漫画とアニメ

Manga and Anime

A global phenomenon

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D Left to right: The Choju-giga scrolls are viewed as Japan’s first manga; Astro Boy was the first anime to be aired overseas and has since inspired several films.

Since the end of World War II Japan has developed enormous industries in comics and animation. Loved for their imaginative characters and complex plots, these exciting media are a modern incarnation of Japan’s deeply held tradition of storytelling.

The Evolution of Manga

Manga and anime are the Japanese words for comics and animation, respectively. Some argue that manga has deep roots in the country’s earlier art forms, harking back to illustrated scrolls and the ukiyo-e of the Edo era. However, the clearest forerunners of manga were Japan’s first colorful comic strips, developed in the years before World War II.

The postwar years saw the rise of story comics, printed in monochrome on rough paper—which remains the standard today. The comics are released first in thick manga anthology magazines, before being compiled as tankobon (book volumes) to unite the whole story in one collection.

Whether you’re a die-hard fan or eager to learn, the Kyoto International Manga Museum is a must-see stop providing a fascinating tour of manga history. The real highlight, though, is the museum’s library, and gazing up at the thousands of colorful tankobon on these towering bookshelves brings home the passion behind the much-loved world of manga.

Be More Japan Manga and Anime

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D Most magazines have a specific target audience, but the right stories and characters cross every boundary and attract fans from all demographics.

Be More Japan Manga and Anime

From Manga to Anime

The birth of modern anime came in 1963, when popular manga artist Osamu Tezuka created a cartoon version of his hit comic series Mighty Atom (Astro Boy in English). The show introduced an enduring aesthetic style, cemented the link between manga and anime, and also helped shape the standards of TV anime. The advertising company that purchased Mighty Atom’s weekly time slot wasn’t prepared to pay high sums for a cartoon, partly due to the availability of American imports. Tezuka offered his series at far less than its production cost, relying on advertising deals, merchandise, and foreign sales to make up the shortfall—which is still common practice in the industry.

Be More Japan Manga and Anime

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D Weekly Shonen Jump series have become so popular overseas that the magazine is translated into multiple languages.

Be More Japan Manga and Anime

Cartoon Heroes

Around the world, manga and anime have become an accessible gateway to Japanese culture. They draw in readers with wildly imaginative characters and amazing stories that unfold over the weeks and years that a series goes on. Astro Boy was an early star of both anime and manga because of Tezuka’s deceptively deep and often dark stories, but he was soon joined by many other characters that found a dedicated following. Sazae-san is a housewife created by artist Machiko Hasegawa for a newspaper strip in 1946; the character debuted in her own TV anime in 1969, which is now the world’s longest-running cartoon. Originally a revolutionary series full of forward-thinking feminist ideas, it is now a nostalgic and beloved show that focuses on family life in postwar Japan.

These days, the manga magazine Weekly Shonen Jump has become famous for publishing comics that turn into long- running and popular anime full of brilliant characters. It’s the origin of hit series like Dragon Ball, Naruto, and Death Note, as well as the ongoing manga Haikyuu!!—which follows the story of a high school volleyball team—and My Hero Academia, a Japanese twist on American superhero comics.

Be More Japan Manga and Anime

dive into manga

Many manga run for dozens of volumes, but if that seems too much of an investment for your first foray into Japanese comics, pick up any volume of Hetalia. There’s no plot to this lighthearted comedy series about world history, so you can start anywhere. Each character is a personification of a different country, which offers interesting insight into the Japanese writer’s view of foreign people and cultures.

Anime Today

While manga are commonly used as the source material for anime, the reverse is also true—and both formats can spawn adaptations in many other media, from films and games to novelizations and music albums.

TV anime are primarily targeted at children, so the most well-known shows in Japan are often those for younger audiences. These long-running series are mainstream staples of television, and it’s not uncommon to see the smiling faces of the main characters in advertisements, and on packaging and toys.

Anime for older audiences, on the other hand, is a lot more niche. Many of these series are broadcast after midnight and watched only by small audiences of enthusiastic fans, who follow their favorite shows passionately and attend conventions to buy merchandise and cosplay as their favorite characters. There can be large ads for these series in the otaku (geek) districts of big cities, but they’re not mainstream entertainment. And yet, despite their lower profile in Japan, these are the series that have captured the most attention abroad.

Be More Japan Manga and Anime

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D Children’s favorite Doraemon is one of Japan’s biggest anime franchises.

enduring Creativity

Some look to the future of the manga and anime industries with a degree of uncertainty. Manga sales peaked in 1995, when they accounted for 40 percent of all publications sold, but by 2017 sales had fallen by over two-thirds. One likely reason is the rise of smartphones, which offer other means of portable entertainment. Both manga and anime have also been threatened by digital piracy, with many Western fans accessing series online to save waiting months for official translations.

Be More Japan Manga and Anime

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D The Pokémon craze of the late 1990s introduced anime to a new generation of fans around the world.

And yet, despite the decline in sales and the threat of piracy, manga and anime are sure to survive the hurdles of the digital age. Streaming services like Crunchyroll now translate and air new instalments shortly after the original Japanese release, while Netflix is making anime accessible to more viewers. Back in Japan, the creative spirit of anime and manga is as strong as ever, with new series drawing in fans at home and abroad as old favorites are revitalized in new forms.

Be More Japan Manga and Anime

First-Time Anime

If you’re looking to explore the world of Japanese TV anime, there’s no better place to start than Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood— an iconic adventure series set in a steampunk-esque world where alchemy is a known science. The story starts when the young Elric brothers have their lives turned upside down by an alchemical ritual gone wrong, and grows to epic proportions as the series goes on. A huge cast of memorable charters and a perfect balance of action and comedy have helped make this series a classic.

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