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| Japanese manga | |
|---|---|
| Name | Manga |
| Country | Japan |
| First | 12th century (origins) |
| Language | Japanese |
Japanese manga is a style of comics and graphic novels originating in Japan with a modern commercial industry established in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It encompasses a wide array of serialized formats published in magazines, tankōbon collections, digital platforms, and has spawned adaptations across anime, film, theatre, and video game industries. Major creators, publishers, and cultural institutions have shaped its global dissemination and critical reception through festivals, awards, and international licensing.
Early visual narrative precursors include emakimono such as the Tale of Genji illustrated scrolls and 18th-century ukiyo-e by artists like Hokusai and Hiroshige. The emergence of modern print cartoons and satirical strips can be traced to Meiji-period newspapers influenced by James Murdoch (publisher) and Kobayashi Kiyochika. Postwar developments were catalyzed by artists such as Osamu Tezuka, whose works like Astro Boy redefined pacing and cinematic techniques and led to serialization in magazines like Weekly Shōnen Champion and Weekly Shōnen Jump. The 1960s–1980s saw expansion through creators including Go Nagai, Shotaro Ishinomori, and Leiji Matsumoto, while the 1990s–2000s global boom involved publishers like Shueisha, Kodansha, Shogakukan, and the rise of magazines such as Ribon and Nakayoshi.
Manga is categorized by target demographics and genre labels used by publishers: shōnen magazines like Weekly Shōnen Jump and Weekly Shōnen Sunday target adolescent male readers, while shōjo magazines such as Margaret (magazine) and Hana to Yume target adolescent female readers. Seinen titles appear in magazines like Big Comic and Weekly Young Jump for adult men; josei appears in You (magazine) and Feel Young for adult women. Genre classifications include sports works like Slam Dunk, romance titles like Boys Over Flowers, science fiction such as Ghost in the Shell, and horror exemplified by Junji Ito's works. Subgenres and niche markets incorporate yaoi/BL, yuri, ecchi, and mecha traditions.
Major publishers Shueisha, Kodansha, and Shogakukan manage serialized magazines, editorial departments, and mangaka contracts; editorial offices coordinate with studios used by creators such as Eiichiro Oda and Hajime Isayama. Serialization often runs in weekly or monthly periodicals before tankōbon collection; production workflows involve assistants trained in inking, screentone application, and lettering, a system shared by studios of mangaka like Naoki Urasawa and Takehiko Inoue. Legal frameworks affecting production include copyrights enforced under Copyright Act of Japan and licensing agreements with international firms like VIZ Media and Crunchyroll.
Distinctive visual conventions, developed by innovators such as Osamu Tezuka and refined by artists like Katsuhiro Otomo, include cinematic paneling, speed lines, and exaggerated facial expressions seen in works like Akira and Naruto. Narrative devices include long-form serialization with cliffhangers used by authors like Eiichiro Oda, non-linear storytelling employed by Yoshihiro Togashi, and gag-driven four-panel formats exemplified by Azumanga Daioh. Techniques for pacing, motion, and visual grammar interact with print conventions established in magazines such as Weekly Young Jump.
Manga distribution spans domestic retail chains like Book Off and convenience stores, overseas licensing through firms such as VIZ Media and Tokyopop, and digital platforms including ComicWalker and Shonen Jump+. Successful series often receive adaptations into anime by studios like Toei Animation, Studio Ghibli, Madhouse, and Bones, live-action films produced by companies such as Toho and Toei Company, stage plays by Takarazuka Revue, and tie-in video games from developers like Bandai Namco Entertainment and Square Enix.
Manga has influenced global popular culture via conventions such as Comiket, festivals like Anime Expo, and academic study at institutions including Tokyo University of the Arts and Kyoto University. Iconic works have affected fashion, music, and visual arts, with creators like Hayao Miyazaki (whose work spans anime and manga) achieving international recognition and awards including the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Critical debates involve censorship cases adjudicated under laws cited by courts such as the Supreme Court of Japan and discussions within organizations like The Japan Cartoonists Association.
The industry is dominated by conglomerates Shueisha, Kodansha, and Shogakukan, with market data tracked by entities like the Association of Japanese Animations and retail analysis published by firms such as Oricon. Business models rely on magazine serialization, collected volumes, merchandising through companies like Good Smile Company, and cross-media rights management involving agencies such as Johnny & Associates and Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Awards and recognition include the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize and the Kodansha Manga Award, which influence creator careers and publisher strategies.