A manga is a Japanese comic strip the majority of which were fashioned towards the end of the 19th century. It is part of Japanese history and civilization. Originally, manga had a particular style in terms of reading; they were read from right to left and remained known under a black and white archetype. In this article, we find out what year the first manga was created, and by whom. How has manga evolved from its inception to the present day? Which countries are the biggest manga fans? Finally, what are the most recommended mangas today?
Manga creation date
Commonly called "manga" in Japan, it is rather recognized under the name of "cartoon" in America, both comics, press cartoons, caricatures and even cartoons in France.
In 1814 is the year manga was born, thanks to the famous Japanese painter, illustrator and engraver known to the general public asHokusai Katsushika. Around the 12th century, manga were born, considered to be the oldest in the world. At the time, they were presented on painted scrolls that lasted 32 seconds of animation, developed under the direction of the Marubeni Shin Denryoku company revisiting the Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga.
Manga history
Manga, in the form we know it today, first appeared in 1902. It was a humorous comic strip created by author Rakuten Kitazawa and published in the JijiShinpō newspaper. Kitazawa chose the theme of l'Arroseur arrosé for his debut. It's also worth noting that after Hokusai Katsushika, Rakuten Kitazawa was the first to coin the term "manga".
March 1990 saw the release of the color version of Akira, an initiative taken by Jacques Glénat, Chairman and CEO of the Grenoble-based publishing house. With translations far more striking than the original, this manga revolution was a great success, and was released at the end of the year. Other manga versions followed, such as type of manga shojo which came into being in 1902 with the creation of the Shōjo-kai.
The top two manga-consuming countries and the best-selling mangas in the world
The France and, of course, the JapanThe most manga-loving countries were targeted, including One piece, Golgo, dragon ball Z, Doraemon, Detective conan, Naruto are the most popular and have enjoyed unparalleled success in both countries:
- One Piece takes over. The latter is a household name among manga fans, dominating the manga market worldwide. With over 500 million copies sold, One Piece leads the market and remains unchallenged.
- In second place is Dragon Ball, inspired by a character in a Chinese novel from the late XVIᵉ century.
- Golgo and Doraemon follow suit, with sales of around 300 million.
- Naruto ranks behind Doreamon and Dragon Ball, with nearly 250 million copies sold.
For more details on the history of the Manga, please read our article :
Manga continues to surprise us with new adventures to discover and courageous characters. Which title have you enjoyed the most so far?
