有觀点認為日本漫畫發展始於戰後美軍佔領時期,這種觀点強調日本漫畫受美國文化的影響很大;包括該時期美軍帶到日本的美國漫畫及電視、電影和卡通片(特别是迪士尼)。但是一些作家,包括Frederik L. Schodt、Kinko Ito和Adam L. Kern強調日本文化的延續和美學傳統才是日本漫畫歷史的關鍵。
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