Mangas: Art or Only Commercial Product? 

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Having sold over 470 million copies, the world’s best-selling Manga of all time is One Piece by Eiichiro Oda.

Manga are comics or graphic novels that originated in Japan. Unlike Western publication, they are usually read right-to-left.. Mangas are very popular in Japan and also worldwide. The most popular mangas are often not only recognized for their interesting storylines but  for their outstanding drawings. This is where a lot of debate arise. Are manga art or commercial products?  

Manga as an Art Form 

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The Promised Neverland official art, Image Courtesy of Posuka Demizu SHUEISHA Inc.

The same way mangas don’t share the same stories, they don’t have the same drawing styles. Each author has their own technique that fits the themes and stories they want to share. Some drawing styles are so unique that it becomes a way to recognize the mangaka, such as Eichiro Oda’s distinctive drawing style for One Pièce, or Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball. 

Some mangas are especially praised for their outstanding artistry that truly makes you think that manga is art, such as Hirohiko Araki’s Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, Kentarou Miura’s Berserk, and more.

One of my personal favorite drawing styles is Posuka Demizu’s artwork in The Promised Neverland. In my opinion it’s one of the most unique and recognized drawing styles. 

Manga also influences other art forms such as fashion. 

Manga as a Commercial Product

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Image of real life Ichiraku ramen at Naruto theme Park, Image Courtesy of tokyozebra.com

Manga have a strong commercial aspect especially in Japan. Since every year thousands of new works are published, the main goal for mangakas is to make money from their creation. The mangaka of the very popular manga SpyXFamily admitted to not liking his own manga and only drawing what he knew the public would like: “I gave up on what I originally wanted to draw and drew what the world wants to see, not myself, so I have no attachment to the characters.”

So mangas are still a business-driven creation. A lot of critics also focused on the fan-service often occuring in manga, often sexualizing female characters. 

Moreover, worldwide famous mangas have highly commercialized franchises. For instance, Naruto merch can be found anywhere. A Naruto theme Park also exists, and is located in a huge park called Nijigen-no-morí.

Thus, commercial success is vital for manga creators to thrive, but it may sometimes overshadow artistry. 

A Japanese’s Point of View 

To have a deeper understanding of manga’s influence on art and business, my friend Japanese Aoi Ueno (A.U.) kindly agreed to answer some questions. 

1. How big is manga in Japan?

      A.U.:Manga is such a huge thing in Japan and is one of the most influential cultural industries both domestically and internationally. In the past, paperback books and magazines were mainstream, but in recent years, many people are enjoying manga on their smartphones using the app called “Jump+”. On the other hand, paper-based media are still very popular, with people still lining up at bookstores when popular titles are released.

      2. Do Japanese people view manga as art? 

      A.U.:I do feel whether or not manga is taken seriously as art varies from generation to generation and from individual to individual. However, when original art exhibitions or exhibitions of famous manga or anime are held, people of all ages visit the exhibitions. I feel like this indicates that manga is also appreciated as art. I also love how manga is noted for its extremely high artistic elements, such as its emotional expression, depth of storytelling, and unique visual style. So I think many Japanese value manga as much as any other art form.

      3. Do you think manga influences other art forms?

      A.U.:YES! Manga is such a central thing in Japan that it has a significant influence on other arts. Manga’s unique panel layouts and expression methods have influenced film, animation, and even contemporary art. In addition, street art, fashion, and architectural design also incorporate manga-like elements.

      4. Do you think manga is more of a commercial product than an art form? 

      A.U.:While manga has an artistic aspect, I agree that it is also very much a commercial product. Anime companies and publishers, in particular, have made great profits through the clever use of manga and anime related merchandise and limited edition products.

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      Image of a One Piece’s landscape drawn by Eichiro Oda, Image Courtesy to Eichiro Oda, Shonen Jump

      At the end of the day, is it really possible to categorize manga as either exclusively art or commerce? Some manga creators successfully balance integrity with commercial success (e.g. Eichiro Oda, One Piece). Perhaps manga’s true magic lies in its ability to be both a profound art form and a thriving commercial enterprise, bridging creativity and popularity. 

      Featured Image from My Neighbor Totoro animation movie, Image Courtesy to Ghibli Studio

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