Manga has attained phenomenal worldwide success in recent years, and it shows no signs of slowing down. As contemporary as this graphic art form may appear to readers outside of Japan, manga is the fruit of a long artistic tradition. Manga as we know it today took root in Japan centuries ago, and traces can be found in seventh-century temple paintings, folding screens decorated with comic characters, and painted medieval emaki scrolls.
This book spans the history of manga in all its splendor and diversity: from Hokusai’s seminal Manga in 1814 to the onset of the gekiga in the 1950s; from the landmark Astro Boy of Tezuka Ozamu to Lady Oscar, Riyoko Ikedan’s shôjo manga aimed at young girls; from samurai sagas to the more alternative productions of the review Garo; and from the demons that populate the works of Mizuki Shigeru to the latest creations from Jirô Taniguchi, each period is covered in detail.
A thorough exploration of the sources of manga, One Thousand Years of Manga is both a rich documentary account and a visual delight with over 400 illustrations, many never before seen outside of Japan.


Brigitte Koyama-Richard is a professor of comparative literature and art history at Musashi University in Tokyo. She has published several works on Japan in her native French, including books on Japanese prints, Tolstoy in Japan, and the art dealer Hayashi Tadamasa.