Manga is Establishing Itself as a Major form of Entertainment

Close up Japan | 一大エンターテイメントの地位を確立しつつあるまんが

Manga is Establishing Itself as a Major form of Entertainment

“Kingdom,” a manga series, recently exceeded 100 million copies sold. It marked the first time in the history of Shueisha, one of Japan’s three major publishers, that a youth comic magazine achieved this milestone. Japanese manga and anime exhibit diverse worldviews, encompassing everything from fantasy and science fiction to realistic portrayals of everyday life. Because of the diversity of characters, it is easy for readers and viewers to empathize with someone and project their feelings onto them. Another reason for their popularity may be the prevalence of works that cater to adult needs, addressing themes such as history and social issues. One of the reasons behind this phenomenon might be the diverse expansion of content that originated from manga , extending into various forms such as anime , games, movies, and stage performances. Manga , which originated as a two-dimensional form, has evolved into live-action adaptations, three-dimensional stage productions, as well as films. Furthermore, it is currently expanding into the metaverse (virtual space). With its associated development methods, it will increasingly solidify its position as a major form of entertainment that can be enjoyed globally. (From December issue, 2023 / 2023年12月号より)

せんじつ
sennjitsu,
recently
「キングダム」という
“kinngudamu” to iu
Kingdom
まんがさくひん
mannga sakuhinn ga
a manga series
おく
ichioku bu wo
a hundred million copies
とっしました。
toppa shi mashita
sold exceeded
これは、
kore ha,
it
ほんさんだいしゅっぱんしゃ
nihonn no sanndai shuppannsha
Japan’s three major publishers
ひとつである
no hitotsu de aru
one of
しゅうえいしゃ
shuueisha no
Shueisha
せいねんまんが
seinenn mannga shi
that a youth comic magazine
じょう
shi jou
in the history of
はつ
hatsu no
the first time
かいきょ
kaikyo
achieved this milestone
です。
desu.
marked
ほん
nihonn no
Japanese
まんが
mannga
manga
ya
and
アニメは、
anime ha,
anime
ファンタジー
fantaji-
fantasy
ya
and
SF
SF
science fiction
から
kara
from
リアルな
riaruna
to realistic of
にちじょう
nichijou wo
portrayals of everyday life
えがいたものまで、
egaita mono made,
encompassing everything
かいかん
sekaikann ga
worldviews
さい
tasai
diverse
です。
desu.
exhibit
キャラクターも
kyarakuta- mo
characters
よう
tayou
the diversity of
のため、
no tame,
because of
どくしゃ
dokusha
readers
ya
and
ちょうしゃ
shichousha ha
viewers
だれかしらに
dare kashira ni
with someone
きょうかんし、
kyoukann shi,
to empathize and
かんじょうとうえい
kannjou wo touei
project their feelings onto them
しやすいのです。
shi yasui no desu.
it is easy for
れき
rekishi
history
ya
and
しゃかいもんだい
shakai’monndai
social issues
などを
nado wo
such as
テーマにした
te-ma ni shita
addressing themes
大人おとな
otona no
adult
ニーズ
ni-zu
to needs
こたえる
ni kotaeru
that cater
さくひん
sakuhinn ga
works
おおいのも、
ooi no mo,
the prevalence of
にんゆう
ninnki no riyuu
(another reason for) their popularity
でしょう。
deshou.
may be
こうしたブームの
koushita bu-mu no
this phenomenon
はいけいには、
haikei niha,
one of the reasons behind
まんが
mannga
manga
から
kara
from
スタートした
suta-to shita
that originated
コンテンツが、
konntenntsu ga,
content
アニメ、
anime,
anime
ゲーム、
ge-mu,
games
えい
eiga,
movies
たい
butai
and stage performances
とさまざまに
to samazama ni
various forms such as
てんかいされていることも
tennkai sarete iru koto mo
the diverse expansion of extending into
ありそうです。
ari sou desu.
might be
2げん
nijigenn
as a two-dimensional form
からはじまった
kara hajimatta
which originated
まんがは、
mannga ha,
manga
じっしゃされて
jisshaka sarete
live-action adaptations
3げんたい
sannjigenn no butai
three-dimensional stage productions
ya
as well as
えい
eiga
films
などになりました。
nado ni nari mashita.
has evolved into
さらには
sara niha
furthermore
メタバース
metaba-su
the metaverse
そうくうかん
(kasou kuukann)
virtual space
へと
he to
into
しんしています。
shinnka shite i masu
is currently expanding
てんかいかた
tennkai no shikata ga
development methods
ひろがっていくことで、
hirogatte iku koto de,
with its associated
こんますます
konngo masumasu
increasingly
ぜんかい
zennsekai de
globally
たのしめる
tanoshimeru
that can be enjoyed
いちだいエンターテイメント
ichidai enta-teimento
a major form of entertainment
としての
to shite no
as
かくりつしていくことでしょう。
chii wo kakuritsu shite iku koto deshou
it will solidify its position

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