What is Mangaka?
'''Mangaka''' (漫画家?) is the [[Japanese language|Japanese]] word for a [[Comic|comic artist]] or [[cartoonist]]. Outside of [[Japan]], [[manga]] usually means a Japanese [[comic book]]. Mangaka means the author of the manga, who is usually Japanese. Some artists may study at an art college, manga school, or take on an [[apprentice]]ship with another mangaka. They then enter the world of manga as a professional artist. However, there are some artists that just start in manga. One way to do this is by applying to contests that magazines run. For example, [[Naoko Takeuchi]], author of ''[[Sailor Moon]]'', won such a contest sponsored by [[Kodansha]]. [[Osamu Tezuka]], creator of ''[[Astro Boy]]'', began his career without being an assistant. [[Category:Manga]] {{Asia-stub}}