With a long history deeply rooted in rich Japanese art, manga are one of the
most fascinating phenomena in Japan and the whole world. these comics have
been a major player in the country’s publishing industry, creating a robust
market, reaching millions of readers of all ages, and influencing a number of
works of comic book art in a variety of other nations.
From history and teenage romance to futuristic science fiction and profound
themes of life, manga became an important, almost inevitable aspect of
Japan’s identity and they helped spread knowledge and understanding of it.
What is manga ?
Although modern manga came to be amid an expansion of artistic creativity
during the US occupation of Japan between 1945 and 1952, their origins can
be traced centuries back. What many believed were the very first manga in
Japan appeared in the 12th and 13th century, in a series of drawings like frogs
and rabbits titled Choju-giga (Scrolls of Frolicking Animals) produced by several
artists. In fact, their technique of drawing a characters’ legs to simulate
running was adopted by many manga-ka (manga makers and comic book
artists) working today[1]. During the Edo Period (1603-1867), another book of
drawings, Toba Ehon, embedded the concept of manga[2], yet the term itself
was first used in 1798, to describe the picture book Shiji no Yukikai (Four
Seasons) by Santō Kyōden. In 1814, it showed up again, as the title of Aikawa
Mina’s Manga hyakujo and the celebrated Hokusai Manga books of drawings
by the famous ukiyo-e artist Hokusai.
Manga vs Anime
In Japanese, the term “manga” can refer to all kinds of cartooning, comics and
animation, as it is composed of two kanji - “man”, meaning “whimsical or
impromptu” and “ga”, meaning “pictures”, together forming 漫画. This is why,
historically speaking, there could be many early examples referring to the
aesthetics and narratives used in modern-day manga. Outside Japan, “manga”
is used to describe comics only while “anime” covers cartoons and animated
comics of many kinds. Anime is usually, but not always, the animated version
of manga.
Types of Manga Comics
there are two main marketing genres of manga - shōnen, aimed at boys, and
shōjo, dedicated to girls. In shōnen, one can find comics that were sub-divided
according to age: boys up to 18 years old, young men 18 to 30 years old,
known as seinen, and adult, grown men, referred to as seijin manga. Charged
with action, adventure, fighting of all kinds, as well as sports, technology,
romance and sometimes sexuality, these involved one or more male
protagonists and helped create the concept of heroes. Shōjo, the “female”
comics, were essentially the same way, while their topics and core audience
were, of course, female.
Among other popular Japanese manga genres, we have Yōji, for children aged
1-4, followed by Kodomo (or Jidō), for kids just learning to read .. etc
The Most Famous Japanese Manga : Astro Boy , One Piece , Golgo 13 , Dragon
Ball , Naruto , Black Jack, Kochikame , Oishinbo , Slam Dunk and Case Closed
How manga-influenced japan :
For more than 60 years, manga has been a major part of the Japanese cultural
identity. Accounting for over 25 percent of all printed materials in the country,
it represents a significant share in Japan’s publishing industry[6]. As it offers
something for everyone, manga fans range from small children to senior
citizens. Nearly every aspect of Japanese pop culture production can be traced
to the industrial complex of manga, as the most famous manga has a far-
reaching influence and quickly turns into books, television shows, anime,
collectible figures, and video games. For a long time, manga has served as a
cultural pillar of Japan’s economy. It transcended cultural barriers and made an
important and lasting impression on audiences across the globe, becoming
Japan’s most popular cultural export. Having a solid fan base and fuelling
further interest in the Japanese culture, manga helped the country become
one of the planet’s largest exporters of cultural products. For that reason, it
has become a mainstay of the Japanese economy and culture.
