Much of today’s youth culture is being fashioned not just by what pre-teens and teenagers watch on television and learn from their friends, but what they read, and manga is obviously having an impact on that culture. Anyone can go into a mall or any other teen hang-out and see young people wearing t-shirts emblazoned with pictures from Death Note or Full Metal Alchemist. We can see how Japanese slang is slipping into normal speech, being Americanized and being understood by their peer groups. Even major corporations are picking up the manga style and using it in advertisements.

So what does this mean to youth culture? Obviously, the pre-teens and teenagers of today’s society are reading manga, which is becoming more and more popular as numerous titles are released. But is there really more of an impact? Seeing that not only clothing trends but literary trends are changing, this author has to believe that manga is having a huge effect on youth culture today. It’s now possible to find clothing not only featuring favorite mangas and manga characters in bold colors, but even similar clothing to dress up like these idols in popular boutiques and chain stores. There is also a surge in the unique and manga-inspired Gothic Lolita style that is so popular in Japan.

But clothing is not the only part of youth culture affected by manga. Reading manga encourages pre-teens and teens to seek out the anime counterparts of their favorite series, and thus music being listened to ranges from the bubble gum sounds of J-Pop to the harder heavy metal theme songs of some corresponding animes. Books on how to draw manga are wildly popular with teenagers, and more and more are adapting the manga style for art classes and personal enjoyment.

The downside to manga becoming a major part of youth culture could be that it fizzles like so many other trends and fads that have come and gone. Beanie Babies, one-hit-wonder rock bands, and other popular trends are so easily picked up and so easily forgotten by the ever-changing demographic of youth culture that it seems difficult to believe that manga could be leaving a lasting impression. One has to hope that in the end, teenagers who love Escaflowne and Sailor Moon will continue to find new series to read, to love, and to keep fresh for future generations instead of letting them go out of print.

Manga has definitely impacted youth culture in a positive way, expanding the knowledge and the interests that teens and pre-teens have in the world around them. From art to clothing styles, the influence of manga can be felt in many places, and if nothing else, manga’s effect on youth culture will be something that will be remembered for a while, even if the trend does not remain popular. Because entire sections of books in a major chain book store cannot be wrong.