In japan magazines (manga) are not aimed just at kids like in more western countries. Adults are the main audience and in fact many manga comics aren't suitable for children as the feature violent and pornagraphic material.

3.6billion dollor industry mainly produced in black and white as its cheaper

If the cheap phonebook size copies get succesful then they are reprinted as paperback books asnd then occasionally become anime.

Manga : wimsical pictures

post war country, ultranationalist (bmp type thing), rebuilding politcally, literally, economically and socially after war = explosion of creativity
Osamu Tezuka was big then
boys and men became the main audience : topics = time travel space explosions

in 1969 female artist arrived and wrote shojo which = romantic emotionally intense narrative

Shonen = young boys up to 18, gross humour and action

bishojo girls = porn star style pretty girls

sento girls = heavily armed female warriors


relaxed sensorship = elicit sex scene
Gekiga = dark violent realistic manga that shows the grim realities of life

In the 80's and 90's comics like pokemon and dragon ball z made their debut.
Sales tripled in

however sales have now droped by half from 1995 for many reasons:
Online availability, sold out as it appeals to masses rather than being an art form, fanfic, not in the market in western culture as its seen as nerdy

Even though the popularity has dropped it is still a massive industry

if manga fails then things that grow from that will to and japan will loose a vital culture factor