Last updated: 17 december, 2010 - 12:41 GMT
Tokyo bans sales of X-rated manga cartoons to under-18s
Manga has also become popular in the computer games market
Manga cartoons are popular with children and adults, both inside and outside their homeland, Japan.
However, modern-day manga can contain themes such as rape and incest.
Officials in Tokyo have now banned comics containing explicit subjects to under 18-year-olds.
Nicole Rousmaniere is the director of the Sainsbury Institute and an expert on manga.
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First broadcast 16 December 2010
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