manga 漫画

Iconic comics that conquered the world, one panel at a time. Manga is a cultural institution, an art form, and for many Japanese, a daily reading ritual on crowded trains.

While modern manga emerged in the post-WWII era, its roots trace back to 12th-century scrolls depicting frolicking animals and 18th-century woodblock prints. The distinctive large eyes that define manga’s aesthetic? They were inspired by Betty Boop and early Disney cartoons, then perfected by “God of Manga” 手塚治虫 Osamu Tezuka.

Manga by the numbers:

Japan’s manga industry is worth over 600 billion JPY annually
Digital now accounts for 70% of manga sales in Japan
A successful series can run for decades (One Piece has been publishing weekly since 1997)
Manga makes up approximately 40% of all published material in Japan

Know your demographics

Manga isn’t one-size-fits-all. Publications are specifically targeted to different age groups and genders:

少年 shōnen: For boys (think action, friendship, and training montages)
少女 shōjo: For girls (romance, emotions, and sparkly backgrounds)
青年 seinen: For adult men (more complex themes and occasionally explicit content)
女性 josei: For adult women (mature relationships without the high school drama)