A Brief History of Japanese Manga
Condensing Japanese Manga’s rich history to the palm of your hands
Manga (pronounced maawng-guh) literally means “whimsical or impromptu pictures.” Typically associated with otaku “nerdy” culture, it has a deep and rich history in Japanese art that plays a significant role in Japanese culture today.
But how did manga start? And how did it evolve to achieve the global influence it has today?
Though there are clues that manga originated back to the 12th century, we’re going to focus on hard facts starting with the word “manga” itself.
The Origins of Manga
The word “manga” was first coined in 1798 by Santō Kyōden’s Shiki no Yukikai (Seasonal Passers-by).
But in 1814, the artist Katsushika Hokusai (famous for ukiyo-e and butt buddies with Santō Kyōden) was the first to use the word “manga” as the title for his sketchbooks titled “Hokusai Manga”.
During the rise of Japanese Imperialism, the Japanese empire used manga for spreading propaganda about the benefits of Japanese leadership. But after the war, everything changed.
The Turning Point
Following the end of World War II, Japan was occupied by the Allies which restricted any propaganda or Japanese militarism. This meant that Japanese artists had room to explore their artistic styles.
At the same time, the United States brought over their comics and cartoons. This heavily influenced the style of manga at the time.
And with that allowed Tezuka Osamu (the God of Manga and Japanese equivalent to Walt Disney) to create one of Japan’s most iconic and influential characters — Astro Boy.
Another famous stylistic innovator at the time was Machiko Hasegawa, creator of Sazae-san (in yonkoma format, four-panel comic usually found in newspapers).
Both Osamu Tezuka and Machiko Hasegawa’s innovative techniques paved the way for shōnen (for young boys) and shōjo (for young girls) manga. The former being the most popular genre manga genre today.
And so, manga’s popularity exploded and was destined to create otaku culture in the 21st century.
Manga Today
Heavily influenced by American comics and deeply scarring post-war depression, manga pivoted from its confident, serious tone to the “kawaii” (cute) style.
Thankfully, it gave us One Piece, Dragon Ball, Pokemon, and many other titles that have brought joy to millions of people around the world.
And the beauty of it all. It’s still evolving.
