Manga Genre
Similar to english novels, Manga comics are categorized into
many genres. In this page, we will be introducing some of the
more common and popular manga genres.
Shonen
 In Japanese, the word "shonen" refers to
teenagers. Manga in this genre normally targets at young
males from elementary school to junior high school.
Currently in Japan, shonen manga comics are the most
popular.
A typical shonen manga would feature male characters in
action-packed plots, coupled with humorous scenes. Friendships
between male characters are also highly emphasized. Usually, as
an act of fan service, the mangaka (manga authors) would
include several attractive female characters.
Popular Shonen Manga: Dragon Ball, Naruto,
Bleach and One Piece
Shojo
 Shojo literally means young girls, and shojo
manga comics are marketed to female readers between age 10
and 18.
Compared to shonen manga, this type of manga focuses more on
relationships (usually romance) between the characters and
their emotional transformation.
Popular Shojo Manga: Fruit Basket, Hana
Yori Dango and Hana Kimi
Seinen
 Seinen means young man, it can be considered as
an “older” version of shonen manga. The targeted readers
are between age of 18 to 30 and occasionally men in the
40s.
Different from shonen manga, seinen manga comics have wider
range of art styles. Topics can range from innovative arts to
violence and romance. Seinen manga drawing styles are more
realistic, therefore, this type of manga are not suitable for
young readers.
Popular Seinen Manga: 20th Century Boys,
Chobits and xxxHolics
Josei
 Josei manga is the female equivalent of Seinen
manga. The target audiences are female aged between 18 and
30.
Unlike Shojo, the storylines and romance are more realistic
and less perfect. Often, the stories revolve around the life of
the characters and their life experiences. Similar to Seinen,
Josei manga comics are more explicit and more suited for mature
readers.
Popular Josei Manga: Honey and Clover,
Nodame Cantabile and Gokusen
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