Manga Life
Encyclopedia
is a manga magazine published monthly by Takeshobo
in Japan
since the November 1984 issue (published in October 1984). Its original title was , and the change to Manga Life was made to better compete with Manga Time
, a rival magazine published by Houbunsha
. Most of the series appearing in the magazine use the yonkoma
format. The magazine is released monthly on the 17th, though it sometimes appears on shelves slightly before or after that, depending on speed of actual distribution. Manga Life is published in B5 size
, and its Japanese magazine code is 18635.
. By the mid to late 1980s, however, the number of dirty jokes had significantly decreased as the magazine changed its target demographic from only middle-aged salarymen to also include younger males in their late 20s and early 30s, as well as readers of josei manga and dōjinshi
. The current magazine includes a broad mix of manga, including those with anime
tie-ins. Manga Life is one of the magazines which has changed the perception of yonkoma
manga and manga artists
as it has brought them more into the mainstream with its broad target audience.
In the January issue every year, Mineo Maya has a guest manga appearance with his Nemuranai Eve series.
Takeshobo
is a major publisher in Japan.Takeshobo was founded in 1972 by Kyōichirō Noguchi, starting Japan's first Mahjong magazine . Other magazines, such as a magazine dedicated to mahjong-themed manga, as well as a magazine dedicated to yonkoma manga, were published. Furthermore, a mahjong museum was...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
since the November 1984 issue (published in October 1984). Its original title was , and the change to Manga Life was made to better compete with Manga Time
Manga Time
is a Japanese monthly yonkoma manga magazine published by Hōbunsha since June 1981. The magazine is released monthly on the seventh. Manga Home is printed as B5 size. The magazine is sometimes referred to as simply . It was created in 1981 by spinning off from Japan's first weekly manga magazine,...
, a rival magazine published by Houbunsha
Houbunsha
is a Japanese publishing company founded on July 10, 1950.-Manga Time magazines:*Manga Time*Manga Time Jumbo*Manga Time Lovely*Manga Time Family*Manga Time Special*Manga Time Original*Manga Home-Manga Time Kirara magazines:...
. Most of the series appearing in the magazine use the yonkoma
Yonkoma
thumb|right|150px|Traditional Yonkoma layout, a comic-strip format, generally consists of gag comic strips within four panels of equal size ordered from top to bottom...
format. The magazine is released monthly on the 17th, though it sometimes appears on shelves slightly before or after that, depending on speed of actual distribution. Manga Life is published in B5 size
Paper size
Many paper size standards conventions have existed at different times and in different countries. Today there is one widespread international ISO standard and a localised standard used in North America . The paper sizes affect writing paper, stationery, cards, and some printed documents...
, and its Japanese magazine code is 18635.
History and content
Manga Life was originally known for an abundance of off-color humorOff-color humor
The term off-color humor is an Americanism used to describe jokes, prose, poems, black comedy, blue comedy, insult comedy, cringe comedy and skits that deal with topics that are considered to be in poor taste or overly vulgar by the prevailing morality of a culture...
. By the mid to late 1980s, however, the number of dirty jokes had significantly decreased as the magazine changed its target demographic from only middle-aged salarymen to also include younger males in their late 20s and early 30s, as well as readers of josei manga and dōjinshi
Dojinshi
is the Japanese term for self-published works, usually magazines, manga or novels. Dōjinshi are often the work of amateurs, though some professional artists participate as a way to publish material outside the regular industry. The term dōjinshi is derived from and . Dōjinshi are part of a wider...
. The current magazine includes a broad mix of manga, including those with anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
tie-ins. Manga Life is one of the magazines which has changed the perception of yonkoma
Yonkoma
thumb|right|150px|Traditional Yonkoma layout, a comic-strip format, generally consists of gag comic strips within four panels of equal size ordered from top to bottom...
manga and manga artists
Mangaka
is the Japanese word for a comic artist or cartoonist. Outside of Japan, manga usually refers to a Japanese comic book and mangaka refers to the author of the manga, who is usually Japanese...
as it has brought them more into the mainstream with its broad target audience.
In the January issue every year, Mineo Maya has a guest manga appearance with his Nemuranai Eve series.
Current
The following series are currently appearing in Manga Life. The issue of first appearance is noted if known. Series are listed alphabetically by title:- Arai Kiyokazu no 4-koma Wideshow (Kiyokazu Arai, 2001)
- Ayumi Full Throttle!! (Masaki Mashū, February 2007)
- Because, Yankee-Mama (だってヤンママ) (Reiko Sumi, 1996)
- BonobonoBonobonois a yonkoma manga series by Mikio Igarashi. From March 1986 to March 1987, the series ran in the Takeshobo manga magazine Tensai Club before the magazine was replaced with Manga Club, where it has been serialized since April 1987. It has also been serialized in Manga Life since April 1986...
(Mikio IgarashiMikio Igarashiis a Japanese manga artist born 13 January 1955 in the town of Nakaniida , Kami District, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, though he currently lives in the city of Sendai. He is most well known for his manga series Bonobono and Ninpen Manmaru...
, June 1986) - Damekko Dōbutsu (Noriko Kuwata, June 1986)
- Dōbutsu no Oshaberi (Akira Shinsenji, July 2005)
- Dōsuru!? Wanko (Yukie Nasu, March 2003)
- Furiten-kunFuriten-kunis a yonkoma manga series by Masashi Ueda which has been serialized in several magazine. In the early 1980s, the manga was published simultaneously in Takeshobo's Kindai Mahjong, Kindai Mahjong Original, and Gamble Punch. It was then published in Manga Life magazine from November 1984 to 1994...
→Shin Furiten-kun (Masashi UedaMasashi Uedais a comic book artist who wrote Kobo, the Li'l Rascal .Ueda began drawing comic book strips when he worked in his brother's cram school. Ueda began producing Furiten-kun, a comic book strip about a mahjong player, in 1979. In 1982 Ueda won the Bungeishunjū Manga Award. During that year he began...
, January 2001 (title changed in March 2002)) - Good Morning Teacher (Naoki Shigeno, October 1999)
- Kachō to Yobanai de (Ikura Chihaya, July 2006)
- Kokemomo-san (Yumiko Nakashima, January 2007)
- Kuriko no Himekuri Calendar (Reiko TerashimaReiko Terashimais a Japanese yonkoma manga artist and illustrator born on 8 September 1958 in Kyoto, Japan. She graduated from Ritsumeikan University with a degree in psychology, and was a member of the manga club while there....
) - Momota, Eiga Mimasuta. (Momota Nakahara, October 2002)
- Motemote Nē-chan (Miho Arimoto, April 2004)
- Nanako Masshigura! (Keiko Koike, July 2004)
- Natchan wa ne!? (Hiroko Minami, 1996)
- Neko Goyomi (Makoto Sawada, August 2005)
- Nemuranai Eve (Mineo Maya, annually in January issue since January 2002)
- Okiraku Gokuraku Debu Neko Seikatsu (Bibikku, January 2007)
- Otōsan wa Toshishita (Akira Hōjō, June 2006)
- PaPaPa Paradise (Chino Kurumi, July 2002)
- Pet no Oshaberi (Akira Shinsenji, June 2006)
- Poyopoyo Kanstatsu Nikki (Rū Tatsuki, September 2004)
- Puapua Lips (Hayako Gotō, November 2006)
- Ragan de Go! (Mikiko Yoshida, April 2003)
- Tadaima! (Megumi Tanzawa, July 2007)
- Takami Tallest (Riyo Mizuki, May 2003)
- Teketeke My Heart (Izumi TakemotoIzumi Takemotois a Japanese manga artist. He attended Nihon University and majored in business. His first experience with science fiction was through the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs, and the majority of his works reflect this SF influence. He is also a cat lover, and while cats frequently appear in his works,...
, February 2000) - Uchi e Ikō yo! (Tomoko Ogasawara, March 2007)
- Uwa no Sora Tutorial (Takayuki Mizushina, October 2005)
- Waku Waku Working (Rui Ōhashi, April 2001)
- Yoiko no Shigoto (Hiroaki Magari, June 2006)
Historical
The following series appeared in Manga Life. The dates of appearance are noted if known. Series are listed alphabetically by title:- Ashita mo Arashi! (Tomoko Ogasawara, September 2004 - December 2006)
- Bikei to Iu Na no Kachō (Riko Mikata, 1999 May 2003)
- Bitter Heart Sugarcoat (Shinobu Arima, May 2001 - 2002)
- Boku no Katei Kyōshi (Tōko Shiwasu, October 2002 - September 2004)
- Boku no Suki na Yukko Sensei (Issei Kawabata, June 1986 - ?)
- Chōkazoku Oyako Donburi (Yoshiko Tsuchida)
- Datte L Size (Keiji Murakami)
- Dochira Made! (Nobara Nonaka, 1997-2002)
- Doki Doki Kyōdai Life (Hayako Gotō, December 1999 - May 2003)
- Dorīn Atchan (Akkiu, ? - June 2004)
- Furiten-kun (Masashi Ueda, November 1984 - 1994)
- Furiten-kun 2000 (Masashi UedaMasashi Uedais a comic book artist who wrote Kobo, the Li'l Rascal .Ueda began drawing comic book strips when he worked in his brother's cram school. Ueda began producing Furiten-kun, a comic book strip about a mahjong player, in 1979. In 1982 Ueda won the Bungeishunjū Manga Award. During that year he began...
, January - December 2000) - Futari ga Ichiban (Mariko Kubota, September 1997 - September 2006)
- Gokigen Wakana-san (Hideharu Akaza)
- Gokuraku Gohan (Miriko Takeda, ? - 1997)
- Hakui no Ten-chan (Sanpei Yamada)
- Harikiri Paper Boys (Kuranosuke Chūshin, October 2003 - February 2005)
- Hiruma-san. (Shin ItōShin Itois a Japanese wingsuit pilot and skydiver who currently holds two world records, including the longest wingsuit flight of jumped from and the fastest speed reached in a wingsuit of , both achieved on 28 May 2011....
, September 2003 - March 2006) - Honma Desse Okyaku-san!! (Takashi Murakami, 1996-2000)
- Hontō ni Atta Yukai na Hanashi (Miruku Tajima, 1995 - March 2006)
- Ikinari Don-chan (Aoi Morimura, ? - 2002)
- Itoshi no Deburin (Issei Kawabata, ? - 1996)
- Itoshi no My Honey (Penta Suzuki, December 2002 - May 2007)
- Itsumo Kokoro ni Minamikaze (Megumi Tanzawa, October 2005 - May 2007)
- Kachō! Deban Desu (Akira Shibata)
- Kitaikebukuro Kasumi-sō (Fumi SaimonFumi Saimonis a female Japanese manga artist and novelist. She is best known for the series Tokyo Love Story, which was adapted as a live-action television series. She won the 1983 Kodansha Manga Award for general manga for P.S. Genki Desu, Shunpei and the 1992 Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga for...
& Eri Sakai, November 2004 - May 2006) - Kochira Nekomeya Eigyōchū (Akiko Yoshimoto, 2000-2001)
- Kyō no Osusume! (Tomoko Nitta, 1996 - June 2005)
- Love Love Aishiteru (Linda Gyūnyū, October 2004 - February 2007)
- Machi no Marriage (Masayuki Mori, 1998 - January 2002)
- Makashite Ōsakajō (Chino Kurumi, ? - April 2001)
- Mariko no Koibito (Mikiko Yoshida, 1997 - March 2003)
- Moe-chan wa Middle Name (Anzu Koguma, December 2005 - July 2007)
- Muteki no OL!! Kandori Tsubasa (Fumizō Morita, 1999-2002)
- Naku na! Tanaka-kun (Hiroshi Tanaka)
- Naomi no Tsureteke Kōshien (Yoshio Kawashima, August 2003 - November 2006)
- Neko no Te Kashimasu! (Yōko Sanri, 1999 - October 2004)
- Nekomimi House (Chino Kurumi, May 2001 - 2002)
- Niko Niko Egao (Masashi UedaMasashi Uedais a comic book artist who wrote Kobo, the Li'l Rascal .Ueda began drawing comic book strips when he worked in his brother's cram school. Ueda began producing Furiten-kun, a comic book strip about a mahjong player, in 1979. In 1982 Ueda won the Bungeishunjū Manga Award. During that year he began...
, 1995-1999) - Nohohon Nori-san (Shinri Mori, 1999 - 2002)
- ObatarianObatarianis a yonkoma manga series by Katsuhiko Hotta which was published by Takeshobo in Manga Life from 1988 through 1998. An anime series was adapted from the manga in 1990 by Sunrise, which aired on TV Asahi. The title Obatarian is a Japanese buzzword from 1988 meaning "Battalion of Middle-age Women"....
(Katsuhiko Hotta, ? - 1998) - Ōbeya Wappa-kun (Hisashi Taira)
- Okashi na Kazoku (Chino Kurumi, ? - 1996)
- Omezame! Megu-chan (Tomoko Nitta, July 2005 - August 2006)
- Oyome ni Oniduma (Getsu Takebayashi, January 2006 - December 2007)
- Puppet-Muppets no Kochira Chinjū Beya!! (Puppet-Muppets, 2003 - September 2006)
- Pocket Tama-chan (Eiji Ide, 2000 - January 2004)
- Pokky-kun (Shō Tanaka, ? - 1997)
- Sensei to Watashi (Tomoko Ogasawara, 1998 - August 2004)
- Shataku na Seikatsu (Kahiro Okuya, November 2000 - January 2004)
- Shima Shima e Yōkoso (Wakako Nariyuki, 1998 - June 2003)
- Shiro to Arukeba (Kazuhiro Uchida, 1995-2001)
- Shopping no Joō (created by Usagi Nakamura, art by Akiko Morishima, December 2000 - December 2005)
- Super Shufu Tsukimi-san (Yoshito UsuiYoshito Usui, born in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, was a manga artist known for the popular manga Crayon Shin-chan. He and his wife raised two daughters; both had moved out of the house at the time of Usui's death.-Biography:...
, ? - May 2003) - Tagayashite Fall in Love (Hayako Gotō, April 2003 - September 2006)
- Taishō Maron (Yayoi Takamatsu, March 2003 - April 2005)
- Tobidase Hyōryū Kazoku (Shunji Kosaka, May 2001 - July 2003)
- Tokimeki Couple (Mariko Kubota, ? - 1996)
- Tokimeki Momoiro High School (Chiharu Sasano, May 2002 - November 2006)
- Tōkon Kazoku (Akiko Yoshimoto, 1988 - 1996)
- Trouble Cafe! (Megumi Tanzawa, 1996 - September 2005)
Columns
Listed alphabetically, with author and dates (if known).- Nemoto Harumi no Natural Peace (Harumi NemotoHarumi Nemotois a Japanese gravure idol from Chiba Prefecture, Japan. She has had a column since October 2007 in the monthly manga magazine Manga Life.-Biography:...
, October 2007)