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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:
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.
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.
Price: $29.99
Pages: 224
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
Imprint: Tuttle Publishing
Publication Date:
21 October 2025
Trim Size: 10.00 X 7.50 in
ISBN: 9784805319017
Format: Hardcover
"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
"Even readers not specifically interested in manga, will find the art featured in the book exquisite and a pleasure to examine more closely. The quality of paper, matte printing, and art direction that mimics handmade washi beautifully tie together the disparate eras and images. A fine addition to the library of any lover of Japanese art and history." —Kyoto Journal
"Tracing the evolution of the Japanese storytelling art style through the centuries with a focus on five key works, Japan's Manga Revolution is 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
[Selected Praise for Marks' Previous Works:]
HIROSHIGE's ONE HUNDRED FAMOUS VIEWS OF EDO (2024): "A feast for the eyes…the most complete volume you're ever likely to find about Hiroshige's monumental masterwork. […] Aside from the astonishing beauty of the prints, Marks' book is remarkable for several other reasons. Firstly, no complete collection of all 118 prints exists today. This book is the only one to present them all together in their deluxe early versions. […] [A] rare compendium, even by Japanese standards." —The Japan Times
JAPANESE WOODBLOCK PRINTS (2010): "The presentation is practically all-inclusive, covering artists and publishers from the 1660s to the 1940s. Impeccably researched with an exhaustive bibliography, this is a work that demonstrates the highest level of scholarly achievement." —CHOICE: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries
"Marks's (director & chief curator, Clark Ctr. for Japanese Art) clear, informative text, while valuable for scholars beginning research, also remains accessible to the average reader. With excellent production values and a modest price, this volume is recommended for all libraries, academic and public." —Library Journal
"The meticulous organization of information notwithstanding, it is the prints which are the chief pleasure of the book….The exuberance of color, motion, and expression, all carefully arranged, make this a book for scholars and browsers, serious collectors and hedonists alike." —ForeWord Reviews
"Marks provides the kind of concrete biographical details that most art historical treatments, more focused on style, genre, and influences, would pass over." —Nubui Kuduchi blog
"Even readers not specifically interested in manga, will find the art featured in the book exquisite and a pleasure to examine more closely. The quality of paper, matte printing, and art direction that mimics handmade washi beautifully tie together the disparate eras and images. A fine addition to the library of any lover of Japanese art and history." —Kyoto Journal
"Tracing the evolution of the Japanese storytelling art style through the centuries with a focus on five key works, Japan's Manga Revolution is 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
[Selected Praise for Marks' Previous Works:]
HIROSHIGE's ONE HUNDRED FAMOUS VIEWS OF EDO (2024): "A feast for the eyes…the most complete volume you're ever likely to find about Hiroshige's monumental masterwork. […] Aside from the astonishing beauty of the prints, Marks' book is remarkable for several other reasons. Firstly, no complete collection of all 118 prints exists today. This book is the only one to present them all together in their deluxe early versions. […] [A] rare compendium, even by Japanese standards." —The Japan Times
JAPANESE WOODBLOCK PRINTS (2010): "The presentation is practically all-inclusive, covering artists and publishers from the 1660s to the 1940s. Impeccably researched with an exhaustive bibliography, this is a work that demonstrates the highest level of scholarly achievement." —CHOICE: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries
"Marks's (director & chief curator, Clark Ctr. for Japanese Art) clear, informative text, while valuable for scholars beginning research, also remains accessible to the average reader. With excellent production values and a modest price, this volume is recommended for all libraries, academic and public." —Library Journal
"The meticulous organization of information notwithstanding, it is the prints which are the chief pleasure of the book….The exuberance of color, motion, and expression, all carefully arranged, make this a book for scholars and browsers, serious collectors and hedonists alike." —ForeWord Reviews
"Marks provides the kind of concrete biographical details that most art historical treatments, more focused on style, genre, and influences, would pass over." —Nubui Kuduchi blog
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.