PARIS.- The Musée national des arts asiatiques – Guimet opened Manga. Tout un art !, a major exhibition dedicated to the artistic richness, cultural significance, and historical depth of Japanese manga. Far beyond a mass-market cultural product, manga is presented here as a dynamic artistic tradition whose roots reach deep into Japanese visual history.

Bringing together original manga drawings, rare illustrated books, Buddhist sculpture, Edo-period prints, emaki scrolls, and contemporary works, the exhibition reflects the vitality of a medium that has shaped global popular culture while remaining closely connected to centuries-old artistic practices.

A New Narrative for Manga

The exhibition traces manga’s development from the 19th century to today. Early satirical magazines published in Yokohama, including The Japan Punch and Tôbaé, illustrate the first encounters between Japanese artists and Western caricature. These early experiments laid the foundations for the modern manga industry, which took form after 1945 with the groundbreaking innovations of Tezuka Osamu, whose cinematic drawing style revolutionized narrative storytelling.

From Gekiga to Global Phenomenon

The exhibition explores the full spectrum of manga genres and movements:

• Gekiga, the dramatic, adult-oriented movement of the late 1950s, which brought realism and social critique into manga;

• Shōjo manga, created largely by women and defined by expressive page design and psychological nuance;

• Shōnen manga, now the most widely distributed form worldwide, represented by iconic series such as Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece, and Demon Slayer;

• The influential work of Mizuki Shigeru, whose depictions of yokai helped shape the visual vocabulary of Japanese folklore in manga.

Historical Parallels and Artistic Lineage

Before manga, Japanese artists created works whose narrative approaches resonate strongly with today’s readers. The exhibition highlights emaki scrolls, humorous Edo-period prints, illustrated novels (yomihon, kusazoshi), and Hokusai’s Manga sketchbooks. These historical objects reveal long-standing traditions of dynamic composition, episodic storytelling, fantastical imagery, and the early use of speech and thought indicators.

A special section is devoted to Hokusai’s Great Wave, presented as a global visual icon whose influence extends from modern manga to contemporary fashion, film, and graphic arts.

Programming and Additional Content

• To accompany the exhibition, the museum offers:

• A dedicated manga reading library,

• Public programs including lectures, film screenings, cosplay events, and performances,

• A full exhibition catalogue, Manga. Tout un art ! (Éditions Guimet, 2025),

• Free visitors’ guides for adults and young audiences.