Manga

Manga are comics from Japan. They often have big eyes, wild hair, and lots of action. Most manga is drawn in black and white. People of all ages in Japan read manga every day.

How to Read Manga

Manga is read from right to left. This is the opposite of English books. You start at the top right of the page and move left. It feels strange at first but soon it feels normal.

A Japanese paper theater telling a story with picture cards.
A Japanese paper theater telling a story with picture cards. (Wikimedia Commons)

Popular Manga

Some famous manga series are Dragon Ball, Naruto, and One Piece. Many manga stories are made into cartoons called anime. Manga stories can be about ninjas, space, sports, or daily life. Kids and grown-ups love them.

Fun Facts

  • The word manga means whimsical pictures in Japanese.
  • One Piece has sold more than 500 million copies around the world.
  • Osamu Tezuka is called the godfather of manga.

Did You Know?

Japan has special cafes where people can sit and read thousands of manga books for hours.