To the Western world, Japan, its’ people and culture included, is an intimidating mystery. Yet, the intimidation that Westerners associate with the Japanese comes not from Japan’s foreignness (relative to Westerners), but rather from the image of Japan and its’ people that Westerners have grown up with. Focused solely on their work and success, the Japanese people turn their backs on their personal pleasures and emotions; the romantic and passionate does not apply to the Japanese. That is the picture that Westerners have created of Japan and her people. That is the stereotype that Westerners have crowned the Japanese with. But that stereotype does not do justice to the Japanese soul. Westerners are oblivious to the existence of the Japanese soul, a soul that beats with passion and yearns “for something profound and beautiful” (Izawa 1), but sometimes, the Japanese themselves, under all of the work and pressure of having to succeed, forget their own soul and ignore its’ passionate beating. Yet, in these past few years, the Japanese have rediscovered their souls and Westerners have taken notice. Westerners themselves have begun to explore the depths of the Japanese soul and passion through the use of Japanese manga. Manga offers a window to the Japanese society, and in extent, the soul; it shows readers, a major proportion of which come from the Western world, the true Japan that lies behind the cold calculating stereotype that has come to be accepted. Manga has changed how the Japanese people and culture is viewed; it has broken the Japanese stereotype. But at the same time, it continues to uphold and maintain the Japanese culture and traditions upon which those stereotypes are built. And this is the foundation of the paradox of manga: manga, at its’ core, is about the true Japanese soul. By revealing this soul, manga drives Japan and its’ image further away from that of the stereotype; yet, in order to do so, it makes use of the Japanese culture and tradition upon which the stereotypes are formed.
Although manga has become extremely popular and well-known recently in the Western world, in Japan, it has existed, in one form or another, since ancient times. Modern manga, the form that is so popular today, is actually a combination of a Japanese traditional art and Western physical form merged at the turn of the nineteenth century. The physical form, which came from the United States, refers to the panels and word balloons used to reveal the story. “Japanese people have had a long love affair with art that is fantastic, humorous, erotic, and sometimes violent” (Schodt 22). This can be seen through the “Animal Scrolls”, also known as Chojugiga. “Animal Scrolls” is a twelfth century satire written by Toba, a Buddhist priest, which became extremely popular in twelfth century Japan as it made fun of the nobility and clergy. Toba-e, “Toba Pictures”, and kibyoshi, “yellow-jacket books”, were two other types of picture books from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, respectively, that majorly influenced modern manga magazines and books. These books were mass produced through the use of wood block printing and were distributed and loved by townspeople in cities like Edo. Many consider these picture books to be the world’s first comic books. The very existence of these books since ancient times alone breaks the stereotype of the Japanese lacking an emotional and passionate nature. In order to create such art, Japan would have to be passionate and romantic. Today, popular manga has become the most effective and primary method for citizens, politicians and government leaders to reach and influence a large audience in Japan. For this reason, former Japanese prime minister Kiichi Miyazawa began writing and publishing a comment column in the 1995 Big Comic Spirits manga magazine, knowing that about 1.4 million young men read magazines each week in 1995. Cartoon sales account for about forty percent of all sales in Japan. That means that the 2.3 billion comic books and magazines produced in Japan that year sold around 1.9 billion copies, which is "more than fifteen for every man, woman and child in Japan" (Schodt 19) in Japan. The manga is read by people of all ages and classes. Manga therefore references the lives of Japanese people at all levels, including the highest level of intelligence. Like comics that have been influenced by the past and spirit of Japan, the art and literature currently in Japan are influenced by manga. Manga plays an important role in modern Japan. In fact, "we cannot understand Japan today without understanding the role that manga plays in society" (Schodt 21) and one of the key elements of Japan today is the hidden Japanese spirit and Sometimes being forgotten. When Westerners think of Japan, the image of the bureaucratic system and government oppression increases. This government control is more important to efficiency than anything else. Japanese people are cold and calculated by focusing on success, among other things. In order to achieve everything they need, they must abandon their emotions and contentment and concentrate only on their work. Students expect to spend most of their time studying hard, gaining the knowledge, tools, and connections they need to succeed in life. And during the time when they are not in school, they expect to study more at home People are oppressed by both the government and the responsibility and the oppression that is hidden behind the politeness and formalities. "Outstanding with an infinite bow" (Isawa 1) causes the creative imagination and individuality of Japan. There may be. Westerners have created the wrong impression of Japan and the people. Its an unfair impression on the true nature of Japan. Japan's passionate and romantic nature has existed before the production of the manga or even its predecessors. In fact, some might argue that Japan is the first lover, especially in terms of literature. Finally, The Tale of Genji, considered the world's first novel published in 1021 by Lady Murasaki, is full of emotions and images. poet Therefore, romanticism is not the concept of Westerners who are Japanese. In fact, romance and epic exist in Japan, and more importantly it is part of the spirit of Japan. The manga is a clear example of this. Manga in nature relies on visual images to tell stories and to convey messages. These visible images alone represent the romance of Japan. Many times it is a single image, one panel that holds the most emotions and can collect responses from readers. In Baraza, Raman is the only picture of Sarasa crying for her murdered friends. Friends fall in love with her negligence. The cherry blossoms floating around her while she was crying only acted to expand the sense of the media. Although the main methods of conveying emotions which can be seen in Japanese romantic genres are not made alone in the manga: its effects are coupled with plot and character genres. The plot line, though, isn't always romantic in terms of dating and the like. They remind readers that it is perfectly acceptable to dream and desire something different than expected. The Galaxy Express 999 cartoon (and the subsequent anime) tells the story of Tetsuro and the science fiction adventures. The Galaxy Express 999 is a simple train in style; However, it can travel through space and bring Tetsuro to different planets and regions, where he meets different people. Throughout the story in almost every place he visited, Tetsuro struggled to survive, confront his enemies and keep dreaming. Although the plot is important in the manga But the plot also has characters Is a character and emotion that attracts readers, especially those who struggle to get along with and / or protect valuable people It is the character's emotions that convey the meaning of the manga's actions by combining "aspects of art, prose, characteristics and techniques of storytelling of all types of literature" (Isawa 1). Nature in which all the souls of Japan are hidden. The manga through its romantic nature conveys many messages and themes. However, one remains: life is full of many battles, both large and small, and these battles must be overcome in order for people to achieve their dreams. Interesting enough to begin to face this fight, people (characters) must be willing to dream at first. So what does this say about the Japanese spirit? It is full of desire to dream, hope and fight for an epic to fight the obstacles of life. The manga shows this to foreign readers who have thoughts of Japanese spirits. But reminded Japanese readers that they are still there and begged them to listen. The Japanese soul transmitted through the manga serves to prove the Japanese pattern that tends to overwhelm the minds of many. These patterns are based on foreign interpretations of Japanese traditions and customs. But in order to break these stereotypes, the manga does not step away from these Japanese traditions. But instead of gathering them and showing them correctly to clear the misunderstandings that foreigners have Manga, though not a direct representative of Japanese culture But it is based on centuries-old traditions that appear in art form and, more importantly, the story Sailor Moon is a prime example of this. The name itself is based on the traditional school uniform that Japanese girls porn wear "-a anecdote Japanese culture" (Navok 7). The manga is divided into two classes: the first is the characters fighting against evil and Save their world; The second is not a full action and focuses on the lives of women. It is the second story that foreign readers feel the culture and traditions of Japan, both past and present. The sailor girl looks very similar, and if not for the hair and the color involved, it's hard to tell separately. This is reminiscent of a geisha who drew a face as a mask in order to "become the essence of femininity and women's art rather than being a center of a woman" (rainy season 192). Their daily life best represents this. Ami, also known as Sailor Mercury, is one of the smartest characters in the manga. Although she did very well in school But she still attended after-school tutoring school, which is a new concept for westerners Through the characters of Ami, readers will get an idea of what the educational structure in Japan is like. Likewise, other characters and their backgrounds are used to convey different aspects of life, culture, traditions, and even religion. Rei (Sailor Mars), the girl in the shrine, shows spiritual life. In Japan, Makato (Sailor Jupiter) is a tomboy and stands out from the norm. It is her that readers will get a feeling of "the concept of social homogeneity of Japan" (Novak 12). Japanese manga disguises the cold western stereotypes of Japanese people. Sole Is a window where foreigners can see the true Japanese and learn the existence of the Japanese spirit. Sometimes the spirit of Japan is forgotten in the land. But the manga with Japanese plot art and characters reminds the Japanese that they really exist Some people say that manga is a form of escape for Japanese and foreign readers. That may be true for foreign readers. They read and learn about foreign lands so they can escape their lives and live in the land. But that does not apply to Japanese readers For these readers, the manga does not escape. It is a reminder of the souls who have lost their desire to dream of a beautiful world in their hands.
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