More Enthralling than Sports Manga “Hobby Club-Themed Manga” to be Next Fad 比體育漫畫更熱血 「文化系部活」掀動漫熱潮
Japanese anime and manga are often based around high school club activities. The ‘sports’ theme is particularly suitable in portraying the coming of age and dynamism of young people, and has inspired several famous works, such as Slam Dunk and Aim for the Ace!. In recent years, however, many manga artists have sought inspiration in “hobby club” activities.
日本中學的「部活動（簡稱「部活」）」（社團），一直是日本動漫的重要主題，尤其是體育系（類）部活，非常適合描寫年輕人的成長和熱情，如暢銷的《灌籃高手》、《網球甜心》等名作。近年來，很多作家向「文化系」部活取材創作。
An average high school will have around 20 clubs, including sports clubs dedicated to baseball, football, and basketball and hobby clubs focused on arts, choir singing, and science. These club activities offer young Japanese an opportunity to cultivate skills outside the realm of normal education. Many renowned athletes and artists in Japan today discovered their career paths in high school club activities.
一般中學約有20個部活，如棒球、足球、籃球部等體育系，以及美術、合唱、科學部等文化系。部活為日本年輕人磨練了學問之外的素養。現在，如今的日本知名運動選手及文化人士，不少是在中學時的部活中找到自己生涯事業的。
Of all the hobby club-themed manga, the hottest work at the moment must be Chihayafuru, about a traditional Japanese card game called “hyakunin isshu karuta.” This game is obscure, so few clubs are dedicated to it. However, its description of competitiveness offers no less tension and pace than sports manga. In Chihayafuru, there are a wide range of skills and complex strategies involved in karuta, and readers follow the passion and collaboration between players as they vie to win the championship. Chihayafuru is full of features unique to karuta, which is one reason why this manga is so widely acclaimed.
在文化系部活漫畫作品中，現在最受關注的應該是《花牌情緣》。這是日本傳統遊戲之一「百人一首和歌紙牌」的競技，這項競技知名度低，部活也少。而這部作品細膩描寫競技讓人感到不亞於運動項目的緊張感和奔馳感；在比賽中，展開豐富技能和複雜戰略；還有選手為爭取冠軍，每天發揮的熱情、努力與合作。加上隨處穿插只在這項競技獨有的噱頭，讓作品獲得廣大讀者。
Apart from Chihayafuru, there is Tomehane! Suzuri Koko Shodobu, which is based around a “calligraphy club.” Calligraphy clubs are not particularly popular in high school, but the dramatic plot and calligraphy insights in this manga have captured the imagination of readers. Tomehane! Suzuri Koko Shodobu was later adapted into a TV drama attracting even more fans.
還有取材於「書法部」的《鈴里高校書道部》，書法部也不算是人氣高的部活。這部作品的戲劇性情節和時而嶄露的書法知識，引起了很多讀者的注目。後來改成電視劇，更添許多粉絲。
日本中學的「部活動（簡稱「部活」）」（社團），一直是日本動漫的重要主題，尤其是體育系（類）部活，非常適合描寫年輕人的成長和熱情，如暢銷的《灌籃高手》、《網球甜心》等名作。近年來，很多作家向「文化系」部活取材創作。
An average high school will have around 20 clubs, including sports clubs dedicated to baseball, football, and basketball and hobby clubs focused on arts, choir singing, and science. These club activities offer young Japanese an opportunity to cultivate skills outside the realm of normal education. Many renowned athletes and artists in Japan today discovered their career paths in high school club activities.
一般中學約有20個部活，如棒球、足球、籃球部等體育系，以及美術、合唱、科學部等文化系。部活為日本年輕人磨練了學問之外的素養。現在，如今的日本知名運動選手及文化人士，不少是在中學時的部活中找到自己生涯事業的。
Of all the hobby club-themed manga, the hottest work at the moment must be Chihayafuru, about a traditional Japanese card game called “hyakunin isshu karuta.” This game is obscure, so few clubs are dedicated to it. However, its description of competitiveness offers no less tension and pace than sports manga. In Chihayafuru, there are a wide range of skills and complex strategies involved in karuta, and readers follow the passion and collaboration between players as they vie to win the championship. Chihayafuru is full of features unique to karuta, which is one reason why this manga is so widely acclaimed.
在文化系部活漫畫作品中，現在最受關注的應該是《花牌情緣》。這是日本傳統遊戲之一「百人一首和歌紙牌」的競技，這項競技知名度低，部活也少。而這部作品細膩描寫競技讓人感到不亞於運動項目的緊張感和奔馳感；在比賽中，展開豐富技能和複雜戰略；還有選手為爭取冠軍，每天發揮的熱情、努力與合作。加上隨處穿插只在這項競技獨有的噱頭，讓作品獲得廣大讀者。
Apart from Chihayafuru, there is Tomehane! Suzuri Koko Shodobu, which is based around a “calligraphy club.” Calligraphy clubs are not particularly popular in high school, but the dramatic plot and calligraphy insights in this manga have captured the imagination of readers. Tomehane! Suzuri Koko Shodobu was later adapted into a TV drama attracting even more fans.
還有取材於「書法部」的《鈴里高校書道部》，書法部也不算是人氣高的部活。這部作品的戲劇性情節和時而嶄露的書法知識，引起了很多讀者的注目。後來改成電視劇，更添許多粉絲。
