Identifying manga genres can be pretty tricky. There seems to be a plethora compared to English literature, and each primary genre continues to branch out in sub-genres.
In this post, I will help clear the confusion as we discuss the different manga genres. We will start by identifying the ten main manga genres unique to Japan, and then we will dig into three more genres that may seem odd, if not outright weird.
Let’s start
Table of Contents
1.) Shounen
What is the shounen genre? Normally shounen has a main character who is arguably worse off than the entire group but special in some way. The character slowly fights against all odds to increase their ability to discover their hidden abilities becoming the best in the world.
The shounen genre is arguably the most famous genre of manga. It features stories that focus on action and adventure. Normally shounen has a main character who is arguably worse at tasks than a group of people and slowly they fight against all odds to increase their ability and end up being the best in the world. with a group of friends.
Who is the shounen genre for? It is intended for the young male demographic, ranging from pre-teens to eighteen. The word “shounen” itself translates to “young boy.”
Still, even adults and females read mangas under this genre. Being the most popular of all, It has a broad reach regardless of gender and age, and at least one of your favorite mangas is likely shounen.
| Shonan Sub-Genres | Details | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Action | Shounen manga is action-heavy for the most part. Depending on the other involved sub-genres, we can find the main character fighting humans, fighting animals, fighting robots, fighting aliens, or fighting other species. | Dragon Ball Naruto Boku no Hero Academia |
| Fantasy | As the term implies, the sub-genre of fantasy takes place in magical worlds. Mystical elements are usually involved, with characters who know how to use magic or cast spells. | No Game No Life Sword Art Online Attack on Titans Jujutsu Kaisen |
| Adventure | In the sub-genre of adventure, characters explore a vast world of possibilities with a goal in mind. Sometimes, their journey even takes them to other planets and dimensions. | Hunter x Hunter One Piece Kimetsu no Yaiba |
| Sports | Many popular shounen titles tackle the challenges and growth of being part of a sports team, as sports are a commonly significant part of a teenage boy’s life. | Haikyuu Kuroko no Basket |
2.) Seinen
What is the seinen genre? The seinen genre is considered as the older side of shounen Replicating real life with real consequences. It delves deeper into the humanity and development of characters and places emphasis on story depth.
Who is the seinen genre for? Seinen manga is marketed towards male viewers above eighteen. As such, its sub-genres can be deemed more mature than those of shounen.
Examples:
- Vagabond
- Berserk
- Black Lagoon
- Cowboy Bebop
- Psycho-Pass
- Ghost In The Shell
| Shonan Sub-Genres | Details | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Psychological | Although the psychological sub-genre can coincide with shounen, it is more commonly seen in seinen. This is because it can get dark, and the themes weigh heavy on the mind. | Bokurano Tajuu Jinkaku Tantei Psycho |
| Tragedy | Mangas of the tragedy sub-genre are usually kept to the seinen demographic, as some of them may be too difficult for younger audiences to process. | Clanned Oyasumi Punpun Vinland Saga Fate/Zero |
| Horror | Japan is known for its superior horror stories. Because they can be quite graphic, this sub-genre primarily caters to the seinen market, which is quite visual in its gore. | Gantz Death Note Hellsing Ultimate |
| Mecha | Mecha is the sub-genre for any manga that features robots or humanoids. Although this is a common theme across all types of manga, it is best classified under seinen as there are commonly moral elements involved. Mecha-seinen manga includes psychological themes revolving around hatred, revenge, death, and politics. | Pluto Gundam |
3.) Shoujo
What is the shoujo genre? The shoujo genre is considered the feminine counterpart of shounen. It is commonly centered around a female teenager and shows how her environment shapes her character.
Who is the shoujo genre for? It is intended for the young female demographic, with ages ranging from 10-18. The word “shoujo” directly translates to “young woman.” Understandably so, its sub-genres specifically cater to this demographic’s inclinations.
Examples:
| Shonan Sub-Genres | Details | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Romance | Romance is a mainstay for mangas under the shoujo genre. Just as young girls are entranced with the idea of true love, shoujo readers enjoy reading about ideal romances. | Kaichou wa Maid-Sama Ouran Highschool Host Club |
| Slice of Life | Slice of life is a sub-genre that revolves around stories that take place in daily set-ups. Standard settings include suburban high schools, and there is an emphasis placed on the relationships between characters. Many shoujo mangas fall under this genre; popular titles include: | Ao Haru Ride Orange |
| Mahou Girl | Mahou girl translates to “magical girl,” and this shoujo sub-genre leans most towards the fantastical. The main characters are usually girls with magical abilities. | Cardcaptor Sakura Sailor Moon |
4.) Josei
What is the josei genre? The josei genre is the adult version of shoujo. It still includes an inclination towards relationships and personal development, but the connections are considerably more serious, and the struggles involved touch on career, motherhood, and self-fulfillment.
Who is the josei genre for? Josei manga caters to the adult female demographic.
Examples:
| Shonan Sub-Genres | Details | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Drama | In the western world, “a dramatic novel” usually pertains to something over-the-top. The opposite is true for the manga world. Drama is a manga sub-genre that gets into the nitty-gritty of life; its stories are more somber. | Chihayufuru |
| Historical | As implied, the historical sub-genre sets the story in a period from the past. There are varying degrees of accuracy, with some mangas taking place in Edo, Japan, and referring to actual events, while other mangas create a new, fictionalized world. | Emma |
| Otome Isekai | Otome Isekai is a sub-genre wherein the female protagonist is transported back in time. Think historical manga with a twist of fantasy. | Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori |
5.) Kodomo
What is the kodomo genre? The kodomo genre is relatively light-hearted, as it uses cute characters to teach moral lessons.
Who is the kodomo genre for? It is directed towards children aged ten years old and younger. However, the appeal of kodomo characters makes it enticing for readers of all ages.
Examples:
- Doraemon
- Pokemon
6.) Shounen-ai
What is the shounen-ai genre? Shounen-ai directly translates to “boys’ love” or BL. It depicts gay relationships between men.
Who is the shounen-ai genre for? Interestingly enough, shounen-ai mangas are written for women by women.
Examples:
7.) Yaoi
What is the yaoi genre? The yaoi genre is the adult version of shounen-ai. Although it also delves into the progression of a romantic relationship between men, it also spends a considerable amount of time graphically portraying more expressive parts of the relationship.
Who is the yaoi genre for? Yaoi caters to a predominantly female audience as it highlights the soft characteristics of men. Still, men are also known to read mangas under this genre.
Examples:
| Shonan Sub-Genre | Details | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Drama | Bara is the sub-genre of yaoi that focuses on the masculine characteristics of its characters. It commonly features older men and has more serious themes. The bara sub-genre is said to be written by men, for men. | Akkan Complete Darkness Hound |
8.) Shoujo-ai
What is the shoujo-ai genre? Shoujo-ai is translated as “girls’ love.” It portrays romantic, non-explicit lesbian relationships.
Who is the shoujo-ai genre for? Shoujo-ai largely caters to a female market. It contains similar elements to shoujo, except both characters in the central relationship, are girls.
Examples:
9.) Yuri
What is the yuri genre? Yuri is the explicit version of shoujo-ai. It can also be viewed as the physical counterpart of shoujo-ai. It places less emphasis on character development and focuses on the more expressive parts of the relationship.
Who is the yuri genre for? Yuri mangas have been produced for both male and female audiences. For instance, Comic Yuri Hime prints yuri manga catering to females, while Comic Yuri Hime S targets the male demographic.
Examples:
10.) Ecchi
What is the ecchi genre? The ecchi genre encompasses manga that contains a lot of fan service. It is suggestive and has suggestive undertones, but it does not cross into the explicit territory.
Who is the ecchi genre for? Ecchi caters to teenage and adult males.
| Shonan Sub-Genre | Details | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Harem | Ecchi mangas usually fall under the harem sub-genre as well. Multiple love interests and polygonous relationships define harems, wherein the male lead is surrounded by at least three women who are vying for his attention. Anything less will be categorized as a mere love triangle. | High School DxD Tenchi Muyo |
Now it’s time for the bonuses. These are genres that are forgotten but in Japan there growing.
11.) Ero-Guro
What is the ero-guro genre? The ero-guro genre, also known as Guro, contains graphics that are considered both erotic and grotesque. It combines extreme brutality with you know what.
Who is the ero-guro genre for? Ero-guro manga caters to a very specific niche with a certain kind of fetish.
Examples:
- Urotsukidoji by Toshio Maeda
- Abstractions by Shintaro Kago
12.) Magical Girlfriend
What is the magical girlfriend genre? The magical girlfriend genre depicts a human male with a non-human girlfriend. This girlfriend can be a robot, a deity, a monster, an alien, or a different species.
Who is the magical girlfriend genre for? This genre caters to men with a fetish who have a particular ideal in mind. Both the fans and the critics of this genre agree that magical girlfriends generally contain traits of the Yamato Nadeshiko; that is, the ideal Japanese woman.
Examples:
Conclusion
Now you might have seen a title on this list that looked like it might be better suited in a slightly different category. That’s because most manga can fit into two or even three genres. Pokemon fits as much in shonen as it does in kodomo. But This list was supposed to give you a general idea of how the manga industry sees genres different from the film and tv industry.
In Japan, genres and demographics blend together, so sometimes, it’s hard to determine the nuanced differences. I hope this post has helped shed light on those.
Now, it’s time to hear from you:
Did I miss anything?
What is your favorite manga genre?
Whatever your answer is, let’s hear it in the comments below.
