Is Manga Really Like Drugs and Fast Food?
One of Kodansha's leading manga editors, Akira Kanai, believes there is a lot to be said about the manga industry! Kanai's comparison of manga with food, drugs, and "fast food" content has started a conversation about manga.
What's the Analogy That's Causing a Stir in Manga?
The manga market has grown at a phenomenal pace. While that is wonderful news, Kanai thinks that publishers, by trying to appeal to the demands of the market, are now creating manga that is like "fast food", offering an "easy" type of enjoyment that readers may forget as soon as they finish reading. In his eyes, this has led to publishers, instead of creating high-quality manga, going for titles that provide short-term "euphoria," and making it a form of escapism! This compares it to how fast food can become addictive but doesn't deliver real nourishment!
How Do Drugs Play Into Manga, According to Kanai?
Kanai expands on the notion of addictive manga and calls this type of content "like drugs." He feels these titles provide readers with an immediate sense of satisfaction. Yet, it also hinders deeper thinking about the manga that the reader might otherwise experience!
What is Weekly Afternoon?
Kanai works with Weekly Afternoon, which specializes in seinen manga. In Kanai's perspective, seinen manga is more resistant to industry demands, focusing on quality content, and not rushing for those titles that can quickly garner an audience. Kanai feels seinen manga provides "delicious food," a metaphor that alludes to how it focuses on depth, and complexity over being fast, or readily available for mass consumption.
How Does Kanai Feel About The Shonen Manga Market?
Kanai draws a line between shonen manga and seinen. His opinion is that shonen manga is focused on market trends. Shonen manga and weekly shonen magazines typically push titles that bring big profits for the manga industry, especially popular manga titles!
What Does Kanai Think About Manga's Impact on Readers?
Kanai argues that manga may lead to readers expecting quick fixes for real life challenges, as these types of stories are designed for readers who are "trained" to take a side in the conflict, as a form of escape and distraction. He encourages the idea that some stories can bring genuine lessons for readers!
Can Manga Offer Quality Content for Readers?
Kanai stresses that there's a space for both the enjoyment of wholesome manga, and "fast food" style manga. Kanai and Weekly Afternoon continue to push for "quality entertainment" for manga fans, and encourages readers to choose a range of different genres!
