Mangaka (漫画家) is the term used to define a person who makes, draws, or creates stories for manga. In the West, they should correctly be defined as a draftsman, illustrator, and screenwriter, but with otaku culture, the term has become frequently used.
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What is a mangaka's routine like?
Their routine is really difficult; it requires saying goodbye to almost everything except manga, getting little sleep, and maintaining irregular schedules. Being a mangaka is the dream of many (I also dream about it), but few have what it takes to succeed. Sacrifices are necessary, and if you're not willing to give up your free time, then it's best to reconsider.
A mangaka who has a weekly manga typically creates between 15 and 30 pages, which is already a significant amount of work. On the other hand, those with a monthly release often produce between 40 and 60 pages, showcasing a tremendous level of dedication and effort. However, mangaka undoubtedly enjoy their work immensely, knowing that there are people who value and admire their creations — a sentiment I share while writing this article.
How much does a mangaka make?
According to research carried out by me, a beginner mangaka earns an average of 9000 円 and between 13000 円, somewhere around R$298.28 and R$431.00 per published page. This is very relative, the price can vary from mangaka to mangaka, with time and the popularity of the manga, the value can reach much higher numbers.
A mangaka like Eiichiro Oda, the author of One Piece, earns around 170 million yen (approximately $1,500,000 USD), while a lesser-known mangaka earns nearly 2.8 million yen (approximately $24,000 USD)
Mangaka Yuu Kamiya
Lucas Thiago Furukawa, or his pseudonym Yuu Kamiya, is one of the first Brazilian mangaka to achieve success in Japan. He is the creator of the light novel No Game No Life. Yuu lived in Brazil until he was 7 years old, and from an early age, he enjoyed drawing. When he arrived in Japan, he barely knew the language, but he was a boy who liked video games, mangas, anime, and more. This is how he learned the language, and every day he honed his techniques and knowledge.
"Yuu Kamiya gained significant momentum as a mangaka when he worked as an illustrator for the series 'Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi'. This marked a crucial turning point in his career, leading to his own original works such as 'EArTh', 'No Game No Life', and 'Greed Packet Unlimited', all of which achieved great success."
Yuu is not just a mangaka, but a famous author and illustrator of light novels. Yuu is respected today, and it was with a lot of effort and dedication that he managed to get to where he is, so don't give up on your dreams, whether they are difficult or easy.