Comic Books And Cartoons

In many countries, comics and cartoons are widely recognized, with some achieving global popularity and generating enormous sales of related merchandise. Today, Japanese comics and cartoons are renowned worldwide, attracting many visitors to Japan who are eager to purchase related products. Through these media, many people have developed an interest in Japanese culture. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Japanese comics and cartoons are a significant and valuable part of Japan's popular culture.

Comics in Japan are known as 漫画 (manga) and have a long history dating back to the 12th century. The earliest work widely regarded as a Japanese comic is the 鳥獣人物戯画 (chōjū-jinbutsu-giga). Created between the late Heian period (794–1185) and the early Kamakura period (1185–1333), it consists of four picture scrolls. Although it doesn’t resemble modern Japanese comics, some of the techniques used to depict the characters are considered similar to those found in contemporary comics. The chōjū-jinbutsu-giga is believed to have been created at the Buddhist temple called Toganoosan Kozanji Temple in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture. Interestingly, the drawing style varies throughout the work, suggesting that multiple individuals contributed to its creation. It’s generally believed that several Buddhist monks living at Toganoosan Kozanji Temple collaborated on the project.

Initially, Japanese comics consisted only of illustrations and contained no written text. Over time, however, words gradually began to accompany the artwork, much like in modern comics. In 1923, the comics ノンキナトウサン (nonkina-tōsan) and 正チャンの冒険 (shōchan-no-bōken) were serialized in newspapers. These works introduced features such as panel layouts and speech balloons, which were innovative storytelling techniques at the time. This development helped shape the style of comics that’s familiar today. During the Showa period (1926–1989), artists transitioned from using brushes to pens, which significantly changed the production of Japanese comics.

Cartoons in Japan are known as アニメーション (animēshon), often shortened to アニメ (anime). Meaning “animation", Japanese cartoons have a relatively short history compared with comics, first appearing in the early 20th century. Released in 1919, 芋川椋三玄関番の巻 (imokawa-mukuzō-genkanban-no-maki) is often cited as Japan's first animated film. Unfortunately, no surviving copy of the film is known to exist, making it unavailable for viewing today. Later, "Astro Boy”, based on the work of the famous cartoonist Osamu Tezuka, was adapted into an animated series. Its success helped pave the way for many other highly acclaimed Japanese animated productions. Some Japanese animated works are adaptations of comics, while others are created as original animated productions. In some cases, animated works are later adapted into comics.

One of the most distinctive features of Japanese comics and cartoons is the way characters are drawn, particularly their large, round eyes. There are several reasons why this style became so widespread. One of them is the influence of Osamu Tezuka. In works such as "Astro Boy”, Tezuka drew characters with large eyes, and many artists were inspired by his approach and adopted similar designs. However, Tezuka was not the first Japanese artist to draw characters with large eyes. Some artists had already been using this style before World War II, but it didn’t become widely established until Tezuka's works gained popularity. Another reason large eyes became common in Japanese comics and cartoons is believed to be the influence of Disney's 1942 film “Bambi". As many people know, Bambi and the other characters in the film are depicted with large eyes. It’s said that some Japanese artists adopted a similar style to make their own characters appear cuter and more appealing.

Japan is also well known for its "cute culture”, in which items considered cute are highly appreciated. For this reason, many artists draw characters with large eyes to make them appear more adorable. This preference is often cited as another reason for the popularity of the large-eye style, independent of any influence from “Bambi”. Another reason characters in Japanese comics and cartoons are often drawn with large eyes is that larger eyes make it easier to convey emotions and facial expressions. As a result, readers and viewers can more easily understand what a character is feeling.

Throughout the following articles, readers can learn more about Japanese comics and cartoons. Many of the cities, buildings, and landmarks featured in these works can be found in Japan, so these articles will also help others to discover exactly where these locations are. At MORIKOBOSHI, we hope that by reading these articles, readers will develop a deeper appreciation for and a greater interest in Japanese comics and cartoons.