William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and Ernest Hemingway are some names that immediately pop into people's minds whenever the topic of literature is discussed. In fact, universities require students to read their works. Scholars and critics analyze their literary masterpieces, dissecting the styles and themes.

Now, here's a question that deserves asking: does Japanese manga deserve the same level of reverence?

Some elitists may disagree but it's high time to acknowledge that manga IS literature. By extension, creators like Akira Toriyama, Eiichiro Oda, Hiromu Arakawa, and Katsuhiro Otomo are also worthy of recognition. Perhaps just as much as the respected literary greats. 

What manga is - and what makes it unique.

Like Western comic books, manga uses a combination of words and artworks to tell stories. However, what sets the medium apart is that they are created and published in Japan. Internal pages are typically printed in black and white, not full color. They also read from right to left, instead of the traditional left to right.

Demographic-wise, manga offers something for readers of all ages and gender. Some notable genres are:

  • Shonen (Dragon Ball, One Piece) for teen boys. 
  • Shojo (Sailor Moon, Boys Over Flowers) for teen girls.
  • Seinen (Akira, Solo Leveling, Vagabond) for adult men. 
  • Josei (Paradise Kiss, Midnight Secretary) for adult women
  • Kodomomuke (Doraemon, Pokemon Adventures) for younger children.

Manga also explores a diverse range of themes including: 

  • action
  • adventure
  • drama
  • fantasy
  • food
  • history
  • horror
  • politics
  • romance
  • science
  • sports
  • … and many others. 

As an example, the adventure manga One Piece occasionally tackles socio-political topics. Haikyu tells the story of a young protagonist pursuing his love for volleyball. Meanwhile, Cells at Work! is about anthropomorphized cells fulfilling specific roles in the human body. 

Manga as modern literature.

“Many things we consider classics today were lowbrow popular entertainment back in their day,” pointed out Professor Deborah Shamoon of the National University of Singapore. 

In an interview with Public Libraries Singapore, the Department of Japanese Studies associate professor also said that a way to determine a literary classic is if it stands the test of time. “This is definitely true of The Rose of Versailles,” added Shamoon, “which is as widely read now as when it was first published fifty years ago.”

Manga as a tool for learning. 

As with other educational reading materials, manga helps readers improve comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills. Sequential illustrations also make the experience enjoyable and immersive. The visual aspect even encourages hesitant readers as they find manga less intimidating than traditional literature. As a result, some eventually end up developing a lifelong love for the medium and the habit of reading.

Last March, 120-page manga The Iwakura Mission: The Story of the Beginning - Toward the Modernization of Japan was released by The International Research Center for Japanese Studies and the Kyoto Seika University. This second volume of a series is being distributed for free to educational institutions and other organizations. 

According to Japan News, study manga is “a major market” that started way back in the 1950s. “History and biography manga have done particularly well,” the site also reported. Many major publishers have been entering the market since the 1970s.

On the other hand, the Kyoto International Manga Museum attracts local and foreign visitors. The guests read manga biographies of historical figures from different countries. So far, the museum has been commissioned to produce around 1,000 promotional and educational manga. Their clients range from local governments, companies, education boards, and even medical institutions.   

Manga's growing popularity (and sales).

According to the World Atlas, Japan has a high literacy rate of 99.0%. Interestingly, manga makes up about a significant portion of the country's publishing market.

Case in point, Nippon reports that Japan's print and electronic manga sales have continued growing over the past seven years. In 2024, total sales reached a record high of ¥704.3 billion. Annual manga sales first exceeded the 600-billion mark in 2020 at ¥612.6 billion. In 2017, overall sales were at ¥433 billion.

On a global scale, Grand View Research indicates that the market size for manga consistently attracts an increasing number of buyers each year. Experts anticipate that sales will reach US$42,468.2 million by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate of 18.7% from 2025 to 2030. 

As Kenji Sato once told LA Times, “Manga are a cultural force that can't be ignored.” The Massachusetts Institute of Technology political science student likewise emphasized that Japan “is the only country with (millions of) comic books published every week.”

Conclusion

Manga can help educate, stimulate imagination, and even cultivate interest in social issues. More parents, educators, and civic leaders should embrace it as a form of literature. In return, more young people can experience the benefits of reading the medium. 

Here's hoping that more school and home libraries fill their shelves with these Japanese creations. Local bookstores and online manga shops should have plenty of titles for readers to check out.