The latest indications from the Japanese stock market seem to be that the country may be getting ready to go manga.

According to Nikko Cordial Securities, manga, anime and video game-related stocks have risen noticably following Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s resignation announcment. They say this may be attributable to expectations that Taro Aso, an unabashed manga and anime fan, will succeed Abe as prime minister.

Among the stocks that rose on Wednesday is the Tokyo-based card game company “Broccoli,” whose stocks went up from 92 yen to 157 yen, a 71% rise. Major manga retailer Mandarake saw a 13% rise, while video game retailer Koei Net went up by 15%. Toei Animation, one of Japan’s largest animation studios, and Kadokawa Group Holdings, a manga publisher, both rose 3%.

Aso Taro’s interest for manga is well-known, and claimed in a 2003 interview that he read some 10-20 manga publications a week. Taro also established the International Manga Prize in 2007, for non-Japanese manga authors. He received some headlines ahead of the French presidential election this year for recommending Segolene Royal to read more manga, after she had criticized it for being violent and pornographic.

Another indication that Japan may be on the way to becoming MangaLand is a report that Nissan has come out with a new concept car with a design inspired by manga art.