Manga Susu, the genre of youthful romance comics aimed at adolescent girls, has become an iconic part of Japanese popular culture and a major force in the worldwide manga industry. This illustrated narrative form, with its focus on the dreams, longings, and emotional lives of young women, has won the hearts of millions of readers while also igniting controversies.
To understand Manga Susu is to gain insight into both Japanese society and the global spread of contemporary Japanese culture.
Introduction
Manga Susu, sometimes translated as “girls’ comics,” is a genre of Japanese comics aimed primarily at teenage girls, generally ranging in age from 11 to 18. Manga Susu stories tend to focus on romantic relationships and emotions, everyday life, and friendship. The name “Susu” means “bare,” referring to the unfiltered portrayal of girls’ inner thoughts and feelings.
This genre emerged in the 1960s and 1970s and became a major part of the post-war manga industry boom. Manga Susu titles account for around a quarter of total manga sales in Japan today. Some popular series sell millions of copies and have even been adapted into anime, live-action films, and video games. Manga Susu has had a considerable influence on girls’ culture in modern Japan and later spread overseas as well.
Understanding Manga Susu
Manga Susu is defined primarily by its target demographic of adolescent girls, along with a focus on topics relevant to their daily lives. Unlike action-oriented boys’ manga, the distinguishing feature of Manga Susu is its insightful look into the inner world of girls during their formative years.
There are several major subgenres within Manga Susu:
- Romance – Love stories focusing on relationships and crushes. Often set in school.
- Slice of life – Focuses on everyday activities, hobbies, and friendships.
- Comedy – Humorous tales of school, family life, and relationships.
- Historical drama – Romances set in historical eras such as samurai times.
- Supernatural/fantasy – Romance mixed with paranormal or magical elements.
Manga Susu typically features female main characters and examines topics such as:
- Crushes and romantic fantasies
- Friendships and rivalries between girls
- Family relationships and adolescent rebellion
- School life issues such as classes, clubs, and part-time jobs
- Personal problems like illness, insecurity, and heartbreak
The drawing style is generally clean and elegant, sometimes with a decorative emphasis on flowers or beautifully rendered costumes and interiors. The pacing aims to accurately reflect the slow pulse of ordinary life.
Compared to male-oriented manga, Manga Susu involves more focus on relationships and inner feelings rather than outward action. It also avoids overt sexual elements, since the target readership is underage. Overall, Manga Susu provides an emotional outlet and pleasurable escape for young female readers.
The Evolution of Manga Susu
Girls’ manga arose in a time when Japanese society was changing rapidly and notions of girlhood were in flux. Many trace the roots of Manga Susu back to comic strips in shojo (girls’) magazines in the early 20th century.
The genre expanded in the postwar period when Japan was rebuilding its culture and economy. Rising literacy rates and commercial publishing for youth audiences enabled the shojo manga industry to grow.
Early Pioneers: The first iconic Manga Susu generally considered to be Ribon no Kishi (Princess Knight), created by renowned mangaka Osamu Tezuka in 1953. The tale of a girl raised as a boy who becomes a prince challenged conventional gender roles.
Another progenitor of the genre was Shosuke Kurakane, author of popular school romance manga like Anmitsu Hime (Anmitsu Princess) in the 50s and 60s.
Golden Age: The 1960s marked the golden age of Manga Susu’s establishment as a genre.
Works like Chigusa Mita’s Candy Candy, first published in 1975, became bestsellers. This melodramatic boarding school story centered on an orphan girl.
Attack No. 1, created by Chikako Urano in 1968, was an influential sports drama about a volleyball team that inspired many similar athletic girl protagonists.
Kyoko Mizuki’s 1973 Candy Candy, took place in Edwardian England and pioneered the fantasy romance subgenre.
Modern Hits: In the 1990s, the genre expanded further in popularity and range of content. For example:
- Yoshizumi Wataru’s Marmalade Boy, which debuted in 1992, was a long-running hit centered on remarried parents and shifting adolescent relationships.
- Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya beginning in 1998 was a fantasy romance incorporating Chinese zodiac mythology.
- Ouran High School Host Club by Bisco Hatori launched in 2002 was an odd couple comedy about a girl member of a elite boys’ club.
These recent successful series brought increased complexity of storylines and characters to the traditionally formulaic Manga Susu template.
Popularity of Manga Susu
The dominance of Manga Susu in modern Japan stems from its wide appeal to young female readers seeking entertainment and emotional engagement.
Specific factors that make this genre so popular include:
- Idealized exploration of romance – Allows teenage girls to vicariously experience dramatic love affairs and relationships. Serves as an imaginative escape from limited real-life opportunities to date.
- Character identification – Heroines are designed for readers to bond with, understand, and project themselves onto.
- Youth appeal – The ages of characters match the readers’ age, enhancing closeness. School settings also create youthful nostalgia.
- Fan culture – Loyal followers support titles through buying merchandise, events, and connecting with others to share their enthusiasm.
Today the core Manga Susu readership continues to be adolescent girls and young women. However the fanbase has diversified over time to include adult women appreciating the nostalgia and even some male readers.
On a global level, Manga Susu has spread beyond Japan since translated series gained popularity in other parts of Asia, Europe, and the Americas. It has become part of mainstream youth pop culture worldwide. The relatable themes and engaging visual styles make it widely accessible.
For many modern Japanese girls, consuming Manga Susu series has become a rite of passage tied to puberty and self-discovery. Meanwhile, the genre has given the manga industry reliable bestsellers and a strong weekday readership. For international audiences, it provides a window onto the distinct world of girls coming of age in Japan.
Creating Manga Susu
Crafting a successful Manga Susu series involves complex skills and techniques to generate engaging stories and illustrations.
A typical Manga Susu creative process looks like:
- The artist first develops the core heroine character, making her appealing and relatable to readers.
- Next a story concept centered on love, school life, or personal growth is devised. Often it starts with a standard formula or plot device.
- Scripting and layouts begin according to a production schedule. Manga Susu stories tend to have episodic chapters rather than extended story arcs.
- Once the artist finishes penciled pages, assistants complete the labor-intensive process of adding screentone textures, inking outlines, and finishing backgrounds.
- The completed manga pages go to the publisher for editing, printing, and distribution to eagerly awaiting readers.
Common tools and techniques include:
- Traditional pen and ink drawing or digital software like Clip Studio
- Stock templates for recurring things like school uniforms
- Library of panel layouts, perspective angles, and decorative motifs
- Varied panel shapes and sizes to control pacing
- Screen tone textures and effects to emulate shading
- Flower and star motifs to create an ethereal mood
- Emphasis on conveying emotion through delicate facial expressions
For those seeking to become Manga Susu creators, useful skills include:
- Ability to draw age-appropriate teen characters attractively
- Writing dialogue and stories relevant to young girls’ experiences
- Balancing light realism with idealized fantasy in tone
- Maintaining elements to allow reader immersion and identification
- Knowing what storylines, character types, and visual styles are currently popular
- Working efficiently to produce chapters rapidly on strict deadlines
Today there are even schools in Japan focused on training aspiring Manga Susu artists in these specialized techniques. Overall, producing a sustainable hit requires a delicate balance of tried and true formulas blended with enough innovation to capture readers’ hearts.
Criticisms and Controversies
While beloved by legions of fans, various aspects of Manga Susu have generated criticism and debate:
Fantasy vs. Reality – Some argue that the idealized portrayals of romance and school life in Manga Susu give girls unrealistic expectations. Supporters counter that it serves as harmless escapist fantasy.
Gender Roles – Traditional feminine behavior patterns like passivity and coquettishness commonly depicted in stories are seen as regressive by feminists. But others see it as simply reflecting real youth behavior.
Sexualization – Sexy or provocative art despite young target age has raised concerns. But styles have evolved over time toward more modest looks.
Homogeneity – Detractors say the genre promotes cultural conformity, with stories fixated on middle-class worlds and conventional aspirations. Pressure to adhere to proven formulas also hinders creativity.
Decline in Reading – While Manga Susu still sells well, like all print media it faces challenges in a digital era. Some worry immersive reading culture is fading among youth.
Debate continues between defenders emphasizing the emotional power of Manga Susu and critics who believe it reinforces outdated ideas or distorts reality. There are also more measured perspectives acknowledging the complexity of evaluating such culturally ingrained media.
Overall, it seems likely this genre retains devoted fans while also evolving in response to social changes. More diverse characters, unconventional stories, and updated visual styles may emerge with new generations of artists. But the core appeal of tender stories about the passions of youth endures.
Conclusion
For over half a century, Manga Susu has allowed Japanese girls to imaginatively explore romance and the pressures of growing into young women, providing entertainment, empathy and an emotional outlet. This distinctive genre has become integral to Japanese popular culture.
Manga Susu offers a window for international readers into the lives of ordinary modern Japanese teens. At its best, it tells emotionally resonant stories exploring the human condition through deft illustrations. While the genre has its tropes and formulas, creatively rendered works still pack power through inventive creators’ efforts.
Looking ahead, the future of Manga Susu likely involves balancing its core appeal while continuing to evolve in reflecting young women’s changing realities. New voices and perspectives will refresh the genre. Though fads fade, girls navigating the emotional journeys of adolescence will remain eternal. Manga Susu retains devoted, nostalgic fans even as new readers discover its sentimental worlds. For millions of readers, the tender worlds of Manga Susu will forever capture the wonder and passion of youth.
