Press Releases

1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan will launch the 15th Japan International MANGA Award and accept entries by non-Japanese MANGA creators from April 7th to July 8th 2021.
2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs established the Japan International MANGA Award in 2007, with the aim of awarding MANGA creators who contribute to the spread of MANGA culture overseas and international cultural exchanges through MANGA. The Award has been presented every year since then.
3. Among entries, the gold Award will be given to the best work and the Silver Awards to three other excellent works. If the situation of COVID-19 allows, the winners will be invited to Japan by the Japan Foundation to attend the award ceremony. During their stay in Japan, they will also have opportunities to exchange ideas with Japanese MANGA creators and to visit publishing companies.
4. Here is the link to the website that contains more information about the application for the 15th Japan International Manga Award.

• The Application for the 15th Japan International Manga Award

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs established the Japan International MANGA Award in 2007 for the purpose of expanding international exchange and mutual understanding through world-famous MANGA culture, upon the initiative of then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. ASO Taro.

• More information

383 entries, which was record-high number since the establishment, were received from 61 countries and regions last time (14th Japan International Manga Award).
( (1) East Asia: 121 entries, (2) Southeast Asia: 67 entries, (3) Latin America: 53 entries, (4) Western Europe: 52 entries, (5) Central and Eastern Europe: 47 entries, (6) Middle East: 16 entries, (7) Africa: 11 entries, (8) North America: 10 entries, (9) Oceania: 4 entries, (10) South Asia: 2 entries)

• (Members of the Executive Committee of the Award)
  • Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs【chairman】
  • Mr. UMEMOTO Kazuyoshi, President, Japan Foundation
  • Dr. SHIRAISHI Saya, Professor Emeritus, Tokyo University
  • Mr. SUGIYAMA Kotaro, President, LIGHTPUBLICITY Co. Ltd.,
  • Mr. Frederik L. SCHODT, Translator, interpreter and writer
  • Mr. YOKOTA Kiyoshi, Auditor, SHOGAKUKAN Co. Ltd.,
• (Members of the Selection Committee of the Award)
  • Ms. SATONAKA Machiko, Manga artist 【chairperson】
  • Ms. AKAMATSU Ken, Manga artist
  • Ms. NAGANO Noriko, Manga artist
  • Mr. YOSHITOME Hiroyuki, former Publisher