1000×1333.jpg TSUTAYA Seibunkan Bookstore Sadai-dori Store Dear ■Work introduction A boy meets girl story set in Saga some time ago. A nostalgic and comforting manga with its idyllic background, Saga dialect, and childhood quirks.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/30125/558/30125-558-a55fe03bec89d405bcd3e711285090d5-905×1282.jpg We forget those days, but everything we saw shone brilliantly. Elementary school student Sotetsu Minamizato meets Karin Nabeshima, a classmate, and learns about the world around them. The plant that inspired his name. The ability to communicate feelings without using words using Morse code. Sharing small emotions, such as amazing, happy, awkward, or sad, with someone other than yourself. These stories of the couple’s daily life, set against the changing seasons of Saga, While it may seem like an ordinary day, it was a very special and irreplaceable time──
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/30125/558/30125-558-35b22ed99acbfd23c1ed55562fb87033-1414×1000.jpg The dynamic, primitive artwork, the pleasantly paced dialogue in Saga dialect, and the meticulously calculated storyline all demonstrate the artist’s extraordinary talent and convey a sense of high cultural value.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/30125/558/30125-558-0c1bd26da27798a26e7eb4c1fa8ad9f5-1414×1000.jpg This work continues the skillful depiction of children’s small gestures from “Events by the Water,” which was selected as a recommended work at the Japan Media Arts Festival by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Highlights include the unique presentation that makes full use of the pages and the depiction of the dark night using light ink. ■Highly praised by Yoshitomo Nara and Naoki Ishikawa! “Under the Palm Trees” Recommendation Comment I’m remembering the days of my childhood that remain deep in my memory. Dialects are also catalysts that transcend time and space. — Nara Yoshitomo
(contemporary artist) I was surprised by this rare work, which carefully captures emotions and subtle fluctuations that cannot be expressed in words without giving up, and conveys them to the reader as they are. The feeling you get after reading this book, with a lingering sense of texture and warmth, is truly one of a kind. –Naoki Ishikawa (Photographer) Product Page ■Author profile
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/30125/558/30125-558-2d0aa7514cdcfdaf6409924f1a058b53-1000×1319.jpg Meg Mileland Manga artist and painter. He spent his elementary school years in Saga, and his manga “Events by the Waterside,” based on his memories of those days, was selected as a recommended work for the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Japan Media Arts Festival, attracting attention. He has also produced many other independent works. ■Bibliographic information Title: Under the Palm Tree Author: Meg Mileland : Magazine House, Inc. Release Date: [Volume 1] August 22, 2024 [Volume 2] September 8, 2025 Price: ¥1,320 per volume (tax included) URL: https://magazineworld.jp/books/paper/3283/
