Japanese comics
Strip Show In most of the Western world, comic book publishers eke out a marginal existence — the entertainment form appeals only to some teenagers and a small number of adult fans. In Japan, comic books — the so-called manga — are read devotedly by people of all ages and from all walks of life. Manga are so popular, in fact, that they account for 40 percent of book and magazine sales. For the first time in Germany, the Gasteig will present a comprehensive exhibition (March 1-April 18) on this fascinating aspect of modern Japanese culture, whose roots can be traced back to the 12th century. The narrative art of manga ranges from the vulgar to the refined, covering a wide range of subjects, from science fiction to romance. The exhibition presents works by 25 renowned manga artists, as well as an accompanying program, “Manga Explosion,” with examples of manga’s cousin, anime, the Japanese animated cartoon. On March 3, the Gasteig will be transformed into “Tokyo Lounge” (21-5:00), with the video broadcast installation “Tokyo 24 hours,” live music played by the Tokyo Picadons, Japanese pop music selected by DJ Akira and more anime movies.