Ask John: Could Manyuu Hikencho Become a Major American Hit?

Question:
Any chance Manyuu Hikencho might be the next samurai manga to go big in the U.S. a’la Rurouni Kenshin?

Answer:
To put is simply, no. Although the American manga publishing industry is scaling back a bit in response to market saturation and America’s economic recession, manga titles are still being licensed for American release frequently, and Hideki Yamada’s ongoing Manyuu Hikencho risque samurai adventure manga series may eventually be picked up for domestic distribution. However, it’s not a title that has the potential to become a breakthrough American hit because of its emphasis on nudity and sexual innuendo. Ironically, fan service is a selling point, but it’s also a limitation in the American marketplace.

Consider the current best selling manga titles in America. None of them exhibit a pronounced emphasis on sex. Among America’s top 25 current manga properties, Rosario & Vampire is the only one to prominently feature busty girls, and Berserk is the only one to include adult oriented sexual references. There aren’t any fan service oriented manga within America’s best sellers. Rurouni Kenshin became a major American hit for three reasons. It has a strong story and characters. It’s accessible to a large audience. The manga was supported by a successful nationwide DVD release and TV broadcast of its anime adaptation. Manyuu Hikencho may be a fun read, but it’s not accessible to an especially large American audience, nor does it have an anime adaptation to attract additional readers.

A large portion of America’s manga consumer audience consists of female readers and pre-adolescent and young teen readers. Manyuu Hikencho is a title that borders on adult content. Similar fan service filled action manga have been released in America, including Ikki Tousen, Battle Club, Najica, Tenjho Tenge, Legend of Lemnear, and Eiken, but while these titles have been relatively successful, none of them have ever, or will ever attain the large audience earned by more accessible and mainstream titles like Rurouni Kenshin.