The Land of the Comic Book Japanese comic books are avidly read by children and adults alike.
Cartoons often appear in other media as well, including films, television and advertising.
By looking at the prevalence of this genre, we can gain insight into modern Japanese society. Written by Yonezawa Yoshihiro Photos by Takano Akira and Kono Toshihiko Japanese Text Comic books have a wider following in Japan than most people would ever imagine. About 350 comics and 500 comic books are published every month. Twelve comics appear on a weekly basis, the most popular being Shonen Magazine , with almost four million copies distributed every week. Reading comics is a more popular leisure activity than going to the movies or reading novels, and may even be more popular than watching television or listening to music.