How to Create a Historical Manga: Bringing the Past to Life on the Page

The sword catches torchlight. Silk rustles against tatami. A warlord makes a decision that will echo for centuries. Historical manga doesn’t just tell stories set in the past—it resurrects entire worlds, making readers feel they’ve stepped through time.

This genre demands more than imagination. It requires research, visual precision, and the wisdom to know when historical accuracy serves the story and when it shackles it. Here’s how to create manga that honors history while telling stories that resonate today.

The Foundation: Research Before You Draw

Primary vs. Secondary Sources

Not all historical information is equal:

Primary Sources (Direct Evidence):

• Period documents and letters
• Contemporary artwork and photographs
• Archaeological findings
• Surviving artifacts and architecture
• Diaries and firsthand accounts

Secondary Sources (Interpreted):

• History books and academic papers
• Documentaries and educational content
• Historical fiction by other authors
• Museum exhibitions and catalogs
• Expert commentary and analysis

Using Both Effectively:

• Primary sources show what existed
• Secondary sources explain what it meant
• Primary sources can be misinterpreted alone
• Secondary sources can perpetuate errors
• Cross-reference everything important

Start with secondary sources for overview, then dig into primary sources for authenticity. When experts disagree, you get to choose—that’s creative freedom earned through research.

Building Your Reference Library

Every historical manga needs visual references:

Architecture and Settings:

• How were buildings constructed?
• What materials were available?
• How did spaces function daily?
• How did weather and seasons affect life?

Clothing and Fashion:

• What did different classes wear?
• How were garments constructed?
• What accessories indicated status?
• How did clothing change seasonally?

Objects and Tools:

• What technology existed?
• How were everyday tasks performed?
• What did weapons actually look like?
• What small details filled daily life?

Physical Appearance:

• What hairstyles were common/forbidden?
• How did grooming standards differ?
• What did age look like before modern medicine?
• How did labor shape bodies?

Create folders organized by category. When you need to draw a scene, your reference should be one click away. The time spent organizing saves hours of searching later.

The Danger of Anachronisms

Anachronisms break immersion instantly:

Obvious Anachronisms (Avoid):

• Technology that didn’t exist
• Attitudes that are clearly modern
• Phrases coined much later
• Products or foods not yet available

Subtle Anachronisms (Equally Dangerous):

• Incorrect social hierarchies
• Wrong forms of address
• Misunderstood customs
• Modernized emotional responses

Acceptable Anachronisms (Sometimes):

• Slightly modernized speech for readability
• Sanitation improvements for palatability
• Compressed timelines for pacing
• Emotional accessibility for modern readers

The key is intention. Accidental anachronisms destroy credibility. Deliberate choices for storytelling can be defended.

Choosing Your Historical Period

Popular Manga Historical Settings

Different eras offer different storytelling opportunities:

Feudal Japan (Sengoku/Edo):

• Rich visual tradition
• Familiar to manga readers
• Samurai drama and political intrigue
• Strict social hierarchies
• Extensive existing reference material

Meiji/Taisho Era:

• Clash of tradition and modernity
• Western influences arriving
• Dramatic social upheaval
• Underexplored compared to feudal
• Visually distinctive fashion

Ancient History:

• Less reader expectation
• More creative freedom
• Requires more world-building
• Archaeological gaps allow invention
• Universal human stories

World History:

• Vikings, Rome, Medieval Europe
• Fresh for manga audiences
• Different visual vocabulary
• Cultural research challenges
• Opportunity for unique perspective

Modern Historical (20th Century):

• Living memory issues
• More documentation exists
• Emotional proximity
• Political sensitivity
• Relatable technology progression

What Your Era Provides

Each period offers built-in story elements:

Conflict Sources:

• What wars or tensions existed?
• What class divisions created drama?
• What forbidden relationships were possible?
• What stakes were life-and-death?

Visual Identity:

• What silhouettes define the era?
• What color palettes feel authentic?
• What architecture creates atmosphere?
• What clothing communicates character?

Thematic Resonance:

• What period concerns echo today?
• What universal struggles appeared there?
• What lessons does history offer?
• What does modern readers need from this era?

Choose eras that excite you. You’ll be living in this period for months or years. Boredom with your setting will show on every page.

Balancing Accuracy and Entertainment

The Accuracy Spectrum

Historical manga exists on a spectrum:

Documentary Accuracy:

• Every detail researched
• No invented events
• Historical figures portrayed carefully
• Educational priority

Historical Fiction:

• Accurate framework
• Fictional characters within real events
• Period detail serves story
• Entertainment with authenticity

Historical Fantasy:

• Period aesthetic and inspiration
• Supernatural or impossible elements
• “What if history” scenarios
• Accuracy subordinate to story

Period Flavor:

• General historical feeling
• Major anachronisms avoided
• Not claiming strict accuracy
• History as backdrop

All are valid. The key is knowing where you are and being consistent. Problems arise when you claim documentary accuracy but deliver historical fantasy.

What to Get Right

Some elements require accuracy for credibility:

Non-Negotiable Accuracy:

• Major historical events and outcomes
• Technology limitations of the era
• Basic social structures
• Geography and climate

Important but Flexible:

• Specific dates and timelines
• Minor historical figures
• Regional variations
• Exact customs and procedures

Creative Freedom Zone:

• Fictional characters’ lives
• Private conversations
• Personal motivations
• Unrecorded moments

Readers will forgive invented characters at real battles. They won’t forgive guns in 12th century Japan or English in ancient Rome (without framing).

When Accuracy Hurts Story

Sometimes history is bad storytelling:

Historical Inconveniences:

• Real events had boring parts
• Some outcomes were arbitrary
• Key figures were sometimes dull
• Reality lacks narrative structure

Solutions:

• Compress timelines (months to days)
• Combine historical figures into composites
• Add fictional witnesses to real events
• Find the drama history forgot to record

The Honesty Contract:

• Author’s notes can explain choices
• Don’t claim what you didn’t research
• Distinguish clearly between fact and fiction
• Respect what readers will check

The goal is truth, not facts. A story that captures the spirit of an era serves history better than a boring accurate one.

Visual Design for Period Authenticity

Architecture and Environments

Historical settings require attention:

Building Authenticity:

• Construction methods visible in design
• Materials appropriate to region and era
• Scale accurate to period (people were often smaller)
• Wear and aging consistent with time

Street Scenes:

• Period-appropriate businesses
• Correct transportation options
• Accurate crowd composition
• Seasonal and weather considerations

Interior Spaces:

• Furniture appropriate to era
• Lighting sources accurate
• Decoration matching status
• Functional layout for period life

Landscape:

• Vegetation historically accurate
• Agricultural practices of the time
• Development level appropriate
• Natural features unchanged by modern intervention

Costume as Character

Clothing tells story in historical manga:

Status Communication:

• What fabrics indicate wealth?
• What colors were restricted?
• What accessories show rank?
• What violations matter?

Practical Considerations:

• How did people actually move in these clothes?
• What was worn underneath?
• How did clothing handle weather?
• What did labor clothes look like?

Character Distinction:

• How can you make characters recognizable in period dress?
• What personal touches were possible?
• How does clothing evolve with character arc?
• What does deviation from norms say?

Drawing Challenges:

• Complex patterns require simplification for clarity
• Fabric behavior must be understood
• Layers add visual complexity
• Research how garments were actually worn

Spend extra time on costume. Nothing dates a historical manga as “inauthentic” faster than clothes that look like modern fashion cosplay.

Weapons and Combat

Historical action requires period accuracy:

Weapon Authenticity:

• Actual weapons of the era
• Correct fighting styles
• Realistic damage and fatigue
• Period tactical thinking

Combat Differences:

• Pre-modern warfare worked differently
• Individual combat vs. formation fighting
• What made warriors effective then?
• How did people actually die in battle?

Visual Representation:

• Weapons have correct proportions
• Fighting stances historically grounded
• Armor functions as it should
• Battle scale appropriate to era

Research martial arts historians and experimental archaeologists. Watching reconstruction fights reveals more than any painting.

Character Creation in Historical Settings

Historical Figures as Characters

Using real people requires care:

Public Figures:

• More freedom with well-documented individuals
• Responsibility to get basics right
• Can’t contradict verified facts
• Can explore private moments

Lesser-Known Historical People:

• More creative freedom
• Less reader expectation
• Still need basic accuracy
• Opportunity to give voice to forgotten figures

Composite Characters:

• Combining multiple real people
• Signals clearly fictional
• Can represent a type or role
• Avoids misrepresenting specific individual

Completely Fictional:

• Maximum creative freedom
• Must still fit the era
• Can witness historical events
• Represents “ordinary” people of the time

Social Constraints as Character

Historical limitations create character:

Movement Restrictions:

• Where could this person go?
• What permissions were needed?
• What was literally impossible?
• What was merely forbidden?

Social Mobility:

• Could characters change status?
• What exceptions existed?
• What disguises were possible?
• What costs came with transgression?

Gender in History:

• What could women do in this era?
• What could men not do?
• What spaces were gendered?
• What historical exceptions existed?

Age and Life Stage:

• When did adulthood begin?
• What was expected at each age?
• How did life expectancy affect planning?
• What life stages existed?

Constraints create drama. A character who can go anywhere and do anything has no story. Historical limitations provide built-in obstacles.

Modern Readers and Historical Attitudes

Handling values that clash with modern sensibilities:

The Challenge:

• Historical people held historical views
• Some attitudes are unacceptable today
• Whitewashing history is also wrong
• Readers need to understand the era

Approaches:

• Characters who resist their era (with consequences)
• POV characters with modern sympathies (somewhat)
• Showing historical attitudes through antagonists
• Letting history be history with context

What to Avoid:

• Modern characters cosplaying history
• All historical figures being secretly progressive
• Pretending oppression didn’t exist
• Using history to endorse terrible views

The Balance:

• Acknowledge historical reality
• Center characters readers can root for
• Show consequences of era’s limitations
• Don’t romanticize oppression

Your protagonist doesn’t need to share every view of their era. But they need to live in it convincingly.

Storytelling in Historical Context

Using History as Plot

Historical events provide structure:

Known Outcomes:

• Readers may know how history ends
• Tension comes from how characters navigate
• Personal stakes within larger inevitability
• The “why” matters more than “what”

Historical Irony:

• Characters making decisions with information we have
• Dramatic irony when we know what’s coming
• Characters confidently wrong about future
• Poignancy of lost possibilities

Parallel Stories:

• Personal stories alongside historical events
• Small lives affected by large history
• Individual choices mattering within constraints
• Finding the human in the historical

Alternative History:

• “What if” scenarios from divergence points
• Still requires understanding real history
• Exploring why things happened as they did
• Fantasy with historical grounding

Dialogue in Historical Settings

Period-appropriate speech without alienating readers:

The Formality Spectrum:

• Fully period accurate (challenging to read)
• Period formal with modern accessibility
• Modern casual with period flavor
• Completely modern (breaks immersion)

Practical Solutions:

• Research address forms and use correctly
• Avoid obvious modern slang
• Keep sentence structure slightly formal
• Use period-appropriate exclamations

What Creates Period Feel:

• Forms of address (how people referred to each other)
• Levels of politeness (who defers to whom)
• Knowledge references (what people knew then)
• Absence of modern assumptions

Translation Conventions:

• If setting isn’t Japan, characters speak their language
• Manga is “translating” for readers
• Some untranslatable terms can remain
• Consistency in how you handle language

Pacing Historical Stories

History has its own rhythm:

Travel Time:

• Pre-modern travel was slow
• Use travel for character development
• Show how distance created separation
• Don’t teleport characters

Communication Speed:

• News traveled at walking/riding pace
• Information asymmetry was normal
• Decisions made with incomplete knowledge
• Delays have dramatic potential

Life Pace:

• Seasons governed activity
• Many tasks took longer
• Waiting was more common
• Boredom and routine existed

Compressing Time:

• When to show slowness
• When to skip ahead
• How to indicate time passing
• What moments to dilate

Honor the period’s pace when it serves story. Compress when readers would be bored.

Creating with Multic

Historical manga benefits from systematic approaches:

Research Organization:

• Store reference images by category
• Link research to specific scenes
• Track which details you’ve established
• Maintain consistency documents

Timeline Management:

• Historical events marked clearly
• Character timelines overlaid
• Age calculations automated
• Continuity checking easier

Collaboration Benefits:

• Multiple creators can specialize
• Historical consultant feedback
• Artist and writer coordination
• Consistent period details across team

Planning Complex Narratives:

• Political intrigue mapping
• Family trees and relationships
• Historical figure appearances
• Multiple storylines in same era

Multic’s node-graph system helps visualize complex historical narratives with multiple intersecting storylines.

Subgenre Explorations

Samurai and Warrior Stories

The classic historical manga genre:

Traditional Elements:

• Codes of honor and their violations
• Master-student relationships
• Clan loyalty vs. personal desire
• Combat as character expression

Beyond Stereotypes:

• Samurai were bureaucrats too
• Peacetime warrior culture
• Women in warrior families
• Lower-class warriors

Action Requirements:

• Authentic sword techniques
• Armor that works correctly
• Battle tactics of the era
• Consequences of violence

Court Drama and Politics

Intrigue without swords:

Political Mechanics:

• How did power actually work?
• What roles existed at court?
• How were decisions made?
• What could destroy someone?

Drama Sources:

• Succession struggles
• Faction conflicts
• Personal vs. political loyalty
• Forbidden relationships

Visual Challenges:

• Making meetings dramatic
• Expressing tension without action
• Costume complexity
• Interior settings variety

Common People Stories

History from below:

Underrepresented Perspectives:

• Farmers, merchants, artisans
• Women’s lives
• Children’s experiences
• Marginalized communities

Daily Life Drama:

• Survival challenges
• Family conflicts
• Economic struggles
• Community dynamics

Research Challenges:

• Less documentation of ordinary lives
• More reliance on inference
• Material culture evidence
• Comparative sources

War and Military

Conflict as setting:

Scale Considerations:

• Individual experience in mass events
• Strategy vs. personal story
• Violence and its depiction
• Aftermath and consequences

Multiple Perspectives:

• Both sides have characters
• Civilians caught between
• Those who profit and suffer
• Long-term impacts

Responsibility:

• War has victims
• Avoid glorification
• Show costs clearly
• Human complexity on all sides

Common Mistakes

Research Laziness

The most obvious failure:

Symptoms:

• Same-period mistakes other manga make
• Relying on other fiction as reference
• Not checking assumptions
• Visible anachronisms

Treatment:

• Primary source investment
• Expert consultation when possible
• Humility about what you don’t know
• Verification of everything visual

”Chosen One” Historicity

Making protagonists too special:

Symptoms:

• Protagonist holds all modern values
• Every historical figure recognizes their greatness
• No actual limitations from period
• Immune to historical consequences

Treatment:

• Characters shaped by their era
• Success within period constraints
• Other characters reasonably skeptical
• Limitations that actually limit

Aesthetic Without Substance

Pretty period trappings over shallow story:

Symptoms:

• Beautiful costumes, empty characters
• Correct settings, modern psychology
• Historical flavor, no historical understanding
• Scenery tourism

Treatment:

• Period constraints drive plot
• Characters think like their era
• Historical context matters to story
• Beyond visual reconstruction

Lecture Mode

History lessons that stop story:

Symptoms:

• Exposition dumps about period
• Characters explaining what they’d know
• Footnote-heavy narration
• Story pauses for education

Treatment:

• Information through character experience
• Show rather than explain
• Reader discovers with character
• If you must explain, make it brief

Getting Started

Your first historical manga doesn’t need to cover the entire era. Start with:

1. One period you’re genuinely curious about
2. One location you can research thoroughly
3. One character whose constraints create story
4. One historical element that intersects with their life

Build outward from specificity. A deeply researched single village tells more truth than a superficially researched empire.

The past isn’t another country—it’s an infinite number of them. Choose one, learn its language, and tell the stories that couldn’t happen anywhere else.

---

Related: How to Make Manga, Action Manga Guide, Drama Webtoon Guide, and Character Design Fundamentals