10 Things Nobody Told You About Manga

Here are some lesser-known, fascinating facts about manga that might surprise even the most avid fans:

1. Manga Has Its Own Awards System

• Fact: Manga creators are recognized with prestigious awards, such as the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize and the Kodansha Manga Award.
• Why It’s Unknown: Many readers focus on the manga itself without realizing the creators’ behind-the-scenes accolades.

2. Manga Magazines Can Be Massive

• Fact: Weekly manga magazines like Weekly Shonen Jump often weigh over a pound and contain hundreds of pages of serialized stories.
• Why It’s Surprising: These magazines are huge, but they’re usually discarded after reading, as they’re printed on low-quality paper.

3. Some Mangaka Use Pen Names

• Fact: Many manga creators use pseudonyms to protect their privacy, like Eiichiro Oda (One Piece) and CLAMP (a group of female artists).
• Why It’s Unknown: Fans rarely see mangaka in the public eye, as they often remain private and avoid excessive exposure.

4. Manga Can Be Political

• Fact: Manga has been used to comment on politics and society. Works like Barefoot Gen tackle war and its aftermath, while others satirize modern politics.
• Why It’s Overlooked: Many associate manga with entertainment, but it can serve as a powerful medium for activism and education.

5. There Are Manga for Almost Every Topic

• Fact: Beyond action and romance, there are niche manga genres covering cooking (Food Wars!), sports (Haikyuu!!), and even office life (Aggretsuko).
• Why It’s Surprising: Manga’s versatility makes it a medium that can explore any subject, but many only associate it with fantasy or adventure.

6. The Mangaka Lifestyle is Grueling

• Fact: Mangaka often work 15+ hours a day, meeting tight deadlines for weekly or monthly releases. Many suffer from burnout or health issues.
• Why It’s Hidden: The polished final product masks the intense effort and sacrifices required to produce manga.

7. Manga Panels Follow Cinematic Techniques

• Fact: Manga creators often use techniques like zoom-ins, tracking shots, and dynamic angles inspired by film.
• Why It’s Unknown: Readers may not realize how much thought goes into each panel to create a cinematic experience.

8. Japan Has Manga Cafés

• Fact: Manga cafés (manga kissa) are popular spots where people can relax, read manga, and enjoy food or drinks. Some even offer private booths and overnight stays.
• Why It’s Unique: It highlights how deeply manga is ingrained in Japanese culture.

9. Some Manga Series Are Never “Finished”

• Fact: Iconic series like Hunter x Hunter and Berserk have faced long hiatuses due to creator health or other reasons, leaving them incomplete for years.
• Why It’s Frustrating: Fans often wait decades for new chapters, a stark contrast to Western media’s faster production cycles.

10. Manga Can Be a Family Affair

• Fact: Some manga creators have family members who are also mangaka, such as Tetsuo Hara (Fist of the North Star) and his cousin Buronson (co-creator of the same series).
• Why It’s Overlooked: Collaboration among family members is less publicized, even though it happens more often than you’d expect.

Conclusion

Manga is a deeply layered art form, with its history, production, and cultural impact offering endless surprises. From the intense lives of mangaka to manga’s diverse range of topics, there’s always more to learn and appreciate about this unique medium.

Which of these surprises stood out to you, or is there something else about manga you’d like to uncover?