Manga has attained phenomenal worldwide success in recent years, and shows no signs of slowing down. As contemporary as this graphic artform may appear to readers outside of Japan, manga is the fruit of a long artistic tradition. Manga as we know it today is deeply rooted in ancient Japanese culture, and traces can be found in seventh-century temple paintings, folding screens decorated with comical characters, and painted scrolls. The more familiar manga comics of today, aimed at a broad audience of adults as well as children, echo similar themes and draw on narrative forms from throughout Japan’s rich history.

This book spans the history of manga in all its splendour and diversity. From Hokusai’s seminal Manga of 1814 to the genre-shaping works of Tezuka Osamu, from the friendly ghosts and monsters created by Mizuki Shigeru to huge franchises such as One Piece and Demon Slayer, every period is covered. One Thousand Years of Manga is both a rich documentary account and a visual delight packed with over 400 illustrations, demonstrating how this mass-produced medium has become a key facet of Japanese culture that is now enjoyed across the globe.