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Manhua
Manga is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word manhua (humorous pictures). Japanese comics have become so popular that the word for them is now in popular use in English.   The first manga magazines began to appear in the 1870s. This was the beginning of the Meiji era (1868-1912),  named after the Meiji emperor, who started turning Japan into a modern nation.
Rise of the manga
The first manga magazines were not very popular. The first one to become a hit was called Shonen Sekai - Youth's World. It was founded by a writer of children's books. The magazine started in 1895 and ran for nearly 20 years. It had games and baseball cards, as well as manga stories. 
When Japan was defeated in the second world war,  modern manga started to emerge. The Americans occupied Japan from 1945 to 1952,  and Japanese manga artists were influenced by  American culture. Probably the most famous manga artist to come out of this time was Osamu Tezuka.  He created Astro Boy in 1951. He is sometimes called the 'father of manga'.
The Astro Boy phenomenon
Astro Boy is best known as a TV series that started in 1963. But he was born in manga form. The manga Astro Boy  ran from 1951 to 1968. He was so popular that he made a return in 1975 and in 1980-81. The TV series ran for 163 episodes. It was the first kind of animation we now call anime. 
Astro Boy is a superhero boy robot,  built by the head of the Ministry of Science to replace his real son  who was killed in a car accident. Astro Boy cannot be a real boy, but he proves himself to his father by fighting evil.  In October, an American animated 3D feature film of Astro Boy will be released.
Manga today
Manga is a huge business today. In Japan 2007, it was  worth about  407 billion yen (HK$32.1 billion). There are even special manga cafes called manga kissa. In  Kyoto, there is  the Kyoto International Manga Museum  (www.kyotomm.com/HP/international/english/index.html).  
Manga has become popular in the United States and in Europe in recent years. Examples of hit series are Ghost in the Shell and Sailor Moon.
now do this
1 The first manga magazine to become a hit was called ...
a. Astro Boy
b. Youth World
c. Hello Kitty
2 Truly modern manga began to emerge ...
a. during the American occupation of Japan
b. in the Meiji era
c. with the publication of Astro Boy
3 Manga today  is a ... industry.
a. 307 million yen 
b. 48 billion yen
c. 407 billion yen
Answers:
June 10



Manga