User:John Stephenson/sandbox

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Manga

For more information, see: Manga.
(CC) Photo: John Stephenson
Manga and magazines on sale in Japan.

One of the most popular forms of entertainment in Japan is manga (漫画; in hiragan まんが; in katakana マンガ), meaning print 'comics' or 'cartoons'; [1][2] Manga are immensely popular in Japan[3][4] and, in the past two decades, have become popular worldwide, with the word now firmly established in the English language to refer to these.

Typically, manga are printed in black and white, and as is the case with much other Japanese reading matter, are read from right to left, starting from the 'back' of the book. They cover a wide variety of topics, from adventure, romance, and horror to sports, science fiction, and explicit sexuality.[2][5][6][7] Drawing styles vary considerably, from intricate and complex page layouts to simple line drawings.[2][5] Manga stories cover all kinds of adventures, with four creations particularly well-known: the robot-child Astro Boy (or Mighty Atom, i.e. 鉄腕アトム Tetsuwan Atomu); the independently-minded lady Sazae-san (サザエさん); the time-travelling mechanical cat Doraemon (ドラえもん); and Black Jack (ブラック・ジャック), the tale of an underworld surgeon who performs implausible operations to save the innocent. The artist Osamu Tezuka (手塚 治虫 Tezuka Osamu) became known as the 'God of Manga' for giving the world Astro Boy in 1952,[8] and was also responsible for developing Black Jack in the 1970s. Doraemon has been thrilling readers since 1969, and these adventures have been the recipient of several awards, including Asahi Shimbun's 'Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize' (手塚治虫文化賞, Tezuka Osamu Bunkashō) in 1997. The cat was also recognised by Time Asia magazine in 2006 as an 'Asian Hero', or cultural icon.[9]

Manga are typically published first in magazines and then in paperback books called 単行本 tankoobon, and, if popular enough, then animated.[10] Manga also serve as an interesting way of getting the news: government ministries as well as corporations have often used manga to put across complicated ideas to the public.[11]

In Japan, manga are read by people of all ages, and fans can be seen reading their favourite stories in 24-hour convenience stores or with coffee in special round-the-clock 'manga cafés' (漫画喫茶 or マンガ喫茶, manga kissa). Another place to find the legions of manga readers is at the three-day 'Comic Market' (コミック・マーケット Komikku Māketto) in Tokyo, Japan's largest public indoor gathering; at this magazine fair a vast number of manga are available to browse and buy.[12]

Artists outside Japan have adopted many manga techniques.[13] Manga-influenced comics include not only work by US artists,[14] but also Korean manhwa[15] and Chinese manhua[16][17] as well as "la nouvelle manga" by Frédèric Boilet and his collaborators.[18] Since May 2007, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recognised excellence for non-Japanese manga in its annual International Manga Award.[19]

  1. ↑ Lent (2001).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Schodt (1986).
  3. ↑ Schodt (1986), op. cit., Chapter 1, pp. 12-27.
  4. ↑ Thorn, Matt 29th September 2008. 'Just how much do those Japanese read manga?' http://matt-thorn.com/wordpress/?p=261 ; 'More stats on manga reading in Japan'. http://matt-thorn.com/wordpress/?p=272 Accessed 3rd October, 2008.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Gravett (2004: 8).
  6. ↑ Masanao (2004).
  7. ↑ Koyama-Richard (2007).
  8. ↑ Schodt (2007).
  9. ↑ Time Asia: 'The Cuddliest Hero in Asia'. 2006.
  10. ↑ Kinsella (2000).
  11. ↑ For a controversial example of the use of manga to explain defence policy, see Mainichi Daily News: 'Defense Ministry turns to 'Lolita' manga character to reveal inner self'. 24th July 2007.
  12. ↑ Comiket.co.jp: 'What is the Comic Market?'. Official information from the organising committee.
  13. ↑ Tai, Elizabeth. 23rd September 2007. The Star Online: 'Manga outside Japan'. http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2007/9/23/lifebookshelf/18898783&sec=lifebookshelf Accessed 3rd October 2008.
  14. ↑ Cha, Kai-Ming and Calvin Reid, 17th October 2005. Publishers Weekly,': 'Manga in English: Born in the USA'. http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6272269.html Accessed 3rd October 2008.
  15. ↑ Japan Times: 'Manga by any other name is...'. 28th May 2006.
  16. ↑ Wong (2002).
  17. ↑ Wong (2006).
  18. ↑ Boilet (2003).
  19. ↑ MOFA: First International MANGA Award. http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2007/6/1174276_828.html Accessed 3rd October 2008.
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