Is Japan really behind in digital manga publishing?
CNN's Geekout section says that America is leading over Japan in digital manga sales:
As we move bravely into the digital age and face cries of "Print media is dying!" it's no surprise that manga is popping up on more iPads than ever before. And Americans love it: The more easy access we have to our favorite media sources, the better.But if this earlier news is correct, I think the Japanese already have been making serious inroads to computerized manga publishing for at least a couple years now. It's not like this is anything new for them. CNN is far from accurate about this.
On the other hand, a country like Japan that is known for its deeply entrenched traditions may not be as easy to convert. After all, modern manga debuted there in the '40s, but its roots go as far back as the 18th century. It's not unusual to ride the subway in Tokyo and see people of all ages and stations in life with their faces buried in a hot-off-the-shelves copy of "One Piece" or "Naruto."
The feeling of holding that trusty book in one's hand is a habit, a groove of comfort. And replacing it with a tablet presents more complexities to some longtime fans than one might think.
Could the evolution of digital manga be a case where America's otaku take the lead, and Japan follows suit?
Labels: Europe and Asia, manga and anime, msm propaganda, technology
