Ranking of What People Learned from Manga: Survey of 500 Men and Women Across Japan

Atam Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Atsushi Miyazawa; hereinafter 'Atam Academy'), which operates an online illustration school, conducted an awareness survey titled 'What People Have Learned from Reading Manga' targeting 500 men and women across Japan, and has ranked the results.

Manga is widely enjoyed by people of all ages and genders as entertainment. However, many may have had the experience of feeling they learned something valuable while reading.

Beyond knowledge of history and science, manga offers various forms of learning, including 'how to interact with others,' 'ways of thinking,' and 'inspirational quotes that guide life.'

This time, Atam Academy (https://atam-academy.com/), which operates an online illustration school, conducted a questionnaire survey of 500 men and women across Japan on 'what they learned from reading manga' and summarized the results in ranking format.

Commentary on the survey results was provided by Yasuhiro Yamauchi, Representative Director of the General Incorporated Association Manga Night.

[Request for Data Citation and Reproduction]

When using the survey results or images from this press release, please ensure to include a link to Atam Academy's URL (https://atam-academy.com/).

[Survey Overview]

Target: Men and women across Japan

Survey Period: May 29, 2026

Survey Organization: In-house survey

Survey Method: Internet-based voluntary responses

Valid Responses: 500 (353 women / 147 men)

Respondent Age Distribution: Teens 1.4% / 20s 17.8% / 30s 35.2% / 40s 27.0% / 50 and above 18.6%

* Both entertainment manga and educational manga were included as survey subjects.

[Survey Results Summary]

・97.8% of respondents have felt that reading manga was educational

・Top item learned from manga: 'Historical knowledge'

・Main reason manga feels educational: 'Easy to understand'

・Top recommended educational manga chosen by 500 respondents: 'Cells at Work!'

97.8% of respondents have felt that reading manga was educational

When asked whether they have ever felt that reading manga was educational, 32.4% answered 'frequently' and 65.4% 'occasionally,' totaling 97.8%.

This shows that manga is not merely entertainment but also serves as a gateway to knowledge and new perspectives.

Top item learned from manga: 'Historical knowledge'

The top item respondents learned from manga was 'historical knowledge' (35.6%), followed by 'scientific knowledge' (20.2%) and 'how to interact with people' (15.2%).

The findings reveal that learning from manga is highly diverse. Beyond academic subjects like history, science, and vocabulary, respondents also cited interpersonal skills and ways of thinking as key takeaways.

<1st Place: Historical Knowledge>

・Historical figures' relationships and major battles, which were hard to remember from textbook text alone, became easier to grasp through manga (Male, 20s)

・Reading historical educational manga helped me understand the flow of history and the lives of great figures in an accessible way. Learning lesser-known aspects and anecdotes about historical figures sparked my interest in history and motivated me to study it more actively (Female, 20s)

Many manga focus on history, including educational manga designed specifically for learning. There are also numerous entertainment-focused historical manga incorporating fiction and fantasy elements.

One reason manga helps readers learn history is that events and figures are presented as stories, making historical flows easier to understand. Unlike textbooks that list facts and dates, manga depict characters' emotions, relationships, and historical contexts, allowing readers to understand why events occurred within the narrative.

There are cases where manga has served as a starting point or motivation for studying history.

<2nd Place: Scientific Knowledge>

・Through manga, I learned that everyday phenomena have scientific mechanisms behind them. The process of experimentation and research leading to new discoveries was fascinating, teaching me the fun of science and the importance of critical thinking (Female, 20s)

・Understanding how cells work inside the body or other science topics became much easier when learned through manga! (Female, 30s)

Many manga deal with scientific themes, either as their main subject or by incorporating scientific knowledge into mystery-solving plots.

Manga can make complex scientific concepts and mechanisms easy to understand through illustrations and storytelling. Topics like the 'inside of the human body' or 'outer space,' which are normally invisible, are visually depicted, not just described in text. Concepts can also be explained through diagrams and illustrations.

<3rd Place: Interpersonal Relationships>

・It became a benchmark for my daily behavior and how I approach others. I’ve felt that manga provided examples of how to navigate social situations and live successfully (Male, 30s)

・How to communicate with others, build friendships, and express family love—manga makes it easy to empathize with these emotions (Female, 40s)

In manga, stories progress as protagonists experience cooperation and conflict with those around them.

Relationships between the protagonist and others, or among supporting characters, are depicted through concrete episodes, allowing readers to vicariously experience 'bonds with family and friends,' 'conflicts and reconciliation.' Situations like 'resolving disagreements' or 'expressing difficult feelings' are common in real life as well.

Thus, reflecting on interpersonal interactions through manga may have real-world applications.

<4th Place: Ways of Thinking>

・It wasn’t academic study, but rather life lessons that I gained. My current 'way of thinking toward others' and 'approach to life' can almost be said to have been shaped by manga (Male, 20s)

・My mindset changed. I used to bottle up my feelings, but now I think, 'It’s okay to think this way!' or 'I want to think like this!' (Female, 30s)

Manga covers diverse genres and features varied characters, offering exposure to different values and life philosophies.

Seeing characters face challenges and hardships may introduce readers to new perspectives they hadn’t considered. Moments of 'overcoming difficulties' or 'recovering from failure' can also inspire a more positive outlook.

<5th Place: Sports Rules>

・My family loves baseball, and it’s often on TV, but I didn’t know the rules at all. Reading baseball manga helped me understand them (Female, 20s)

・I knew of the sport kabaddi but didn’t know the basic rules like how wins are decided or team size. I learned them through manga (Male, 30s)

・Understanding sports rules sparked new interest in them (Female, 40s)

Many manga are based on sports, and many have been adapted into popular anime.

In manga, rules are often explained during matches, or characters are shown learning the rules, making it easier for readers to naturally grasp them.