Manga and Anime are not just for Otaku or kids
Around 8a.m. on a crowded train in Tokyo, a young businessman in a black suit was glued to a book that he was reading; it was a comic book.
The popularity of Manga and Anime has been growing continuously. According to the research institute for publications, Comic-shi (comic books) have had a solid growth in sales from 1999 to 2006, while sales of magazines and books have been on the decline since 1997. Furthermore, the market size of Anime reached about 234 billion yen in 2005, a 3.6% increase from the previous year according to an estimate made by the Media Development Research Institute. Manga and Anime is one of the fastest growing industries in the Japanese economy.
INSIGHTS OUT – Good things about Manga and Anime
- Manga and Anime help contents to be easily understood
Manga and Anime contents are sold not only for “Otaku.” They can also be used for non-Otaku by aiming to communicate something difficult to understand. For instance, you find several Manga publications that cover the tax system and real estate business at Kampo (Japanese government publication stores). Likewise, the cabinet office uses Anime for promoting the judge system on its website. Some students find that Manga on Japanese history is useful for preparation for school examinations. Manga and Anime, therefore, are part of the communication tools used in our daily life.
- Old Manga and Anime remind adults of the good old days
Even adults in their 30s, 40s or 50s enjoy reading comic books or Anime related to their younger days. Anime songs such as “Uchuu Senkan Yamato (Space Battleship Yamato)” from the early 1970s, and “Kidou Senshi Gandamu (Moble Suit Gundam)” from around 1980, are some of the most popular Karaoke songs among Japanese men in their 30s and 40s. Comics written by Osamu Tezuka, who was called the God of Manda, are still popular even though he has passed away.
Manga and anime are not something that kids have to read and watch secretly anymore. They are now recognized as part of the Japanese arts, which Japanese enjoy watching regardless of their age.
February 08 2008 | Culture | No Comments »
