Japanese with anime voice: episode98
Hello, I’m Sachi.
Today, July 17, is my favorite, and everyone else’s, Manga Day! The day is commemorated in honor of the publication of the British satirical comic weekly Punch on this day in the 12th year of Tempo. It is said that Japanese manga was inspired by this British weekly magazine and developed into the style we see today. So, this Manga Day is also named after the first published weekly.
But when I looked into it, I found that the origin of manga can actually be traced back to the Heian period (794-1192). There is a very old picture scroll called 鳥獣人物戯画 (Chojujinbutsugiga) (caricatures of birds, animals, and humans) that was drawn between the Heian and Kamakura periods, in which anthropomorphic animals are depicted, such as a frog and a rabbit having a sumo match, or a monkey chanting Buddhist prayers as if he were a monk. Moreover, the monkeys’ mouths are decorated with lines that indicate that they are talking. This is probably the origin of what we now call speech balloons. This is already used in picture scrolls from 800 years ago.
Some say that these picture scrolls are the origin of manga, and I, for one, am certain that this is true. I can’t help but think that this is the unmistakable origin of manga. The anthropomorphism of the animals and the use of lines to create a sense of realism in the animals’ speech are definitely connected to today’s manga techniques. It is amazing that this has existed for 800 years! Incidentally, this picture scroll is a national treasure, but the artist who drew it is not known for sure. I wonder who it was. I think it must have been someone of a certain rank who was given a brush and paper and was able to draw pictures in this era.
In the Edo period, the famous ukiyoe artist Katsushika Hokusai appeared. He published a manga called Hokusai Manga, which comically depicted an expert fisherman’s failed attempts at fishing, as well as a popular theory on how to catch a kappa. The title of the collection of sketches suggests that it is a manga.
Hokusai Manga was published in Bunka 11, nearly 20 years before the publication of the British satirical comic strip. Even if it was published in Tempo 12, it was introduced to Japan at least sometime after that. The fact that 鳥獣人物戯画 (Chojujinbutsugiga) was drawn 800 years ago indicates that it was originally inspired by such ideas. I think so.
Then, in an era closer to the present day, came Osamu Tezuka, who is no stranger to the world of manga. He is the god of manga. Tezuka is the one who established the modern manga method, and he is the one who started the development of animation. What is great about Mr. Tezuka is not only that he established the techniques I mentioned earlier or created the impetus, but also that he has created such greatness that even in the postwar era when everything was restricted, he has been passed down to the present day and is admired by all, and is even called a god. It is amazing that he found what he could do in the midst of restrictions on various things and turned adversity into opportunity. Many famous people in Japan have come from this kind of environment to become famous. Many of them grew up in poor households, or were sickly, or were brought up in rather harsh environments. I think that is why they had the strength to realize what they thought.
When I think about it, I reflect on how much I complain about my life. When I was working, I used to think that if I could devote all my time to languages, I would have improved my language skills. There were things I could have done even in that situation. Successful people are different in this way. It’s a difference in the way they think and perceive things.
When one goes back in history and looks at the origins of manga, one can see that prominent figures in the field of manga have appeared from time to time, era to era. I wonder if it is possible that all of them were the same person.
The person who created 鳥獣人物戯画 (Chojujinbutsugiga) was reborn and became Hokusai, who was able to engrave his name on the world, and was reborn again and became Tezuka Osamu, who left a new technology called animation to the world. It seems to fit when I think of it that way. What do you think? Is it just me? So, today, I was really going to introduce my favorite manga, but when I thought about the origin of manga, I ended up talking about it in a passionate way. I’ll introduce the manga next time. Do you have a favorite manga? I wonder what manga are popular overseas? I often hear about Dragon Ball and Saint Seiya in anime. What about manga? If you have a favorite manga, please leave it in the comments.
