Mangajin

Mangajin was a monthly English-language magazine for students of Japanese language and culture by Mangajin, Inc. It was distinct from many other magazines of its type in that it unabashedly embraced Japanese popular culture as a learning tool and a route towards rapid acclimation into Japanese society. Each issue featured selections from various popular manga translated into English with detailed cultural and linguistic commentary.

Mangajin
First printed issue of Mangajin.
CategoriesManga, Japanese culture, language learning
PublisherMangajin, Inc.
Year founded1988
Final issueDecember 1997
CompanyMangajin, Inc.
LanguageEnglish
Websitemangajin.com

It was a unique language learning tool in that the manga that it excerpted showed the use of the language in various types of informal conversations. It would feature a few pages of manga with explanations of the grammar used and when that grammar/vocabulary combination might be appropriate. By contrast, most Japanese language textbooks for early students focus on formal versions of the language appropriate for business discussions.

The magazine ceased publication in December 1997 (issue 70) due to financial hardship. With increased worldwide interest in Japanese pop culture, the original manga publishers expected higher payments for their content, possibly beyond what was practical in this type of educational publication. Various books that collect many of the magazine's best features (as well as back issues of the magazine itself) are still highly prized by both self-taught and professionally tutored students of Japanese. An e-zine also continued the tradition of the publication.

The name is a combination of the Japanese words for "comic" (manga, 漫画) and "person" (jin, 人), is a pun on a Japanese word for magazine (マガジン, magajin), and a double pun in that gaijin (外人, [ɡaidʑiɴ]) is a Japanese word for "foreigner," "non-Japanese", or "alien". Thus, it is "A Manga magazine for outsiders".

History

Mangajin began shaping in 1988 when businessman and translator Vaughan P. Simmons began making prototypes of a magazine that could combine Japanese popular culture, entertainment, and language learning into one. Simmons worked with clients from American and European companies and saw how successful they could be with the Japanese and learned the culture, which boosted up the motivation for Mangajin.[1] When developing the concept, manga became an ideal solution with the medium being so large and attracting some of the best artists and writers. Manga also gives a big perspective on real Japanese society and how the language is spoken. Simmons started creating a "four-line-format" which shows the actual text as found in a Japanese manga, a romanization for pronunciation, a literal translation showing the structure of the expression, and an idiomatic English equivalent.[2]

Beginning with issue #49, the magazines include companion audio tapes for the corresponding issues until the end of the print edition at issue #70. Each tape contains audio reenactments of all of the Japanese manga material in that issue. Side A contains the stories acted by native Japanese-speaking voice actors. Side B contains stories read without pause, first in Japanese, then in English. For some of the longer/wordier issues, part of the line-by-line recording from Side A runs over onto Side B.[3]

North American versions were distributed by Weatherhill, Inc. Following the end of print magazine publication, Wasabi Brothers Trading Company and Rolomail Trading became publishers for Mangajin materials. Following the purchases of Weatherhill, Inc. by Shambhala Publications,[4] Mangajin materials were published by Shambhala Publications.

Japanese versions were distributed by Sekai Shuppan, inc.

Features

Manga series (bilingual English-Japanese)
Title Author Issues
Assari-kun Sō Nishimura 1
Hotel Shōtarō Ishinomori 1, 2, 30, 31
Tanaka-kun Hiroshi Tanaka 1, 2, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 19, 22, 23, 24, 27, 29, 34, 42, 46, 41
Theater Appare Yoshiie Goda 1, 3
What's Michael? Makoto Kobayashi
Jimi-Hen Nakazaki Tatsuya 2, 3
Dai-Tōkyō Binbō Seikatsu Manual (ビンボー生活マニュアル Greater Tokyo Poverty Living Manual) Tsukasa Maekawa 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 22, 26, 27, 34, 35, 51, 61
Pocket Story Masayuki Mori 3, 4, 6, 10, 12, 15
OL Shinkaron Akizuki Risu
Obatarian Hotta Katsuhiko
Toppu wa Ore da!! Torii Kazuyoshi 4
Gokigen Ne, Dadi Aoki Kimuko 5
Haguregumo George Akiyama 5
Galaxy Express 999 Matsumoto Reiji 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Urusei Yatsura, Oyuki Takahashi Rumiko 7, 8, 9
San-pun-kan no Dekigoto Tanioka Yasuji 9
O-jama Shimasu (オジャマします) Imazeki Shin
Sarari-kun (サラリくん) Nishimura So
Ningen Kosaten (釣りバカ日誌) Yajima Massao, Hirokane Kenshi
Koko Dake no Futari Take Shobo
The Silent Service Kawaguchi Kaiji
Chijou Saikyou no Jinrui Tanioka Yasuji
Konnichi-wa Kuriko-san (くろこさん、こんにちは) Terashima Reiko
Korobokkuru-kun Hanawa Kazuichi
Kochikame Osamu Akimoto 55, 56
Beranmee Touchan Tachibanaya Kikutaro
Sarariiman Senka (サラリーマン専科) Sadao Shoji
Tsurumoku Bachelors' Dormitory Kubonouchi Eisaku
Ai no Wakakusayama Monogatari Terashima Reiko
Bonobono Igarashi Mikio
Oishinbo Kariya Tetsu, Hanasaki Akira
Phoenix Tezuka Osamu
Eigyo Tenteko Nisshi (営業てんてこ日誌) Gyu & Kondo
Beranmei Tochan (べらんめい父ちゃん) Tachibanaya Kikutaro
Yuyake no Uta (夕焼けの詩) Saigan Ryohei
Furiten-kun Gyu & Kondo
Crayon Shin-chan Yoshito Usui
Mix Connection (みっくす・こねくしょん) Yoshito Usui 69
After Zero (アフター0) Okazaki Jiro
Tsuri-Baka Nisshi (釣りバカ日誌) Yamasaki & Kitami
Sanshiro no Koi (三四郎の恋) Maekawa Tsukasa
Midori-san (みどりさん) Akizuki Risu
O-Daiji ni (おだいじに) Kourita Christophe
Manga Business Manners (マンガビジネスマナー) Degushi & Minagawa
Yawara! Urasawa Naoki
Katsu-Shika Q (葛飾Q) Tomisawa Chinatsu
Kachō Kōsaku Shima Hirokane Kenshi
Garcia-kun (ガルシアくん) Takeuchi Akira
Sarai-kun (サライくん) Nishimura So
Selected Works of Ishii Hisaichi (いしいひさいち選集) Ishii Hisaichi
A Visual Glossary of Modern Terms (図説現代用語便覧) Deluxe Company
Dr. Slump Toriyama Akira
Take'emon-ke no Hitobito (タケエモン家のひとびと) Sato Take'emon
The Laughing Salesman Fujiko Fujio A
Naniwa Kin'yūdō Aoki Yuji
Arerugen Nakasa Yoshiro
Maboroshi no Futsu Shojo Uchida Shungiku
Okusama wa Interior Designer Akizuki Risu
Shoot! Oshima Tsukasa
Hyaku Monogotari Sugiura Hinako
Fancy Dance Okano Reiko
Kachō-san Shigoto Desu Yo Matsuura Seiji
Imadoki no Kodomo (いまどきのこども) Kubō Kiriko
Torishimariyaku Hira Namijirō Nitta Tatsuo
Cooking Papa Ueyama Tochi
Nippon Cha-Cha-Cha Yamazaki Kosuke
Living Game Hoshisato Mochiru
Salaryman Senka Shoji Sadao
Kono Hito ni Kakero Shu Ryoka, Yumeno Kazuko
Run! Run! Alcindo! Ohira Kazuo
Reggie Guy Jeans, Hiramatsu Minoru
Ai ga Hoshii Nonaka Nobara
Selections by a Deluxe Company Deluxe Company
Otoko wa Tsurai Yo Yamada Yoji
The Rakuten Family Nitta Tomoko
Sore demo Megezu Kawabata Issei
Kasai no Hito Mohri Jinpachi, Uoto Osamu
Akogare Depa-Gyaru Onuma Kaoru
Sekkachi-kun Tanaka Sho
Ponpoko Kacho Hashimoto Iwao
Boku-chin Yutosei Kitami Jiro
Aji Ichi Monme Abe Zenta, Kurata Yoshimi
Ajimantei Ono Shinjiro
Hyaku-nen Senryu Goda Yoshiie
Kekkon Shiyo Yo Hoshisato Michiru
Gal Gag World Sato Ryosaku
Kaji Ryusuke no Gi Hirokane Kenshi
Kekko Shiyo Yo Hoshisato Mochiru
Han no Kararicho Sonoyama Shunji
Kariage-kun Ueda Masashi
Sawayaka Sanda Tanba Tesshin
Sekai 4-Koma-ka Keikaku Hatakeyama Konzern
Yunbo-kun Saibara Rieko
Mammoth-like Ojosama Okada Garu
Kacho Baka Ichidai Nonake Eiji
Our Tono-sama Meguro Yasushi
App-Install Jonburi
Minori Densetsu Oze Akira
Yarikuri Company Hashimoto Iwao
Hundred-Year Senryu Goda Yoshiie
Happy Day Matsuura Seiji
President Ponpoko Hashimoto Iwao
Honto ka na George Gladir, Oyama Tetsuya
Kancho Baka Ichidai Nonaka Eiji
Fuji Santaro Sato Sanpei
Bow Wow Terry Yamamoto
Non-Career Woman Ishii Hisaichi
Ninja Bugei-cho Ishii Hisaichi
Hyakunen Senryu Goda Yoshiie
Kaiketsu!! Todo Kacho Kadohashi Yasuto
C-Class Salaryman Course Yamashina Keisuke
Honebuto-san Fujisubo Miki
Kochira Shakai-bu Otani Akihiro, Oshima Yasuichi
Seishun Nigiri Punch Hanakuma Yusaku

Publications

Mangajin magazines
  • Mangajin's Basic Japanese Through Comics: A compilation of issues 1-24 of Mangajin magazines categorized in lessons format. Each lesson consists of 6 pages of illustrations from the comics sections of the source magazines.
  • Weatherhill version: ISBN 083480452-2/ISBN 978-083480452-4[5][6][7]
  • Mangajin's Basic Japanese Through Comics (Part 2): Same as the previous release, but different lessons from issues 25-48 of Mangajin.
  • Weatherhill version: ISBN 083480453-0/ISBN 978-083480453-1[8]
  • Mangajin CD-ROM: Contains selected manga from the first 10 issues of Mangajin magazine, with trademark translations, language and cultural notes, and digitalized native Japanese voice recording.[9] Tony Gonzalez was the author of the CD-ROM.[10]
  • Mangajin's Japanese Grammar Through Comics
  • Weatherhill version: ISBN 0-9634335-5-5/ISBN 978-0-9634335-5-8[11]

Other Mangajin, Inc. books
  • Bringing Home the Sushi: An Inside Look at Japanese Business through Japanese Comics: A collection of business manga, in English, with introductory essays by Japan specialists[12]
  • Weatherhill version: ISBN 0-9634335-2-0[13]
  • The Essence of Modern Haiku: 300 haiku poems by Seishi Yamaguchi: An English translation of Seishi Yamaguchi's haiku collection.[14][15]
  • Weatherhill version: ISBN 0-9634335-3-9/ISBN 978-0-9634335-3-4 (paperback), ISBN 0-9634335-0-4/ISBN 978-0-9634335-0-3 (hardcover)[16]
  • Senryū: Haiku Reflections of the Times: A compilation of 100 senryu that have appeared over an eight year period in Japan's most popular newspaper, the Yomiuri.[17]
  • Unlocking the Japanese Business Mind: An in-depth analysis of the complex cultural dynamics Japanese and Americans must confront when they come together to do business.
  • DIANE Publishing Company version: ISBN 075675074-1/ISBN 978-075675074-9
  • Weatherhill version: ISBN 093012410-3/ISBN 978-093012410-6[18]

Rolomail Trading Company Products
  • Joyo Kanji Wall Chart Set: Contains 3 wall charts with the entire 1,945 General Use Chinese Characters.[19]
  • The Kanji Way to Japanese Language Power
  • 2nd edition: ISBN 09625489-0-1/ISBN 978-09625489-0-1[20]
  • A Guide to Remembering Japanese Characters: Includes etymology of 1,945 General Use Chinese Characters.
  • 2nd edition: ISBN 080482038-4/ISBN 978-080482038-7[21]
  • Salaryman Kintaro: The Complete Series: Contains all 10 Volumes of the series.[22]

Sekai Shuppan, inc. products
  • Master English the Mangajin Way/ 漫画人英語上達革命 マンガで英語をものにするトレーニング・ブック: Includes print and cassette tape editions.[23]

Stone Bridge Press products
  • Japanese the Manga Way: An Illustrated Guide to Grammar and Structure: Includes translated comic book panels from the Mangajin magazines.
  • Stone Bridge Press version: ISBN 1-880656-90-6/ISBN 978-1-880656-90-7[24]
gollark: Checkers are more effort than PB prizes? I'm pretty sure the second one involves more waiting.
gollark: ***influence***
gollark: I mean, probably. I just googled five-leaf clover.
gollark: Five-leaf clover!
gollark: Are the ratios on them weird or something?

See also

References
  1. "The Beginnings of Mangajin". Wasabi Brothers. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
  2. "Developing the Concept". Wasabi Brothers. Archived from the original on 20 October 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  3. Tape Description
  4. About Shambhala
  5. Basic Japanese Through Comics Part 1
  6. Basic Japanese Through Comics Vol. 1
  7. Basic Japanese through Comics
  8. Basic Japanese Through Comics Vol. 2
  9. Mangajin CD-ROM
  10. Tony Gonzalez Translation, Software Localization, and Technical Project Professional
  11. Mangajin's Japanese Grammar Through Comics
  12. Bringing Home the Sushi Nine examples of Japanese business comics, with introductory essays by Japan experts.
  13. Bringing Home the Sushi An Inside Look at Japanese Business Through Japanese Comics
  14. The Essence of Modern Haiku
  15. The Essence of Modern Haiku
  16. The Essence of Modern Haiku 300 Poems by Seishi Yamaguchi
  17. Senryu: Haiku Reflections of the Times
  18. Unlocking the Japanese Business Mind
  19. Japanese Kanji Wall Chart Set
  20. The Kanji Way to Japanese Language Power
  21. A Guide to Remembering Japanese Characters
  22. Salaryman Kintaro: The Complete 10 Volume Series
  23. 「漫画人」英語上達革命：マンガで英語をモノにするトレーニング・ブック
  24. Japanese the Manga Way: An Illustrated Guide to Grammar and Structure
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