Manga

Genres

Hentai

Hentai manga, pronounced HEN-tie, is very graphic with its sexual content. It is for adult readers only.

Josei

Pronounced JOH-say, the literal translation of this genre's title is "comics for women." They are geared for women ages of 18 - 30. Some older women also read these titles. They tend to feature more complex stories and themes and have more sexually explicit content than Shojo manga. Stories about office life, marriages, infidelity, babies, families and of course, romance are popular. Some examples of this genre are:

Seinen

This genre is pronounced SAY-nen and is the male equivalent of josei. It translates as "comics for men," and is for men ages 18 - 30, though plenty of older men read them as well. They also, like josei, contain more complex themes and more explicit sexual content and violence. Examples of this genre are:

Shojo

Shojo manga translates as "comics for girls." It includes stories that can be both sweet and romantic or dark and dramatic. Some are also centered around sports, sci-fi, and horror themes. Over 75% of teenage girls in Japan read this type of manga. Some of the main themes are:

The top 10 best selling shojo manga, according to About.com, are:

  1. Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya

    2. Through a series of wacky circumstances, schoolgirl Tohru Honda takes up residence at the swank residence of the very wealthy, but very cursed Sohma family. Their magical burden? They turn into Chinese zodiac animals whenever they're hugged by a member of the opposite sex. Fruits Basket starts off as a goofy romantic comedy, then develops into an emotional roller coaster that mixes humor, fantasy, profoundly emotional romance and family drama for an addictive mix that has made it the best-selling shojo manga title in America.


  2. Hot Gimmick by Miki Aihara

    3. Poor Hatsumi. After being caught buying a home pregnancy kit for her younger sister, she's forced into a master-slave relationship with Ryouki, the wealthy and arrogant son of her father's boss. In Hot Gimmick, creator Miki Aihara weaves a complex web of secret loves and deep grudges across two generations living in a corporate housing complex.

  3. Kare Kono by Masami Tsuda

    4. Hyper-competitive honor student Yukino is determined to be at the top of her class in everything; a goal that's threatened by the equally studious and charming Soichiro. While at first she plots to topple him from his place at the top of the class curve, Yukino later discovers that she's fallen in love with her rival. A sweet high school romance with a twist: Events are retold from Yukino's and Soichiro's sometimes divergent points of view.

  4. Peach Girl by Miwa Ueda

    5. Does having a tan automatically make you a pariah? Momo, a tanned, light-haired high school girl has to deal with being unfairly judged by her peers based on her appearance, and being back-stabbed by her so-called friend Sae. This high school soap opera features lovely artwork and dramatic plot twists that will keep you turning the page for more.

  5. Emma by Kaoru Mori

    6. Set in Victorian England, Emma is a historical manga centered around the intertwined lives of a maid and a wealthy aristocrat. The strict hierarchical rules of English society forbid their relationship, but they can't stop this star-crossed couple from falling in love. Meticulously-researched for historical accuracy, Mori sets the mood beautifully and tastefully. There are lovely wordless moments, stolen glances and subtle smiles that reveal her characters inner lives more effectively than any narration or dialogue ever could.

  6. Fushigi Yugi by Yuu Watase

    7. Modern middle school pals Miaka and Yui stumble upon a mysterious book at the library that wisks them back in time to feudal China. They become rival priestesses leading two groups of magical warriors in quest to control the kingdom. Epic romance and graphic life-and-death plot twists are mixed with moments of slapstick humor for a story that is heartfelt and utterly addictive.

  7. Paradise Kiss by Ai Yazawa

    8. Set in the glamorous world of fashion, Paradise Kiss is a stylish story about transformation and reinventing your life through friendship and love. Finding little satisfaction in her studies, high school student Yukari meets four flamboyant and free-spirited art school students who introduce her to a fun and creative lifestyle that she's never known. Yazawa's hip Cinderella tale is a favorite with fashion-conscious shojo manga fans.

  8. Full Moon o Sagashite by Arina Tanemura

    9. 12-year old Mitsuki dreams of becoming a famous pop singer, but her frail health prevents her from pursuing her goal. In Full Moon o Sagashite (Searching for the Full Moon), Mitsuki meets two not-so-grim reapers who help her to magically transform into a 16-year old singing sensation, but the road to the top of the charts isn't an easy one. A fun and dramatic maho shojo (magical girl) story from Arina Tanemura.

  9. Vampire Knight by Matsuri Hino

    10. Vampire Knight mixes up two classic shojo manga themes: high school romance and gothic / vampire drama. Gorgeous artwork, drop-dead hunky guys with more than a hint of sexual tension make this a favorite for readers who love romance with a dark side.

  10. Please Save My Earth by Saki Hiwatari

    11. Quiet and sensitive high school student Alice Sakaguchi discovers that she, along with her classmates and young neighbor Rin were once alien scientists who died from a mysterious plague while stationed on the Moon. With their past memories reawakened, the now-reincarnated souls must deal with their emotions and the consequences of their past loves, losses and betrayals.

Shonen

Shonen means "comics for boys." These stories are all about action and humor. They are directed at boys ages 8 - 18, but many men outside of this age group, and even some women, enjoy these stories. According to About.com, the top 10 best selling shonen manga are:

  1. Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto

    2. Misfit ninja-in-training Naruto just can't seem to do anything right -- he's at the bottom of his class at the Ninja Academy and everyone in town treats him like dirt. But Naruto has a secret: His body houses the powerful spirit of a nine-tailed fox demon that almost destroyed his village 15-years ago. As Naruto grows into his power, he meets other ninjas, both friends and foes, who help him on his path to becoming the next Hokage, the most powerful ninja in his village.

  2. Bleach by Tibe Kubo

    3. Average teen Ichigo already had a not-so-average life: His father acts like an overgrown child, his younger sisters practically run the house and oh yeah -- he can see ghosts. As if that wasn't enough, Ichigo meets a "soul reaper," a metaphysical warrior who battles demons and helps the deceased find their way to their final reward. By accident, Ichigo acquires the powers and responsibilities of a soul reaper. Now he not only sees ghosts, he has to battle the undead "Hollows" and eventually, face "real" Soul Reapers who don't take kindly to his newfound powers.

  3. Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata

    4. Light Yagami has got it all: Good grades, good looks and a good family. Trouble is, he's bored out of his mind. After he finds a notebook that gives him the power to kill anyone just by writing their name, Light faces the ultimate test of wits: Can he use his power to rid the world of criminals before the police, the FBI and the shinigami grim reapers catch up with him? Death Note is a brilliantly-written supernatural suspense story that hooks readers in and won't let go until the surprising climax in Volume 12.

  4. Full Metal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa

    5. Brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric tried to ressurect their deceased mother. Their attempts failed, but by violating one of the most sacred laws of alchemy, they were punished severely: Edward lost his arm and a leg, and Alphonse lost his body. Now armed with metal prosthetics and a robot body, the two brothers roam a quasi-European steampunk world as they try to right wrongs and find the legendary Philosopher's Stone.

  5. Initial D by Shuichi Shigeno

    6. For easy-going high school student Takumi Fujiwara, life is like coasting in neutral. He lives in a small town, goes to school, works at the gas station and helps his dad deliver tofu in his trusty '86 Trueno. But everything changes when he discovers his hidden talent: An almost unnaturally-natural knack for the extremely dangerous sport of high-speed drift racing.

  6. One Piece by Eiichiro Oda

    7. Yo ho ho and a bottle of pop! Monkey D. Luffy dreams of being a legendary pirate -- but after taking a bite of the gum-gum fruit, he's able to stretch his limbs like Stretch Armstrong, but now he'll sink like a stone if he ever falls into water. Monkey and his misfit crew of pirates sail the seven seas in search of treasure and adventure, and find both in spades.

  7. Gon by Masashi Tanaka

    8. Pint-sized dinosaur Gon may be tiny, but he manages to make a monster-sized impact wherever he goes. Tanaka's impeccably-drawn, detailed artwork describes Gon's misadventures without dialogue -- and not a word is needed for readers to marvel and laugh at this tiny reptile's hilarious exploits.

  8. Slam Dunk by Takehiko Inoue

    9. Would-be juvenile delinquent Sakuragi wants to be big man on campus, but somehow always falls short. Then one day, in an effort to impress a girl, he joins the high school basketball team. After a shaky start, helps turn his team into a force to be reckoned with on the courts. Beautifully drawn with action and drama, Slam Dunk is a powerful sports manga that captures the adrenaline-fueled energy of basketball.

  9. Ranma 1/2 by Rumiko Takahashi

    10. Ranma Saotome has got the strength and the moves to be one of the best martial artists ever. His only problem? Thanks to a Chinese curse, he's turns into a curvaceous girl whenever he gets splashed with water. A wacky mix of slapstick humor and kung-fu action, Ranma 1/2 is a fun read for teens and up.

  10. Air Gear by Oh! Great

    11. Baby-face Itsuki has always been able to hold his own in a fight, but once he gets his hands on Air Trecks motorized inline skates, he not only finds new friends and enemies, he discovers the joy of flying. Oh! Great revs up Air Gear with lots of dazzling action scenes, cute girls and a heaping helping of fan service (a.k.a. cheeky nudity).