Christmas is the perfect opportunity to please a fan of manga — and Japanese culture as a whole. But between shonens, shojos, seinens, how can we really satisfy such a demanding community?
If this was less the case some time ago, it’s a safe bet that at least one manga fan is in your circle. For several years, manga has been one of the most popular cultural products and has seen its community of fans grow. It therefore also becomes a good way to please.
But between the hundreds of manga available in bookstores, video games, clothing and many other derivative products, the gift possibilities are such that it becomes complicated for buyers to ensure they make the right choice. To solve this puzzle, here is a guide to spoiling your otaku favorites.
Shōnen, sure values
Since the arrival of manga in France, one editorial category has dominated a large share of the market: shōnen. This “type” of manga was once described as primarily aimed at adolescent boys, but in fact, it affects any manga fan, regardless of the genre. You can find everything there: adventure, action, comedy, romance… shōnen is a vast universe, which often represents the gateway for anyone who wants to learn about Japanese comics. And the titles available are numerous, varied and interesting.
In the action-adventure genre, we can for example cite the essentials:
We can also talk about the hits of the moment, propelled by the broadcast of the animated adaptation this fall, as is the case of:
These two mangas symbolize the diversity of this category: the first is a dark, violent action manga, while the second is lighter and comical.
Depending on the tastes of the person who will receive a gift, you must be careful about the shōnen you want to give. For a sports fan, manga like Blue Lock Or SlamDunk, titles from today and yesterday will do the trick. For a lover of light stories, a manga like Frieren, which mixes fantasy, adventure and “slice of life” would be perfect. Shonens that mix romance, comedies and life lessons also exist, such as Kaguya-Sama: Love is War Or Komi searches for words.
Deepening, with seinens and shōjos
Behind shōnen, two other editorial categories occupy a significant share of the market: seinens and the shōjos. These are two categories that are aimed more at those already well immersed in the manga ecosystem. It was previously said that seinen was aimed at adult males while shōjo was aimed more at young girls. But again, this is not really the case anymore — these categories are not closed to a targeted audience. Shōjo thus has a fairly large male audience, while seinen is read by both children and female audiences.
The seinen is especially said to be “mature”. The plot and the messages conveyed are more realistic, more mature – but be careful, everything is also more violent. This genre, even if it has become more popular, is therefore not for everyone. The seinen corresponds more to readers looking for epic intrigues which provide a certain reflection. Berserk, Vagabond And Vinland Saga are the three absolute references in this field, and they will undoubtedly delight readers who are interested in them. Plutowhich benefited from an anime adaptation on Netflix, also deserves to be (re)discovered with its manga.
In the seinen genre, less violent titles also exist. The Apothecary’s Notebooks, a manga which benefits from an animated adaptation, is also a seinen, despite its colorful and light appearance. It must be said that the work addresses themes such as prostitution or political games at the heart of the imperial court of China. Bride Storieswhich portrays several families in 19th century Central Asia, is also a good example of what seinens can offer in terms of discovering cultures of the past as well as the present.
On the shōjo side, one might naively think that the genre is limited to romantic mangas. This is more or less true, in the sense that the most famous shōjos address this theme. Nana, Fruit Basket Or Orange will delight those who are interested in this type of intrigue.
But alongside, we also find themes like fantasy, represented with lots of stars by Sailor Moon. Finally, The Rose of Versailles, a manga that will perhaps speak to some under the name of Lady Oscar, is also a notable recommendation. This title, which mixes drama, history and romance, shows the diversity of shōjo.
The derived products
Apart from manga, derivative products are also a very interesting gift idea. Video games adapted from manga, such as Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections, One Piece Odyssey or Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles are excellent fighting games that would be fun if a gamer who is a manga fan is in your circle. These are also games which have a good lifespan, which are not boring and which have been available on the market for a long time. Finding them second-hand is therefore easy.
Other manga-related products, such as figurines, collectibles and many other goodies, are also popular gifts. You just need to know the favorite manga of the loved one you want to spoil to be able to choose the right gift. Note that derivative products linked to shōnen and seinen, which are more popular and bankable, are much more present in specialized stores or in certain cultural brands, such as Fnac. Today it is very easy to find very beautiful figurines straight from Japan for reasonable prices, between 30 and 70 euros.
The quality-price ratio is also important. A figurine costing less than 30 euros, for example, is often less faithful to the character, while a figurine costing more than 100 euros can prove excessive and does not always guarantee precise manufacturing quality. A logic that also applies to clothing.
Collaborations between brands and mangas have multiplied in recent months, and several of them are of good quality. We find a lot of them online, sometimes on well-known platforms or small independent structures. But for this type of purchase, it is advisable to go to the store to ensure the quality of the product. In this area, we can cite Celio, which offers in-store and online clothing series in the colors of very popular manga, such as One Piece, Fullmetal Alchemist, Chainsaw Man or even GTO (Great Teacher Onizuka, not GTA). Collections that form real fashion products, perfectly associated with manga culture. And it will please any manga fan, from the most sober to the most eccentric.
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