San Francisco's De Young Museum has opened North America's first large-scale exhibition of manga art, featuring over 600 works spanning comic books, fine art, and animated features. Curated by Nicole Rousmaniere, the show includes pieces by artist Mari Yamazaki, who blends classical painting with manga storytelling, and highlights globally popular titles like "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure." The exhibition runs through January.
This exhibition marks a significant cultural milestone, recognizing manga as a major global art form rather than a niche subculture. By presenting manga in a major museum context, the show validates its artistic and narrative complexity, introduces new audiences to its diverse genres, and underscores the medium's international reach—from Japan to the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and beyond.