| Hoshi-Zulu This bird was first drawn by Shinichi Hoshi in 1965. While signing an autograph at a bar in Tokyo, he sketched the bird in an empty space after his signature. Hoshi insisted it was a crane, a symbol of longevity in Japan. The bird, of course, didn't look anything like a crane, but people loved it nonetheless. Over the years, the bird became Hoshi's trademark and earned the name "Hoshi-Zulu" (Hoshi's Crane). After Hoshi's passing, fellow SF writer Sakyo Komatsu declared September 6 (Hoshi's birthday) "Hoshi-Zulu Day" (The Day of the Star Crane). In 1999, the first "Hoshi-Zulu Day" was celebrated by fans and SF writers in Tokyo. |
