Japan’s manga mania
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Giddy students on a JR East train, their identities shielded as a courtesy to them and their parents, enjoy a Kanji lesson book – oops, or is it a child’s manga?
Manga are nothing new in Japan, but their scope and audience are spreading to unprecedented proportions – both domestically and globally. Unlike the compact manga novelettes which are now becoming more widely available in the West, many current manga in Japan are taking the form of huge compendia, each 300-400 pages long and including as many as 20 separate manga stories – most of them serialized as to sustain reader interest.
And for a mere 300 yen, or just under $3 US, that big, fat, enjoyable manga can be yours.
The beauty of manga is that it is tailor-made for the Japanese train culture. Since talking on cell phones (texting is OK but not openly encouraged) is bad form, even prohibited, on most commuter train lines in Japan, the next best option is reading material. But why be stuck with mundane newspapers or straight-text novels when manga, and the amazing artwork within, are a much cooler option?
Manga appeal as much to the teen set, right, as to the young professionals on Japanese trains, including those on this JR East line.
It appears that train commuters of all ages delve into manga – from young students to high-brow executives. Plots in manga range from children’s stories, to soap-opera-type light romance, to historic adventure and sports.
And when you’re done with one manga, instead of tossing it or letting it collect dust on some bookshelf – hand it to the commuter next to you. They might appreciate the adventure, too.
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