Who doesn’t like to read comics, and especially the Japanese equivalent of manga? But with thousands of genres and titles, it is quite confusing to know which genres will appeal to us and which titles to start reading, especially if we are just beginning to discover this fascinating medium.
One thing you should know is that manga is not “children’s comics”, and there are genres that span all ages, genders, and social groups.
So which manga should you read?
Well, let’s start with the genres and some title suggestions:
Redikomi or Josei, from the Japanese “Lady Comic”. Sometimes known as Josei (feminine). This genre is aimed at late teens to adulthood, going beyond the idealized Shojo romance, with a more realistic take on modern Japanese women’s relationships. I recommend: “Midnight Secretary”, “Gokusen” and “Honey and Clover”.
Seinen (young) is the male counterpart of Redikomi / Josei. The genres are relatively the same as Shonen, except they are darker and more somber. My recommendations: “Bastard!”, “Berserk” and “Basilisk”.
Shojo or Shoujo (literally “girl”) is a manga aimed at younger women up to 18 years of age. A focus on romance and relationships from a teenage girl’s point of view. Recommendations: “Ceres Celestial Legend”, “Fushigi Yuugi” and “Love Celeb”.
Shonen or Shounen (literally translated as “boy”), the male counterpart of shojo, focused on the adventure, action, and martial arts genres. Manga recommendations: “Bleach”, “Naruto” and “Full Metal Alchemist”.
Yuri or Shojo-ai is based on strong female / female romantic relationships, graphically represented themes. Shojo-ai literally translates to “Girl-love”. Yuri literally translates to “Lily”. In Japan, the term GL (Girl Love) is also used. Recommended Reading: “Strawberry Panic”, “Free Soul” and “Love My Life”.
Shonen-ai / Yaoi, the male equivalent of Shojo-ai /. Shonen-ai translates to “Boy-love” BL (Boy Love). Less graphic than Yuri. Recommended Reading: “Count Cain – GodChild”, “Boys Next Door” and “Just Around the Corner”.
Hentai – This manga is a sexually hardcore manga. Hentai in Japanese means “pervert” or “perversion” (adult content). Recommendations: “Step Up Love Story”, “Maid in Heaven” and “Sexy Magical Girl”.
The next step is to search for these titles. But with busy hours and limited resources, especially when we just want to test the waters, going to the actual manga store can be a challenge. That is why reading manga online can be a good alternative.
