Mangajin
{{Short description|Monthly English-language magazine (1988–1997)}}
{{One source|date=October 2016}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox magazine
| image_file = Mangajin 01.jpg
| image_size = 230px
| image_caption = First printed issue of Mangajin
| editor =
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| category = Manga, Japanese culture, language learning
| company = Mangajin, Inc.
| publisher = Mangajin, Inc.
| founded = 1988
| firstdate =
| finaldate = December 1997
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| language = English
| website = [http://www.mangajin.com/ mangajin.com]
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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.
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. The name is a combination of the Japanese words for {{nihongo|"comic"|漫画|manga}} and {{nihongo|"person"|人|jin}}.
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.mangajin.com/mangajin/story/|title=The Beginnings of Mangajin|work=Wasabi Brothers|accessdate=23 January 2009}} 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.{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020201551/http://www.mangajin.com/mangajin/story/|archivedate=20 October 2010|url=http://www.mangajin.com/mangajin/story/|title=Developing the Concept|work=Wasabi Brothers|accessdate=1 August 2014}}
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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20100820074243/http://www.mangajin.com/store/backissues/TapeDesc.htm Tape Description]
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,[https://www.shambhala.com/about-shambhala About Shambhala] Mangajin materials were published by Shambhala Publications.
Japanese versions were distributed by Sekai Shuppan, inc.
Features
= Manga series (bilingual English-Japanese) =
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}}[http://www.rolomail.com/cgi-bin/sanadd.pl?105-1-136-rolohome-USD Basic Japanese Through Comics Part 1]{{dead link|date=January 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}[http://www.weatherhill.com/docs/books/0-8348-0452-2%20.html Basic Japanese Through Comics Vol. 1]{{dead link|date=January 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}[http://www.shambhala.com/authors/g-n/mangajin/basic-japanese-through-comics.html Basic Japanese through Comics]
- 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}}[https://web.archive.org/web/19961122185801/http://www.weatherhill.com/docs/books/0-9634335-4-7.html Basic Japanese Through Comics Vol. 2]
- 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.[http://www.rolomail.com/cgi-bin/sanadd.pl?111-1-136-rolohome-USD Mangajin CD-ROM]{{dead link|date=January 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Tony Gonzalez was the author of the CD-ROM.[https://jp.linkedin.com/in/tonygonz Tony Gonzalez Translation, Software Localization, and Technical Project Professional]{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
- Mangajin's Japanese Grammar Through Comics
:*Weatherhill version: {{ISBN|0-9634335-5-5}}/{{ISBN|978-0-9634335-5-8}}[https://web.archive.org/web/19961122185751/http://www.weatherhill.com/docs/books/0-9634335-5-5.html Mangajin's Japanese Grammar Through Comics]
=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[https://web.archive.org/web/20091130015731/http://www.mangajin.com/store/books/sushi.html Bringing Home the Sushi Nine examples of Japanese business comics, with introductory essays by Japan experts.]
:*Weatherhill version: {{ISBN|0-9634335-2-0}}[https://web.archive.org/web/19961122185604/http://www.weatherhill.com/docs/books/0-9634335-2-0.html Bringing Home the Sushi An Inside Look at Japanese Business Through Japanese Comics]
- The Essence of Modern Haiku: 300 haiku poems by Seishi Yamaguchi: An English translation of Seishi Yamaguchi's haiku collection.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090410042116/http://mangajin.com/store/books/haiku.html The Essence of Modern Haiku][http://www.rolomail.com/cgi-bin/sanadd.pl?104-1-136-rolohome-USD The Essence of Modern Haiku]{{dead link|date=January 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
:*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)[https://web.archive.org/web/19961122191208/http://www.weatherhill.com/docs/books/man0-9634335-0-4.html The Essence of Modern Haiku 300 Poems by Seishi Yamaguchi]
- 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.[http://www.rolomail.com/cgi-bin/sanadd.pl?53-1-136-rolohome-USD Senryu: Haiku Reflections of the Times]{{dead link|date=January 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
- 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}}[https://web.archive.org/web/19961122193616/http://www.weatherhill.com/docs/books/man0-930124-10-3.html Unlocking the Japanese Business Mind]
=Rolomail Trading Company Products=
- Joyo Kanji Wall Chart Set: Contains 3 wall charts with the entire 1,945 General Use Chinese Characters.[https://web.archive.org/web/20030411092244/http://www.rolomail.com/cgi-bin/sanadd.pl?3-5-136 Japanese Kanji Wall Chart Set]
- The Kanji Way to Japanese Language Power
:*2nd edition: {{ISBN|09625489-0-1}}/{{ISBN|978-09625489-0-1}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20030411092947/http://www.rolomail.com/cgi-bin/sanadd.pl?1-5-136 The Kanji Way to Japanese Language Power]
- A Guide to Remembering Japanese Characters: Includes etymology of 1,945 General Use Chinese Characters.
:*2nd edition: {{ISBN|080482038-4}}/{{ISBN|978-080482038-7}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20030411092906/http://www.rolomail.com/cgi-bin/sanadd.pl?2-5-136 A Guide to Remembering Japanese Characters]
- Salaryman Kintaro: The Complete Series: Contains all 10 Volumes of the series.[http://www.rolomail.com/cgi-bin/sanadd.pl?70-1-136-rolohome-USD Salaryman Kintaro: The Complete 10 Volume Series]{{dead link|date=January 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
=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.[http://sekai-shuppan.com/5.html 「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]
=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}}[http://www.stonebridge.com/catalog/japanese-the-manga-way Japanese the Manga Way: An Illustrated Guide to Grammar and Structure]
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20110215113738/http://www.mangajin.com/}} (Wasabi Brothers Trading Company) (archived)
- {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20100109120415/http://www.mangajin.com/ezine/index.htm}} (Wasabi Brothers Trading Company, e-zine continuation) (archived)
- Weatherhill, Inc. page: [https://web.archive.org/web/19961122184340/http://www.weatherhill.com/docs/publishers/publisher.Mangajin.html Mangajin] (archived)
- Sekai Shuppan, inc. page: [http://sekai-shuppan.com/manga.html 漫画人 Mangajin]
- Archive of all 70 issues: [https://juusho.com/mangajin Mangajin]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mangajin}}
Category:1988 establishments in Japan
Category:1997 disestablishments in Japan
Category:Defunct magazines published in Japan
Category:English-language magazines
Category:Manga magazines published in Japan
Category:Monthly magazines published in Japan
Category:Magazines established in 1988
Category:Magazines disestablished in 1997