Manga are collections of Japanese comics that are sometimes turned into anime. If you don’t know what anime are, they are Japanese cartoon videos that have diverse themes and genres and are often recognized for being bright and graphic.
Just like any other ordinary book, there come different genres and categories when it comes to manga. There are several main manga genres. The New York Public Library says that there are such as Shonen, (targeted at tween and teen boys) Shojo, (targeted at tween and teen girls), Seinen, (a genre for men over the age of 18) Josei, (a genre for women over the age of 18), and Kodomomuke, (manga intended for young children).
Background of manga
According to Japan-avenue.com, manga dates back to as old as the 19th century. First found in illustrated scripted scrolls, manga was initially intended to be used as propaganda and a distraction from World War II.
In the 1940s, during times where poverty and depression was common all around the country in the aftermath of the war, manga was an affordable form of entertainment that made the people most struggling forget the trauma of war.
Western influence on manga
Japan-avenue.com also said that Western comics changed the perspective of how manga was initially intended to be. As Japan and the West traded together, art pieces from both countries flowed into trade systems and left artists in awe. These new art trading interactions led to modernization of new manga. New art styles and techniques were adapted from the West like: bold lines, integrated texts and images, and humorous illustrations.
On the right: The Japan Punch created by Charles Wingman in Yokohama 1861. On the left: The first manga by Rakuten Kitazawa in 1902.
Post-war manga
According to The University of San Diego, manga would not have succeeded as much today without help from the second world war. The war promoted manga production and post-war anime like Astro boy, Gekiga, and Phoenix.
Manga quickly became popular especially among struggling communities. Not only was it used to relate to people, but the government hoped that manga would boost economic growth, make others hate the “enemy,” and boost industry in general.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the second world war is one important reason why manga became so popular, but they are not just comics: They carry much more vulnerable history and meaning.
