The Birth of the Very First Manga: A Journey Through Japanese History

The Birth of the Very First Manga: A Journey Through Japanese History

Manga is now a staple of global popular culture, with millions of readers around the world. But before becoming an international phenomenon, manga has its roots in an artistic and cultural history deeply rooted in Japan. To understand the creation of the very first manga, it is essential to go back in time, to the era when Japanese narrative art began to emerge.

Ancient Narrative Art: The Roots of Manga

The word "manga" is composed of two Japanese characters: "man" (漫) which means "free" or "unconstrained" and "ga" (画) which means "image". Although the term "manga" as we know it today dates back to the 19th century, Japanese narrative art has much older origins.

Manga's roots can be traced back to the 12th century, with emakimono , narrative illustrated scrolls that combined images and text to tell stories. A famous example is the Chōjū-giga (or Cartoon Animal Scrolls ), often considered an early precursor to modern manga. This scroll, made by a monk named Toba Sōjō, features anthropomorphized animals in humorous and satirical situations, strongly reminiscent of the free-spirited and eccentric spirit of today's manga.

However, it was not until the 19th century that the term "manga" officially appeared.

Hokusai and the Invention of the Word “Manga”

One of the most influential Japanese artists, Katsushika Hokusai, is often credited with popularizing the term "manga." Hokusai is best known for his famous woodblock print The Great Wave off Kanagawa , but he also published a series of drawings called Hokusai Manga in 1814.

Hokusai Manga is a series of collections of illustrations, depicting various aspects of daily life, animals, landscapes, and eccentric characters. Although these works were not comics in the modern sense, they possessed a fluid and free style that already reflected the essence of manga: a narrative visual art, spontaneous and open to interpretation.

The Meiji Era: Western Influence and the Evolution of Manga

The Meiji era (1868–1912) marked a period of rapid transformation in Japan, with an opening to Western influences. The introduction of the Western press and illustrated newspapers had a significant impact on Japanese narrative art. Japanese artists, influenced by Western cartoons and caricatures, began to experiment with new visual styles.

One of the pioneers of this era was Rakuten Kitazawa, often considered the first modern manga artist. Kitazawa introduced Western-inspired drawing techniques into his caricatures and humorous comics. He also helped popularize the comic book format by using panels to separate images and guide the narrative, a key feature of modern manga.

Tezuka Osamu: The Father of Modern Manga

Although the beginnings of manga can be seen as early as Hokusai's time and through the Meiji era, it was in the 20th century that manga truly took on its modern form. The man often referred to as the "father of modern manga" is Tezuka Osamu . Inspired by Western animation and comics, particularly those of Disney, Tezuka revolutionized manga by introducing a cinematic style to his works.

Tezuka published Shintakarajima (New Treasure Island) in 1947, which is considered one of the first modern manga. This children's adventure story, with its expressive characters and fluid action sequences, captivated readers and redefined the genre. However, it was with Astro Boy (or Tetsuwan Atom in Japanese), first published in 1952, that Tezuka truly made history. With its unique style and universal themes, Astro Boy not only shaped manga, but also laid the foundation for the rise of anime in Japan.

The International Expansion of Manga

Manga quickly evolved into a mainstream medium in Japan, spanning a variety of genres and audiences, from children to adults. With the expansion of media in the 1980s and 1990s, manga began to be exported internationally, particularly to the United States and Europe.

Today, works like One Piece , Naruto , and My Hero Academia are not only popular in Japan, but around the world, making manga a globally recognized art form.

A Timeless Heritage

Although manga's origins are ancient, its modern development is deeply rooted in the pioneering works of the 19th and 20th centuries. From Hokusai to Tezuka, Japanese artists have blended local traditions with foreign influences to create a unique visual art that is now appreciated around the world. Manga continues to evolve and inspire new generations, perpetuating an artistic legacy that is constantly renewed.

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.