Asian culture, A to Z.
Anime, manga, drama, gastronomy, traditions, personalities. Browse the encyclopedia of Japanese, Chinese and Korean culture.
Dorohedoro
Dark fantasy manga by Q Hayashida, serialized from 2000 to 2018 in Monthly Ikki, then Hibana, and finally Monthly Shonen Sunday. Caiman, a man whose head was transformed into a reptile head by a sorcerer, lives in the Hole, a slum where sorcerers come to practice their magic on humans. A unique, violent, and absurd universe blending horror, dark humor, and cooking in a grimy, fascinating world.
Monster
Psychological thriller manga by Naoki Urasawa, serialized in Shogakukan's Big Comic Original from 1994 to 2001. Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a brilliant Japanese neurosurgeon working in Germany, saves the life of a young boy shot in the head instead of a politician. Years later, the saved child is revealed to be Johan Liebert, a sociopathic serial killer of terrifying intelligence. One of the most acclaimed thrillers in manga history.
20th Century Boys
Thriller manga by Naoki Urasawa, serialized in Shogakukan's Big Comic Spirits from 1999 to 2006, followed by 21st Century Boys in 2007. Kenji Endo and his childhood friends discover that a mysterious cult leader known as Friend is orchestrating a plan for world destruction based on their childhood fantasies. A masterpiece of suspense and non-linear storytelling, awarded at the Angouleme Festival.
Kingdom
Historical manga by Yasuhisa Hara, serialized in Weekly Young Jump since 2006. Set in China's Warring States period (3rd century BC), it follows Shin, a young orphaned slave who dreams of becoming the greatest general under heaven, alongside Ei Sei, the future first emperor of China. One of the best-selling manga in Japan with over 100 million copies.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Manga by Hirohiko Araki serialized since 1987, first in Weekly Shonen Jump then in Ultra Jump. A multigenerational saga following members of the Joestar bloodline across different eras and continents, with each part introducing a new protagonist and genre. Famous for its iconic poses, Stand system, and art style influenced by fashion and sculpture.
Vagabond
Seinen manga by Takehiko Inoue, serialized in Kodansha's Morning from 1998 to 2015. Loosely inspired by Eiji Yoshikawa's novel Musashi, it traces the life of Miyamoto Musashi, the most legendary swordsman of feudal Japan. A visual and philosophical masterpiece about the way of the sword, violence, and self-discovery, currently on indefinite hiatus.
Berserk
Dark fantasy manga by Kentaro Miura, serialized since 1989 in Young Animal. Guts, a lone mercenary wielding an oversized sword, traverses a merciless medieval world marked by violence, demons, and the betrayal of the man he considered a brother. Considered one of the greatest manga ever written, the work has been continued by Studio Gaga after Miura's passing in 2021.
One Punch Man
Anime series adapted from ONE's manga, redrawn by Yusuke Murata. Produced by Madhouse (season 1, 2015) then J.C.Staff (season 2, 2019), it follows Saitama, a hero so powerful he can defeat any opponent with a single punch, which leaves him in a state of deep existential boredom. A brilliant parody and deconstruction of the superhero genre, the work is also a commentary on the search for meaning and meritocracy.
Sword Art Online
Anime series adapted from Reki Kawahara's light novels, produced by A-1 Pictures since 2012. In the near future, 10,000 players are trapped in a virtual reality MMORPG where dying in the game means dying in real life. Kirito, a solo player and expert swordsman, must reach the 100th floor to free all prisoners. A pioneer of the modern isekai genre, the franchise spans 96 TV episodes and a film.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
Anime adapted from Rifujin na Magonote's web novel, produced by Studio Bind (founded specifically for this project) and aired from 2021. A 34-year-old unemployed and socially isolated Japanese man dies and is reincarnated in a medieval fantasy world as Rudeus Greyrat, retaining his adult memories and consciousness in a child's body. The work, whose web publication began in 2012, is widely considered the foundational text of the modern isekai genre, having established many of its narrative conventions. The exceptional quality of its animation and the depth of its world make it a genre benchmark.
Slam Dunk
Basketball anime and manga created by Takehiko Inoue, with an anime produced by Toei Animation aired from 1993 to 1996 (101 episodes). Hanamichi Sakuragi, a red-haired high school delinquent with exceptional athletic abilities, joins the Shohoku basketball team to impress a girl and discovers a genuine passion for the sport. The work is credited with popularizing basketball in Japan and remains one of the best-selling sports manga in history with over 170 million copies sold. The film THE FIRST SLAM DUNK (2022) renewed its worldwide success.
Ghost in the Shell
Animated film directed by Mamoru Oshii in 1995, produced by Production I.G and adapted from Masamune Shirow's manga. In a cyberpunk future where the boundary between human and machine blurs, Major Motoko Kusanagi, a Section 9 public security cyborg, hunts an elusive hacker known as the Puppet Master. The film is a foundational work of cinematic cyberpunk that profoundly influenced The Matrix, posing fundamental philosophical questions about consciousness, identity and what defines humanity in the digital age.
Gintama
Anime adapted from Hideaki Sorachi's manga, produced by Sunrise studio and aired from 2006 to 2021 for a total of 367 episodes. In an alternate feudal Japan invaded by aliens called Amanto, samurai Gintoki Sakata runs the Yorozuya, an odd-jobs business, with his companions Shinpachi and Kagura. The work is celebrated for its unique blend of parodic comedy, absurd humor and dramatic arcs of striking emotional intensity, constantly breaking the fourth wall and narrative conventions.
Vinland Saga
Anime adapted from Makoto Yukimura's seinen manga, produced by WIT Studio (season 1, 2019) then MAPPA (season 2, 2023). In 11th century England and Scandinavia, young Viking Thorfinn, son of pacifist warrior Thors, is drawn into a spiral of violence and revenge after his father's assassination by mercenary Askeladd. The work evolves from a brutal revenge narrative into a profound meditation on non-violence, redemption and the meaning of the warrior's life, becoming one of the most acclaimed historical manga.
Mob Psycho 100
Anime adapted from ONE's manga (the author of One Punch Man), produced by Bones studio and aired in three seasons from 2016 to 2022. Shigeo Kageyama, nicknamed 'Mob', is a middle school student with phenomenal psychic powers who aspires to an ordinary life and works for Reigen Arataka, a charismatic fake psychic. The work subverts shonen conventions by showing that true strength lies not in supernatural powers but in personal growth, kindness and human relationships. Bones' animation is hailed as among the most inventive in the industry.
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
Original anime produced by Sunrise studio and aired in two seasons between 2006 and 2008. Lelouch vi Britannia, an exiled prince of the Holy Britannian Empire living under a false identity in occupied Japan (renamed Area 11), gains the power of Geass which allows him to command anyone once. Under the mask of Zero, he leads a strategic rebellion against the empire. The work blends mecha, political drama, military strategy and moral dilemmas in a gripping narrative crowned by one of the most celebrated endings in anime history.
Cowboy Bebop
Original 26-episode anime series directed by Shinichiro Watanabe and produced by Sunrise studio, aired in 1998-1999. In a colonized solar system in 2071, the disparate crew of the spaceship Bebop, led by laid-back bounty hunter Spike Spiegel, hunts criminals to survive. The work fuses jazz, film noir, kung-fu and space western into a unique style that redefined Japanese animation for Western audiences. Considered one of the greatest anime series of all time.
Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World
Anime adapted from Tappei Nagatsuki's web novel, produced by White Fox studio and aired from 2016. Subaru Natsuki, a Japanese teenager transported to a fantasy world, discovers he possesses a unique power: Return by Death, which brings him back to a checkpoint each time he dies. This narrative mechanic transforms the traditional isekai into a harrowing psychological thriller where the protagonist must endure repeated deaths to find the path to survival. The work is recognized for its deconstruction of the isekai genre and its exploration of trauma.
Made in Abyss
Anime adapted from Akihito Tsukushi's manga, produced by Kinema Citrus studio and aired in 2017. In a fictional city built around a gigantic chasm called the Abyss, young orphan Riko discovers a humanoid robot and decides to descend into the forbidden depths to find her mother, a legendary explorer. Beneath its colorful and childlike appearance, the work conceals a narrative of striking cruelty and darkness, exploring themes of sacrifice, curiosity and the price of adventure.
Violet Evergarden
Anime adapted from Kana Akatsuki's light novel, produced by Kyoto Animation and aired in 2018. Violet Evergarden, a former soldier-weapon who lost both arms during the war, becomes an Auto Memory Doll (letter writer) to understand the last words of her commander, Major Gilbert: 'I love you'. The work is renowned for the exceptional excellence of its animation and its ability to explore the deepest human emotions through letter writing.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
Anime adapted from the manga by Kanehito Yamada (story) and Tsukasa Abe (art), produced by Madhouse studio in 2023. After defeating the Demon King at the end of a ten-year quest, the elven mage Frieren realizes she failed to appreciate the time spent with her mortal companions. The work explores with delicacy the themes of grief, memory and the perception of time through the life of an immortal being. Awarded the Crunchyroll Anime Award and praised by critics for its contemplative storytelling.
Perfect Blue
Animated film directed by Satoshi Kon in 1997, produced by Madhouse studio. Mima Kirigoe, a J-pop singer from the group CHAM!, leaves music to become an actress but descends into paranoia as a stalker harasses her and a mysterious website seems to chronicle her private life. A pioneering psychological thriller that influenced directors like Darren Aronofsky and Christopher Nolan, the film masterfully blurs the boundaries between reality, fiction and madness.
Akira
Animated film directed by Katsuhiro Otomo in 1988, adapted from his own manga. In a Neo-Tokyo rebuilt after a nuclear explosion, young biker Kaneda tries to save his friend Tetsuo whose psychic powers become uncontrollable. Produced on a record budget exceeding one billion yen, the film became a foundational work of modern animation and the cyberpunk genre, profoundly influencing Western cinema, music and popular culture.
Your Name (Kimi no Na wa)
Animated film directed by Makoto Shinkai and produced by CoMix Wave Films in 2016. Two teenagers, Taki in Tokyo and Mitsuha in rural Gifu, mysteriously swap bodies across time. The film grossed over 380 million dollars worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing anime film of its era and a global cultural phenomenon. Its blend of romance, fantasy and natural disaster redefined mainstream Japanese animation.