toshokanflp | Toshokan 03 - Manga genres and faves.

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Manga Genres – Selected titles from Sara and Linda.

For genres for manga in Japan, there is several distinctive categories in demographics that manga titles are meant for. However, in a global scale, manga appeals to many, but in Japan – it determines what magazines manga was published in.

Shojo – aimed for teenaged girls. It is spoken from a female’s point of view. The artwork is softer (Sara). (Linda) It is in the eyes; manga eyes are typically reflected in shojo titles. They are huge in representation, and can take an entire frame.

There subgenres, that is romance and school setting usually all levels of school and age. Card Captor Sakura is an elementary level romance title. The majority though is middle school and high school that dominates the genre as setting and age. Magical girl is also a key subgenre of shojo. There is also genres of historical, mystery and fantasy.

Sara’s shojo selection

Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya (Tokyopop/ Yen Press)
https://yenpress.com/9780316360166/fruits-basket-collectors/

Fruits Basket is about Tohru, an orphan who meets a wealthy family who has secrets that is related to the Chinese zodiac. This was available in English around 2004.

FLP owns this title.

There is a follow up series – Fruits Basket Another. But spoilers, it is a generational after, but the characters in previous series is only shown in outline form.

Yona of the Dawn by Mizuho Kusanagi (Viz)
https://www.viz.com/yona-of-the-dawn

This is a story set in an historical alternate world with settings like ancient medieval China/Japan. This was released in English in 2016 and is a fantasy title. Main character is of a princess who is in love with a childhood friend, but when her father is assassinated by the person, she loves the most and flees. She is the key to an ancient legend that will push the series along. Yona evolves from a spoiled princess, to a person who realizes her love for her country and what she will do as she matures.

Linda shojo selection

Behind the Scenes by Bisco Hatori (Viz)
https://www.viz.com/behind-the-scenes

Hatori wrote another book that is more well known, Ouran’s High School Host Club. This is a story set in college from the perspective of Ranmaru who joins with the set design club, since the college has three acting troupes who constantly needs sets. Read-alkies for this series is Genshiken, Hana Kimi and Paradise Kiss. This is a few manga title from a male protagonist.

Karakuri Odette by Juliette Suzuki (Tokyopop)

https://atomicavenue.com/title/33472/Karakuri-Odette

Suzuki’s other manga that is more known is Kamisama Kiss. This is a much shorter series than that title. This is a science fiction story about an android named Odette, who gets enrolled into high school to learn about human emotions. Read alkies is Chobits and Key the Metal Idol. These are older titles and may be out of prints. Should the library resume service, titles like this can be available through inter library loan.

More shjo titles suggested

Kimi no Todoke (From Me to You)
Kare Kano (His and Her Circumstances)
Sailor Moon
Card Captor Sakura Clover and other CLAMP titles.
Hana Kimi (For You in Full Bloom)
Clamp titles
Princess Knight
Monkey High
Lovely Complex
Yuu Watase titles
Hana Yori Dango (Boys Over Flowers)
Marmalade Boy

Titles with male protagonist
Natsume’s Book of Friends
Children of the Whale

Shonen (target toward Young Boys). This is an adventure setting with a focus on one male protagonist with stories about conflicts and with a goal in mind.

Gintama by Hideki Sorachi (Viz)
https://www.viz.com/gin-tama

This is a series about Gintoki with his friends Kagura and Shinpachi who is part of a company known as Odd jobs or Yorozuya who runs errands for people who would hire them. This is a titles is filled with parodies and comedies. This title is not finished in English. Read-alikes – Cowboy Bebop, Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei, any crossovers with other Shonen Jump title.

Future Diaries by Sakae Esuno (Tokyopop/Viz)
https://www.viz.com/future-diary

This is a story about of people who gets involved in a deadly scavenger game, where every person has a diary that tells them where the other player is, so they search them out to get their diaries. Read-alikes for this title is Bokurano Ours, Deadman Wonderland, Death Notes, Liar Game.

Hikaru no Go by Yumi Hotta and Takeshi Obata (Viz)

This is story of Hikaru who finds a go board with lingering sprit: Sai who’s lingering wish is to play a game with finding out the solution of the God’s hand. Hikaru goes from elementary school to high school.

There are subgenres in the fact that Shonen coves sports, action science and fantasy. Artstyle is spikey and stylized to realistic.

Monthly’s Girl Nozaki-kun by (Yen Press)
https://yenpress.com/9780316309479/monthly-girls-nozaki-kun-vol-1/

This is 4-koma style and is about a high school mangaku and his editor.

Barakumon by Satsuki Yoshino (Yen Press)
https://yenpress.com/9780316336086/barakamon-vol-1/

Young man who is a calligrapher who goes to a remote island to discover himself.

Other shonen titles

Kekkaishi
Fullmetal Alchemist
Silver Spoon
Nabari no Ou
Horimiya
Tegami Bachi
Dr. Slump
Haikyuu
One Piece
Yu Yu Hakusho
Naruto
Bleach
My Hero Academia
One Punch Man
Yu-Gi-Oh!
Inu Yasha
Rin-ne
Attack on Titan
Black Butler
Soul Eater
Devil Is a Part-Timer
Prince of Tennis
D.Gray-man
Fairy Tail
Shaman King
Magi
Ranma 1/2
Cross Game,
Gegege no Kitaro
Pokémon
Dragon Ball
Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle
Durarara!!
Death Note
Josei targeted toward young woman, college age or young working professional.

Ooku – Inner Chambers by Fumi Yoshinaga (Viz)
https://www.viz.com/ooku-the-inner-chambers

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku by Fujita (Kodansha)
https://kodanshacomics.com/series/wotakoi/

Sweat and Soap by Kintestu Yamada(Kodansha)
https://kodanshacomics.com/series/sweat-and-soap/

Other Josei titles
Nana
Paradise Kiss
Kuragehime (Princess Jellyfish)
Chihayafuru
Kaze Hikaru
Idol Dreams
Everyone’s Getting Married
Honey Clover

Seinen target toward men in 20-40’s. Covers a broad range of categories

The Walking Man by Jiro Taniguchi

http://www.ponentmon.com/comic-books-english/taniguchi/the-walking-manR/index.html

Hozuki’s Coolheadness by Natsumi Eguchi (Kodansha)

https://kodanshacomics.com/series/hozukis-coolheadedness/

Delicious in Dungeon by Ryoko Kui (Yen)

https://yenpress.com/9780316471855/delicious-in-dungeon-vol-1/

FLP owns this title

Other titles
Mushishi
Chi’s Sweet Home
Laid Back Camp
Maison Ikkoku
One Pound Gospel
xxxHolic
Erased
Drops of God