Journey through Japan's illustrated history and discover the roots of manga before it took the world by storm.

In this compelling survey, art historian Andreas Marks traces the development of Japanese illustrated books in premodern times. As early as the 17th century, Japanese publishers were producing thousands of illustrated titles on subjects ranging from religion and poetry to celebrated beauties, famous kabuki actors, farting warriors, and adventure tales. This flourishing book culture laid the foundation for the vibrant manga and comics industry of today.

Marks explores this evolution through five key works, including:

• Kitagawa Utamaro's Illustrated Book of Selected Creatures (1788) — a beautifully illustrated collection of plants and animals paired with poetry.
• Hokusai's Sketchbooks (early 1800s) — featuring hundreds of innovative drawing and design ideas by Katsushika Hokusai, whose work influenced many renowned European artists.
• The New Illustrated Water Margin — Hokusai's adaptation of a Chinese novel about a band of fictional heroes with superpowers, offering a bold reimagining of the story.
• The Tale of Shiranui (1849 - 1910) — an adventure novel serialized over six decades.
• The early-20th-century Current Affairs Manga — the first periodical to use the word "manga" in its title, providing illustrated commentary on contemporary political events.

Japan's Manga Revolution offers the first comprehensive overview of Japan's rich tradition of illustrated storytelling and its lasting impact on visual culture worldwide.

"Marks (Japanese Woodblock Prints), curator at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, presents a lavishly illustrated survey of three centuries of art that shaped Japanese comics. […] Readers curious about the historical roots of contemporary pop culture will find plenty to explore." —Publisher's Weekly
"Tracing the evolution of the Japanese storytelling art style through the centuries with a focus on five key works, Japan's Manga Revolutionáis thoroughly accessible to academic and lay readers alike, and a welcome addition to public and college library comic history and literary studies collections. Highly recommended!" —Midwest Book Review

Dr. Andreas Marks is the Mary Griggs Burke Curator of Japanese and Korean Art and Director of the Clark Center for Japanese Art at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. From 2008 to 2013 he was the director and chief curator of the Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture in California. He received a Ph.D. from Leiden University and a master's degree in East Asian Art History from the University of Bonn. A specialist in Japanese woodblock prints, he is the author of over 20 books. In 2014 he received the International Ukiyo-e Society Award in recognition of his research, and in 2018 and 2022 the top book award from the International Fine Print Dealers Association.