Japanese Culture: The World Of Manga And Anime

Indeed, anime and its close relative, manga (Japanese comics, on which anime are often based) are two of Japan's most famous inventions, having captured the imagination of audiences all over the globe. 

To say these two mediums are popular is a gross understatement: One Piece—another name you're probably familiar with—has sold more than 523 million copies of its manga worldwide. That's the kind of stat that would make even a best-selling author's brain explode. 

Interestingly, manga isn't a modern concept—the earliest example is thought to be a set of scrolls from the 12th and 13th centuries, known as the Choju-Giga (Frolicking Animals). Designed to be 'read' from side-to-side, these depict rabbits, frogs, monkeys, and other creatures partaking in human pursuits such as archery, dancing, and wrestling (fun fact: these can be viewed at exhibitions around Japan). 

Giving animals human characteristics is known as anthropomorphism, a technique widely used in manga today; similarly, motion or speed lines are also seen throughout the scrolls. This was followed many hundreds of years later by a 15-strong volume of sketches—fittingly called Hokusai Manga—created during the 1800s by Katsushika  Hokusai aka the man behind the world-famous artwork, Kanagawa oki nami ura (more commonly known as The Great Wave). 

However it's Kitazawa Rakuten—a former political cartoonist—who is considered the founding father of modern manga, pioneering the use of sound, movement and comedy that are synonymous with the medium through his illustrations, from the late 1800s onward (he even set up his own comic school at one point). 

Today, manga (pronounced 'mag-guh) can be found in practically every bookshop and convenience store across Japan. These tales of adventure, romance, and everything in between have a number of distinct characteristics, including many that set them apart from Western comic books. 

They are actually read back-to-front (meaning that yes, the front cover is actually at the back) and not only that, they are read right-to-left on the page itself. They are also typically printed in black and white rather than colour, and characterised by kawaii-like characters with exaggerated expressions—Sailor Moon and her huge, heart-shaped eyes immediately spring to mind. 

Speaking of eyes, the oversized nature of these in manga characters are perhaps this medium's most famous hallmark, while symbolic hairstyles are another commonly used feature. 

Just like regular books, there are countless genres of manga: darker manga called gekiga, for example, and even a sub-category called shojo manga, created especially for girls and young women. 

There's even a place for politics: one of manga's most famous offerings, Astro Boy, was created in the wake of World War II and follows a young robot boy with nuclear powers. 

Which brings us back to anime. In his book, The Rough Guide to Anime, Simon Richmond claims that a whopping 60% of anime are based upon manga (Dragon Ball and of course, One Piece amongst them). 

These are made in much the same style as their comic cousins, only with the addition of colour, sound and most importantly, movement. These shows often have a huge number of episodes per series, and run over many years (Sazae-san, for example, has been airing since 1969 and has more than 2,600 episodes, earning it a Guinness World Record for longest-running animated television series). 

In addition, they have permeated practically every streaming service on earth (there's even an American platform, Crunchyroll, that's dedicated entirely to the genre). 

Some of the most popular anime today include Naruto, Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia, Death Note, and Jujutsu Kaisen (not forgetting the aforementioned One Piece and Dragon Ball). There are also many well-known series that, though not made in Japan, have been heavily inspired by anime—Avatar: The Last Airbender is a prime example. 

And of course, no article on anime would be complete without mentioning Studio Ghibli—the legendary production company from acclaimed animator, Hayao Miyazaki. 

His heartfelt and enchanting films are amongst the most famous works of anime in the world: Spirited Away (the first anime to be nominated for an Academy Award, which it won), Howl's Moving Castle, My Neighbour Totoro, Ponyo, The Boy And The Heron (another Oscar winner)... the list goes on. 

And anime's reach extends far beyond the television or movie screen—in Japan, there are entire theme parks dedicated to this artform (in fact, Studio Ghibli, has multiple). Check out the links below, for where manga and anime fans can find some of the country's best. 

1. Akihabara Electric Town, Tokyo
2. Kitakyushu Manga Museum, Kitakyushu
3. Pokémon Centers Japan-wide
4. Nakano Broadway, Tokyo
5. Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum, Osaka
6. Ghibli Museum, Tokyo
7. Ghibli Park, Aichi
8. Fuji F. Fujio Museum (Doraemon Museum), Kawasaki
9. Ikebukuro, Tokyo
10. Kyoto International Manga Museum, Kyoto
11. Tokyo Character Street, Tokyo
12. Ishinomori Manga Museum, Ishinomaki