There is one pastime that unites nearly all Japanese children, as well as many adults: reading manga. Manga, or Japanese comics, are pervasive in Japan. Together with their animated counterpart, anime, they have spread around the world to become industries worth billions of dollars. But while these days many people abroad are familiar with manga and anime, few may be aware of the heart of both these industries: manga magazines. Nearly all anime series, from ASTROBOY in the 1950s, to DRAGON BALL and PRETTY GUARDIAN SAILOR MOON in the 1990s, to more recent hits like ONE PIECE and NARUTO, originated as serialized manga in the pages of Japanese manga magazines.
Manga Magazines: A Staple of Childhood in Japan
