There are many study manga that make learning history, biographies, sports and jobs fun. (Oda Nobunaga) © Gakken Plus Co.,Ltd.
Which do you like better studying or reading manga (Japanese comics)?
Wouldn't you be really happy if you could study with the manga you love? In Japan there are many people who study through manga for everything from history to biographies, and kids think they are a fun way to study.
Manga Make History Interesting
Manga textbooks are a big help for kids, and ones that are expressive and make history or science easy to understand are popular. In addition, there are some about Japanese history that have been popular for more than 30 years, and are read from generation to generation. There are parents that read the same manga as their kids.
Powerful description causes surprising captivation.
From the left, Study Manga Ieyasu Tokugawa © Shogakukan Inc. and Ryoma Sakamoto © POPLAR PUBLISHING CO., LTD.
Ryoma Sakamoto, Nobunaga Oda, and Ieyasu Tokugawa are popular characters in Japanese history. Historical battles and castles built in that era are an important part of the story, and some kids get caught up in the story and read a manga from cover to cover non-stop.
Manga written about the lives of famous people make it easy to understand how they thought and what they did.
From the left Ryoma Sakamoto © POPLAR PUBLISHING CO.,LTD., Study Manga Biographies' Ieyasu Tokugawa © Shogakukan Inc., Mother Teresa © SHUEISHA Inc. and Study Manga Biographies' Edison © Shogakukan Inc.
Not only people from Japanese history are popular in manga. Characters from world history such as Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Hellen Keller and Florence Nightingale are popular too.
What do you think about and what can you learn from stories about famous men and women? You can get to know about lives full of effort and excitement from manga.
Powerful description causes surprising captivation. From the left, Shogakukan's study manga Japanese History for Boys and Girls © Shogakukan Inc., and World History © Gakken Plus Co.,Ltd.
There's a lot of stuff to remember when you study history such as the names of famous men and women, their era and what the world was like when they lived. If you don't like history and you find it difficult to learn, maybe you should study with manga. It's an easy way to get interested in history. And, maybe you'll read about Thomas Edison and start to dream of making the world a better place with your inventions.
Learning about Society with Manga
Manga textbooks don't just help you to learn history and science. There are also many manga that help you learn about the world in which you live.
Because manga introduce jobs as a story you can read about any job with interest.
From the left, Kagakuru BOOK, Science Manga Survival Series, Space Survival 1, Astronaut Training Edition Text: Hong Jae-Cheol, Illustration: Lee Tae-Ho © Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc., Future Jobs Introduction © Gakken Plus Co.,Ltd.
For example, how is the TV program you watch structured? How is the mail delivered? What kind of jobs at an airport keep planes flying? Things that everyone would like to know can be learned from manga. You can also learn about dream jobs like being a pro baseball player or a cabin attendant. Manga might also help you to discover what kind of work you want to do.
Because they use pictures to help you get good at sports and remember rules they are very easy to understand. Youth Soccer © SHUEISHA Inc.
Some kids who like sports and want to play them better read manga. While enjoying reading about soccer, baseball or basketball, you can get hints and learn new ways to train from manga. Try reading manga and reading them again. You will be happy if rereading makes you better at a sport.
Grownups Study with Manga too
Grownups study with manga too for job qualifications.
Understanding Power Generation and Transmission with Manga © Ohmsha, Ltd.
Some people think that studying from manga is only for kids, but grownups like it too. They feel that if they have to study it should be fun. There's many things that are very difficult for grownups to learn too, like qualifications for their job, and about taxes and money. When starting to study a subject, one good way to do it is to learn the important points from manga then read a textbook.
Maybe a manga, that's fun to read, easy to understand, and makes an interesting story, can help you to discover a new world.
(Notes)
Ryoma Sakamoto (1836 to 1867) contributed to the modernization of Japan at the end of the Edo Era (1603 to 1868).
Ieyasu Tokugawa (1543 to 1616) was the most famous military commander during Japan's Sengoku (Warring States) Era. He unified Japan and was the 1st Shogun of The Edo Shugunate that lasted for 260 years.
Nobunaga Oda (1534 to 1582) was a military commander that aimed to unify Japan. He was the first commander in Japan to use canon in battle and he created a new social structure.