How popular is anime and manga in Japan?
Compared to the phenomenom in U.S.? Someone told me Disney was quite popular amoung High School students in Japan....what about the popularity of American shows over there?
Japan - 9 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
not as popular as u.s
2 :
Anime and Manga is very popular in Japan (escpecially since that is where it originated) I would say it is more popular than in the states (USA) Walk in any book store and your surrounded by TONS of Manga(happiness, now all I need to do is learn to read in Japanese :D) Anime is also very popular and their are tons of tv channels that show it. DOn;t get Japanese manga confused with AMerican manga though. Most of the manga read in the States where originally in japanese but some where made in the US.
3 :
It's popular with kids. It's not seen as healthy or good to stick to it when you get older as much as American kids seem to do.
4 :
Manga and anime are Super Dee Duperly-Ultra-Mega-Hyper-Turbo popular. US shows not so much.
5 :
Manga is everywhere! You have your comic books, which have recently been supplemented by manga - Japan has manga, which doesn't NEED to be supplemented by comic books from Western countries because it's varied enough already! There is manga for little kids learning to read - there is manga for elementary school kids, junior high kids, and there are various levels of semi-erotic or pornographic manga for the 'older' readers. In the same way that semi-literate or lazy people in Western countries read comic books - the excuse being that they're quicker and easier to read - semi-literate or lazy people in Japan read manga. The only difference is that some manga is actually DESIGNED for these people - they don't have to read kids comics! Even well-educated people will occasionally read manga, because they're interested in the story! As for anime, it's more difficult to assess. There are lots of anime shows on TV, and lots of DVDs and videos in tsutaya and the libraries, but it's impossible to judge how many people actually watch them - unlike manga, which people even read on buses and trains..! But many anime are based on manga, and are probably watched eagerly by the relevant manga readers. Disney IS popular here - kawaii is ALWAYS popular among females of various ages, and many Disney characters qualify as 'kawaii' with a capital K! Clothing, bags, luggage, cell-phone accessories, ear-muffs, all with Disney characters on ... and that's just the LADIES selection..!!! Tokyo Disney is probably more busy than the America Disneys ... even though most of the visitors are Japanese! (You have more Disney theme parks, and a large proportion of the visitors are tourists from other countries!) Various American shows are available, plus there are DVDs of them available ... but most viewers only watch them with Japanese dubbing. But as with anime, just because Western / American shows are available doesn't mean people WATCH them! They are often poorly advertised anyway, and I think perhaps us gaijin are the only ones REALLY interested...! E.R was on last night ... I think it's been on at least once a week for the last 90 years at least! (If I'M sick of it, how do you suppose the Japanese feel?)
6 :
Both are highly popular and continue to be so into adulthood. A number of adult students talk about anime movies they have been too recently - and not with kids! While some manga and anime is more kid and teen-orientated, there are others that deal with more real life type issues or historical. One very popular manga of the past was (in english) "Lone Wolf and Cub" which detailed the adventures of a former executioner for the Shogun and his son. This was hardly child's fare. The story delved deep into Edo society and culture particularly into the concept of Bushido. It was made into 6 live action movies in the early 70s. As for American shows - Friends is very popular. anime-wise: simpsons and disney. Winnie the Pooh beats Mickey Mouse for popularity here. Snoopy is also quite popular as their is a snoopy store in Harajuku.
7 :
Anime and Manga are very popular. American shows are popular too but they translated it into Japanese because some Japanese doesn't understand English...
8 :
I watch Naruto fansubs in the U.S. In Japan, you can easily find Naruto notebooks, pencils, and keychains in stationary stores. When I ask other Japanese girls if they know Naruto, they say, "I love Naruto/Sasuke/Kakashi!" Further investigation reveals that they have never seen the series or read the manga- everything they know about Naruto comes from the school supplies they buy.
9 :
Manga is hugely popular in Japan, even if sales have been slipping. There is no bias agaisnt adults reading manga in Japan. One of the biggest demographics is bussinessman who communte by train. However, bookstores that sell used manga and 'manga cafes' have causes sales to decline over the past few years. Anime is more of a kids and teens genre, though soe of it is aimed at adults.
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