“5 Mysterious and Meaningful Facts About 20th Century Boys”

✍️

Author’s Note

After Yawara! and Monster, 20th Century Boys felt like something different—yet still undeniably Urasawa.

While Yawara! gave us comedy and judo, and Monster delivered psychological suspense,

20th Century Boys hit a strange, emotional chord with me.

It reminded me of my own elementary school days in Japan.

Those silly games, the strange kids, the secret bases—

I could actually look at my old class photos and say,

“That guy kind of looks like ‘Friend’… weird.”

That’s what makes this manga so powerful.

It blurs the line between fiction and memory in the eeriest, most brilliant way.

🕵️ 1. The Story Was Inspired by 1960s and 70s Japanese Pop Culture

Creator Naoki Urasawa pulled from his own childhood in the 1960s and 70s, filling the manga with references to TV shows, rock music, manga, and the Showa-era atmosphere.

It gives the story a powerful sense of nostalgia—even for readers from other countries.

🌀 2. “Friend” Was Originally Meant to Be a Background Character

The masked cult leader “Friend” became one of manga’s most iconic villains, but he was initially just a symbol of lost childhood ideals.

As the story grew, so did his complexity—along with the mystery surrounding his identity.

🧠 3. The Title Comes from a Real Song by T. Rex

The title 20th Century Boys is a direct reference to the 1973 glam rock song by British band T. Rex.

Music plays a huge role in the series, especially the fictional band Kenji played in during his youth.

📚 4. It Shares a Universe with

Pluto

and

Monster

(Unofficially)

While not directly connected, Urasawa’s works often share thematic DNA:

• Dark secrets

• Morally complex characters

• And an almost cinematic level of storytelling

  
  

  Many fans believe the worlds of Monster, 20th Century Boys, and Pluto could exist side by side.

👦 5. The “Childhood Flashbacks” Are Shockingly Relatable

One reason the series resonates so deeply is its realistic depiction of childhood.

Readers around the world say, “I knew someone like that,” or “I remember making games like that with my friends.”

It’s nostalgic and eerie at the same time.