What is manga? When did it appear and how to read it?

Manga is a Japanese term used to refer to comics or graphic novels created in Japan or in a Japanese style. It is an art form that has a long history in Japan and is popular not only among children and teenagers but also among adult readers.

A feature of manga is reading from right to left (and top to bottom), which differs from traditional comics that are read from left to right. This method of reading originated in Japan and has become traditional for many Asian countries.

Manga, unlike American comics, has a variety of themes and genres. It covers everything from romance, fantasy, science fiction, action, drama, history, to horror, sports, adventure, and many others. There are also manga adaptations of popular literary works and manga based on anime (Japanese animated films or series). Manga has its own artists and authors, and some of them become extremely popular both in Japan and around the world. Manga is published in the form of individual books (tankobon), magazines, or websites. It is an integral part of Japanese pop culture, and its popularity spreads across the globe, attracting fans from various countries.

It can be said that manga appeared around the 19th century. The first known manga, recognized as the oldest, is "Hokusai Manga," created by the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (also known as Hokusai) and first published in 1814. This series contained a set of illustrations covering various themes: from paintings to scenes from everyday life, military scenes, and various characters. However, manga in the modern sense, as a long narrative story in comic form, developed in the 20th century. In the 1920s and 1930s, various forms of manga emerged, including those that became popular among readers.

Reading manga from right to left is rooted in Japanese writing and reading traditions. The reason why manga and other Japanese publications are read in this direction lies in certain historical and cultural aspects. The Japanese language was traditionally written vertically, top to bottom, and right to left. This writing style was used until the introduction of Western typography and printed materials. The first Japanese comics (which later became manga) were created following this traditional writing. Although Western influences on Japanese culture led to the printing of books and comics from left to right (Western style), many manga publications try to preserve the traditional reading style to emphasize their origins and uniqueness. I only recently started reading manga and it took me some time to adapt to this new reading style. First of all, the beginning of the book is its end. So the cover of the book is on the back. Currently, I am reading 'Made in Abyss' by Akihito Tsukushi and 'Cannibal' by Masaaki Ninomiya. I am reading this in Ukrainian from right to left.

I liked that the publishing house NashaIdea adds a small tutorial at the end (at the beginning in the traditional version) of the book that shows how to use / how to read manga.

And one more example:

Although the first impressions of reading manga from right to left may be somewhat unusual for readers, getting used to this style can happen quite quickly, especially if you read manga regularly. From my own experience, I can say that after reading from right to left, switching back to the usual reading format becomes a small challenge as well. It takes a few minutes to adapt again.