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Charles Wirgman Publishes Japan Punch
This magazine was written in English and intended for Westerners, inspired by the British Punch, and featured satirical cartoons or Ponchi-e (punch pictures). It was also one of the first serialized magazines in Japan. ------ Photo: Detail from Firyi kawazu daigassen (An elegant picture of a great frog battle), 1864. Kawanabe Kyosai. -
Meiji Restoration
Restored the Emperor as the ruler of Japan. Brought with it a massive wave of Westernization, including the import of the idea of caricature. ------ Photo: Japan Punch, 1865. Charles Wirgman -
Period: to
Meiji Period
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Nomura Fumio Published Marumaru Chinbun
A ponchi-e magazine, its editors embraced a new era of Westernization, modernism, public speech, and government critique. Its name, Marumaru, was a reference to government-applied censorship marks, and the magazine featured self-applied censorship for extra effect. ------ Photo: Piece from Marumaru chinbun, September 1880. -
Kobayashi Kiyochika Begins Working for Marumaru Chinbun
Thirty Two Faces is one example of his work for Marumaru Chinbun as well as Bride in a Rustic Hut, designed to critique the secret drafting of the constitution. ------ Photo: Thirty-two Faces, 1882. Kobayashi Kiyochika. -
“Manga” as Caricature
Manga appeared as a translation for the Western concept of caricature. New democratic civilized form of social critique not allowed in previous eras. Jokingly or mockingly emphasizes portrayed features of a subject, altering and simplifying for intentional emphasis and amplification. ------ Photo: From Marumaru chinbun, 7 January 1878. Honda Kinkichiro. -
Constitution of the Empire of Japan (the Meiji Constitution) Enacted
From the early Meiji period to 1888 when it was submitted to the Emperor, the Constitution was in its secretive drafting phase, with no open debate visible to the public. ------ Photo: From Marumaru chinbun, 3 April 1880. Honda Kinkichiro. -
The First Sino-Japanese War
This war against China was fought mainly over annexation of Korea. War Propaganda War propaganda appeared in political cartoons and comics, such as Kobayashi Kiyochika’s wartime prints. ------ Photo: First Sino-Japanese War print, 1894. Kobayashi Kiyochika. -
Shôjo Appearance
Monthly Shôjo magazines begin to appear. ------ Photo: Cover of Shojo Sekai. 1906 -
Imaizumi Ippyo Expanded the Meaning of “Manga” Beyond Caricature
Imaizumi Ippyo was the first comics artist to label his work as manga, marking a change in the meaning of manga from strictly caricature to a broader definition. He created much satirical work for Jiji Shinpo magazine. ------ Photo: Piece from Jiji Shinpo Magazine, Late Meiji Era. Author Uknown. -
Kitazawa Rakuten Took Charge of Daily News Magazine’s (Jiji Shinpo) Sunday Special Manga Section (Jiji Manga)
Kitazawa Rakuten got control of the Sunday funnies editions of Daily Magazine, filled with political cartoons and other genres of comics. He became the first “professional manga artist”. He was instrumental in the training of the next generation of manga artists. ------ Photo: Tagosaku to Mokube no Tokyo-Kenbutsu. 1902. Kitazawa Rakuten. -
Russo-Japanese War
Waged once again over the Korean peninsula, the war took a large financial and cultural toll on Japan. ------ Photo: Russo-Japanese War print, 1904. Kobayashi Kiyochika. -
Kitazawa Rakuten Published Tokyo Puck
The magazine contained full color cartoons and comics and was trilingual (English, Japanese, and Chinese), though its target audience was higher-class Japanese citizenry. Omnibus appeared in Tokyo Puck. ------ Photo: Tokyo Puck Cover, June 1906. -
Popularity of Monthly Girls' Magazines
From 1910's - early 1920's, the popularity of jojô-‐ga
(lyrical picture/illustration) emerged. ------ Photo: Shojo No Tomo cover, 1913. -
Period: to
Taisho Period
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World War I
Beginning in 1914 and ending in 1918, some Japanese regard Japan's involvement in World War I as a success. For example, there was an economy boom in which Japanese industries responded to the demands of war machines, leading to an increase in labor jobs. ------ Photo: 1920's Military Art Japanese Menko Cards Reflecting WW1 (Japanese & Russian Soldiers). -
Great Kanto Earthquake
On September 1st 1923, the Great Kanto Earthquake struck. This event at the time was considered the worst natural disaster ever to strike Japan. ------ Photo: Chased by the Fire, Drowned in the Water, 1923. Nyosen Hamada. -
Possible First Instance of 4-Panel Comic
The 4-panel comic may have been introduced first in Aso Yutaka’s Laid Back Father, serialized in Hochi Newspaper, which also featured speech bubbles. ------ Laid Back Father, 1923. Yutaka Aso. -
Adventures of Sho-chan by Oda Shosei and Kabashima Katsuichi Serialized in Asahi Newspaper
One of the first children’s manga, it was incredibly popular. Its story was written by Oda Shosei, a high-class descendant of the Oda warrior family. The art was done by Kabashima Katsuichi. It was inspired by an England-based comic serialized in Daily Mirror called Pip Squeak. ------ Shochan no Bouken, 1923. Oda Shosei och and Kabashima Kaksuichi. -
Period: to
Showa Period
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Great Depression
From 1929-1933, Japan suffered through a Great Depression following the economic boom of World War I. ------ Photo: Taken during the Great Depression, 1930. -
Increase in Children Literacy Rates
An increase in literacy rates in the 1930's led to the creation of a new niche to be filled in children’s reading material, and children’s manga appeared. ----- Photo: Adventures of Sho-chan, 1923. Kabashima Katsuichi. -
Popularity of Paper Theatre
A form of miniature theatre, paper theatre was most popular from 1930's to the early 1950's. Within this time frame artists like Shirato Sanpei and Mizuki Shigeru had their paper theatre debuts. ------ Photo: Man performing Paper Theatre, 2014. -
Taro the Speed by Shishido Sako
This comic serialized in Yomiuri Sunday Manga Shishido Sako studied comics and their formats in the USA, bringing that knowledge into children’s comics in Japan. Though it was a children’s comic, it also enthralled adults with its intense action, high tension, drama, and sci-fi fantasy setting. The Sunday funnies became reading for all generations, with sections for children’s and adult’s comics. ------- Photo: Taro the Speed Book Covers, 1930. Shishido Sako. -
Emergence of Akahon (Redbook) Manga
Beginning in 1933 and ending around 1955, Akahon manga emerged and due to the paper quality, were cheaper compilations of manga. This was ideal for children who did not have much money to spend. ------ Photo: The Battle of Pest Island, 1950. Izumi Mikio. -
Pacific War
WWII in the pacific area, often referred to as the Pacific War, lasted from 1941-1945. Over 2.3 million people died in this war. ------ Photo: War in Japan, 1991. Mizuki Shigeru. -
Occupation Period
From 1945 to 1954 the U.S. occupied Japan to do widespread social, economic and political reforms. This led to anti-American sentiment in later years which can be seen throughout some manga series. ------ Photo: Astroboy (protecting Vietnamese Village from American bombers), 1967. Tezuka Osamu. -
Sazae-san by Hasegawa Machiko Serialized in a Fukuoka Newspape
A significant postwar manga, Sazae-san featured a cast of characters that encapsulates everyone’s experiences of WWII in one family. Traditional family structure, respect, and stability through the family are key themes, and the manga was designed to lift the nation’s spirits in the postwar period of poverty and disillusionment. Sazae herself is an icon of the modern woman, one foot in tradition, the hope of Japan’s future. ------ Photo: Sazae-san strip, 1946. Hasegawa Machiko -
Tezuka Changes Nature of Redbook Manga
Tezuka changes the focus of Redbook Manga from gags to stories with a focus on post war message. One example of this is Astroboy which revolutionized manga and is still a popular series to this date. ------ Photo: Astro Boy: Tetsuwan Atom 1. 2003. Tezuka Osamu. -
Akasaka Association of Boy's Mothers Campaign
The Akasaka Association of Boy's Mothers developed the 3 Don'ts campaign (Don't Buy, Don't Read, Don't Look) to discourage the public from purchasing manga, which they felt was becoming too violent. ------ Photo: Cover of Garo, 1964. Shirato Sanpei. -
Tatsumi Yoshihiro Production of Gekiga Through Rental Book Format
In the 1950's, as rental book manga becomes primary form of distribution of manga, artists like Shirato Sanpei produce more violent and dramatic pieces in contrast to Tezuka, later called "gekiga." ------ Photo: Black Blizzard, 1956. Tatsumi Yoshihiro. -
Publishing Boom of Shonen Manga
The year that Baby Boomers from the Pacific War turned 12, there was an emergence of a new genre called Shonen Manga, specifically geared toward this audience. The most popular magazines included Weekly Shōnen Magazine, Weekly Shōnen Sunday, and Weekly Shonen Jump. ------ Photo: First issue of Weekly Shōnen Jump, July 2, 1968. Shueisha. -
Shirato Sanpei Begins Garo Magazine
Shirato Sanpei begins Garo magazine, a monthly magazine featuring gekiga manga that also urged for the new generation of manga artists to stray away from traditional forms of manga. ------ Photo: Legend of Kamui from Garo, 1964. Shirato Sanpei. -
Popularity of Genius Bakabon by Akatsuka Fujio
This popular Shonen Manga introduced gag comedy, a new type of humor that consisted of exaggeration, extreme circumstances and parodies. ------ Photo: Cover of Genius Bakabon Issue, 1967. Akatsuka Fujio. -
Tezuka Osamu Begins COM Magazine
In response to Shirato Sanpei's magazine Garo, Tezuka Osamu begins COM to feature mangas that align with his interpretation of manga. These mangas exemplified how manga did not need to be violent in order for the subject matter to be serious and more adult-like. ------ Photo: Cover of Phoenix: Future, 1968. Tezuka Osamu. -
Publishing Boom of Young Adult Manga
In this year, Baby Boomers from the Pacific War were in their late teens to early 20s, and thus began the creation of manga for young adults. ----- Photo: Kitaro Night Tales, 1967. Mizuki Shigeru. -
Emergence of Boys Love Manga
From the 1970s to the mid 1980s, Boy Love manga was a popular a genre targeted toward girls and women that feature romantic relationships between boys. Groups like “ Year 24 Flower Group” assisted with the popularization of Boys Love manga. ------- Photo: The Heart of Thomas 1972, Haio Moto. -
Popularization of Ordinary Girls in Shojo Manga
In the late 1970's, there was a popularization of shojo manga in which the main character of the story represented an "ordinary" girl. A key quality of Shojo manga, this made these stories far more relatable to the viewer. ------ Photo: Marmalade Boy, 1992. Wataru Yoshizumi. -
Publication of Ladies and Women Manga
Ladies and Women Manga developed as a way to engage the readers from the Shojo era who had grown older. These mangas still maintained many shojo-like qualities. ----- Photo: Be Love, 1980. Kodansha. -
Japan Inc by Ishinomori Shotaro
Japan, In., a manga about Japanese economics, was a successful information manga that served as a prototype for future Joho mangas. ------ Photo: Japan, Inc. Shotaro Ishinomori -
Publishing Boom of Information Manga
In the late 1980's, Baby Boomers from the Pacific War were in their 30’s/40’s. This led to the production of Information Manga (Company History Manga or Jôjô manga) which gave information on topics such as history, economics and business. ------ Photo: Japan, Inc. Shotaro Ishinomori -
Period: to
Heisei Period
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Popularization of Boys Love Manga
In the late 1990's, the popularization of Boys Love Manga led to commercially published magazines containing original stories of love between boys/men mainly targeting female readers. ------- Photo: Be x Boy Magazine, 2010. -
New Topics in Ladies Manga
Ladies manga covers other serious topics pertaining to girls and women such as body image and eating disorders. ------ Photo: In Clothes Called Fat, 1997. Anno Moyoko. -
Popularization of Fantasy in Boys Manga
A key aspect of boys manga was its ability to create stories in which young male readers could envision themselves in. An example of this is in the manga, Love Hina, in which an ordinary and mediocre main character finds himself surrounded by beautiful girls, a fantasy-like situation. Featured in Weekly Shonen Magazine. ----- Photo: Love Hina, 1998. Ken Akamatsu. -
Estabilization of J-Comi
J-Comi is a Japanese website that distributes print manga as e-books. This website began in 2010 and has changed the way readers consume manga, ultimately making it more accessible. ------ Photo: J-Comi Website, 2011.
