How to Read Manga

Meet the Japanese version of comic books: manga!

Manga has truly become a buzzword, and unsurprisingly so: ever since the 50s, this style of book has been garnering interest across the globe, hitting reading new reading records with each new year! You may have heard of Dragon Ball, One Piece or Naruto. Well, they are all mangas! 

Just like graphic novels and comic books, manga are fully illustrated, available for all ages and across an array of genres, plus they are a perfect option for visual or reluctant readers. They are often serialised too, so you can follow all your favourite characters and their stories over the course of multiple issues. 

Looking to get started reading your very first manga? There are some things to keep in mind before you dive in, so let's begin with the basics.

Kodomo are for the youngest of children to enjoy. They are the equivalent of an early chapter book reading level.

Shōnen are usually aimed at young boys under the age of 18. They feature male main characters and stories of adventure, action and fantasy.

Shōjo are usually aimed at young girls under the age of 18. They feature female main characters and stories of magic, romance and friendship. 

Josei are aimed at women over 18 years old, and the female protagonists are usually at university or advanced in their careers. And finally, seinen are for men aged 18+ and also feature slightly more mature stories than their younger counterparts. 

There are multiple sub-genres within these categories, for example mecha (robot-themed manga).

Once you've figured out what genre you'll probably like best, the next, and possibly biggest, thing to take note of is that you will be learning to read the Japanese way! 

Manga read a differently to a Western comic book or graphic novel. Your reading experience will start on the right page, instead of the left, and you will be reading right to left, rather than left to right. Oh, and you start from the very back of the book, working your way to the front.

Lets take a look at the illustrated panels first...

See? It's easy! Now, let's take a look at how you read speech bubbles. Like traditional comic books, you get particular outlines for speech bubbles and thought bubbles. Some thought bubbles are even designed as round bubbles with outward lines.

Notice how expressive the characters are. The more manga you read, the more you will become used to interpreting what their expressions can mean: a character might be blushing if they have lines on their cheeks or embarrassed if a drop of sweat is on their forehead. But you'll pick up on these signals as you read more.

We promise that, although this might seem like a steep learning curve, you'll quickly get used to reading left to right, and after ten pages or so you'll be racing through your manga just as any other comic book you love!

Usually, manga are serialised and will need to be read in their order or publication. A new manga 'chapter' is released periodically (weekly, monthly or longer periods). For long series, chapters are collected into volumes called tankōbon, which include a number chapters of the series. You might want to check just how many books are in each series before you invest in reading.

So start from the very first issue, so you can follow you new favourite characters' journeys from the very beginning and you don't miss a beat!

Manga are now easy to find and available in most bookshops. If you can't find any in your local bookshop, you can definitely ask the sales associate to make an order for you. You will also be able to find manga on online book retailers.

Just like popular books get made into TV shows and movies, many manga, like One Piece and Sailor Moon, have been adapted into animated cartoon films, which are called anime. You'll find hundreds of anime films and series on Netflix, Crunchyroll and other online streaming platforms. 

If you are under 18 or with a minor, we always recommend checking the recommended age range for the manga you're reading or anime you're watching.

Now you've officially read everything there is to know before getting started with manga! 

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