'DR.STONE' Manga Artist Boichi shared his thoughts on readers who say they cannot afford manga, discussing the financial struggles of both fans and creators while highlighting issues of access and pricing
"Most Japanese readers do not have much money either. Most Japanese mangaka do not have much money. Most aspiring manga artists do not have much money."
"Many readers carefully save a small allowance to buy a single tankōbon volume."
"They do it because they want to support creators. They do it because they want manga to continue existing. They do it because if nobody pays, manga cannot continue to be made."
"Manga did not become successful because Japan was rich. Manga grew during the 1950s, when Japan was still a very poor country."
"It grew because people chose to buy manga. Because they valued it. Because they believed it was worth supporting."
"Of course, there are exceptions. There are always exceptions. Some people genuinely face circumstances far more difficult than most of us can imagine. I do not want to dismiss those realities."
"I began my career as a poor mangaka in a country that was still poor. I care deeply about people who struggle financially. I am on their side."
"Many creators sacrificed comforts in order to draw manga."
"The real problem is not whether people have money to buy manga. The real problem is that many people have no practical way to buy it."
"Officially licensed foreign editions are often far too expensive for readers around the world. I believe that is a genuine problem."
Singer Oliver Tree has reportedly died in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro
Two helicopters collided in mid-air before crashing into an electric vehicle yard, killing six people
via CNN Brasil