“Keep practicing and don’t be shy showing your manga.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? It’s really a great honor. Thank you for choosing my work.
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? When I thought about what to draw, I wanted to make it different. I didn’t want to just draw a man or woman crying. I wanted to draw the Earth crying because of the serious pollution problem.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? I slept so little in order to finish it before the deadline. Luckily I made it and I could submit my work.
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners? I started making my manga when I was 17. It was not great at the beginning and I took a lot of time drawing and thinking of a good story. So I think my advice is to keep practicing.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? I do my drafting and drawing by hand, then scan my work into the computer to finish it.
What was the first manga you picked up? ONE PIECE. I watched it on TV when I was a child. When I read the manga I thought the drawing style was so cool. Then, I started to draw manga like that as well.
Which manga changed your life? There’s just too many artists’ works that inspire me with ideas for my own manga! What kind of manga do you want to make next? I want to make manga about monsters and ghosts. I’m interested in drawing different kinds of monsters.
About you
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? I’ll listen to some music.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time? I hope I can see my manga being displayed at a Japanese book store and that there will be someone who will love it enough to buy it.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? Practice drawing the human body more, and to not try to make an epic story too soon. It takes time to make a good story.
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Try your best and don’t be shy to show your manga!
Thank you, YinFu! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
PROFILE Pen Name: Maya Fella Age: 17 Social network profiles: Instagram: @maya_flla / @artstoic_ Country: Algeria Favorite manga:Death Note Favorite movie: Pride and Prejudice or The Notebook Favorite quote: “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who matter don’t mind; and those who mind don’t matter.”
“Draw something that represents you or touches you deeply, but most important something that you enjoy drawing!”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? An incredible amount of joy and happiness! I couldn’t stop myself from smiling and laughing for days, and I was so proud of myself because this is my first time participating in a manga contest and the first time making my art something concrete and public!
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? I simply drew my story and represented my real feelings. My story did not exactly happen as in the manga but the feelings were the same!
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? The most difficult was the digital modifications as I usually only work on paper but I had to do both this time. I just tried to do my best and I used some references to help me, but the worst was drawing the last page which was a double page spread and I had only a few hours to get it done, so I wasn’t satisfied by it!!
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners? I’ve always drawn as far back as I can remember. I was doing little “mangas.” I didn’t really follow manga rules but art has always been my favorite way of expression!
Also I still consider myself as a beginner but here are some tips that helped me to improve:
– Draw everyday even if it’s just a little sketch. – Write down all the story ideas that come to your mind. – Use references but not all the time, you may not be able to draw without them anymore. – When you read manga, analyze all the little details. – Do not wait until you’ll have better drawing tools or for people to encourage you, work with what you have, trust the process and keep going!! – Play sports, training is good for your mental and physical health, especially to avoid back pain that we all suffer from as manga creators, haha!!
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? I draw a lot more on paper with liners and markers. I’m also planning to buy feathers, but when I do digital I use Medibang.
What was the first manga you picked up? I think it was Dragon Ball.
Which manga changed your life? It is definitely Death Note. It’s my favorite manga and the reason I started taking manga more seriously instead of just a childhood hobby. I just love it by heart!
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? I’m trying to find one but I don’t think there are any except the characters I created myself because they are directly the reflection of my mind. What kind of manga do you want to make next? I would love to work on seinen manga, psychological, with smart characters. My biggest project is the manga story I’ve been working on since I was 13 years old. It’s a killer’s story with many mysteries, but I am keeping that one for the future.
About you
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? I love working out at the gym, reading books especially, literature. My favorite one is The Picture of Dorian Gray. I also love watching movies and anime, making aesthetic videos…
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? I am still in high school, but I also help my sister with her small business where we sell customized phone cases.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time? Maybe I will have a serialization, but my biggest dream is to achieve an animation adaptation and for my manga to be famous.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? Draw more from memory, and less from references!
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Draw something that represents you or touches you deeply, but most importantly something that you enjoy drawing!
Thank you, Maya Fella! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
Young Ukrainian Artist’s Magical Manga Takes Top Award!!
Young Ukrainian MasterClass member nemuisemi received the TOP AWARD in the 26th edition of the “Comic ZENON Manga Taisho” Japanese manga contest! nemuisemi’s first-ever Japanese one-shot manga won the Excellence Award Runner-Up (with a value of ￥100,000) which makes her the THIRD international creator to be published in the prestigious Monthly Comic ZENON manga magazine!!
Manga Taisho is Comic ZENON’s oldest manga contest where new and upcoming creators can prove themselves DIRECTLY to their future fans with an up to 39-page entry. It’s not only judged by manga legends such as Tsukasa Hojo-sensei and Tetsuo Hara-sensei, but also by booksellers and the general public.
The following are the comments from Comic ZENON’s 26th Manga Taisho special judge Yaeko Ninagawa-sensei (TOUKEN RANBU GAIDEN AYAKASHITAN, etc.) and TSUTAYA BOOK STORE (Kawasaki Station branch) regarding nemuisemi’s entry:
“I felt the creator’s high level of skill in her style that caters to the needs of the readers and the meticulous artwork of characters and backgrounds. In the future, I hope she can focus on creating a setting that satisfies readers by clearly explaining what the magic or abilities in her manga can and cannot do.” -Yaeko Ninagawa-sensei
“The art style, story, and world-building are all nearly at a fully fleshed-out level in this work. The meticulous attention to detail in the setting is also captivating, and upon reading until the end, the meaning behind the title of this work became clear.” –TSUTAYA BOOK STORE (Kawasaki Station branch)
After receiving the SMA18 Grand Prix Runner-Up award, nemuisemi once again won the hearts of both professionals and readers with “Marmoris,” which follows Olivia, a girl tormented by the sea with no memory of her past, and Adelia, a member of a mystical race of fox-people who have a unique gift for magical potions’ creation and medicine. Will their fateful encounter bring them happiness, or will the trauma of the past and wounds too deep to heal tear them apart?
In the latest Monthly Comic ZENON, an exclusive interview with nemuisemi was featured in the issue, which we have translated!
1. What are your feelings towards your award?
When I found out that I was a finalist, I couldn’t help myself jumping from happiness. I am unbelievably honored to receive this award.
2. What inspired the creation of this work?
I love the sea and I love soft, bittersweet fantasy stories. Because of my love for these things, “Marmoris” was created.
3. What are your favorite parts of this work? Could you tell us about the creative process behind it?
My favorite pages are those with water and splashes. I really enjoy drawing cute faces and sea waves. Writing scenario and creating name is also so fun, but it was difficult for me in the same time, because I did not have any experience.
4. What challenges did you face while creating this work?
It was the first time I had to draw so much in such a short amount of time, and it was quite difficult for me to meet the deadline. But the editors supported me and I could not let them down!!
5. Were there any specific aspects you focused on when designing the characters?
Creating designs, I mostly focus on the clothes worn by the characters, as well as hairstyles and some special facial/body features. I really like to search different folk costumes and get inspired by them.
6. What is your favorite manga?
My favorite manga are Mushishi and Monster. I like Mushishi because mini-story format and learning more about Japanese folklore gives me so much joy, and Monster because of the exciting plot and unreal emotions I get.
7. What kind of works do you want to create in the future?
I want to create manga in which I can show my love for the world. Feelings and emotions are more important to me than actions and exciting plot, so I want to create manga about people and their life’s challenges.
8. What’s the thing you’re most interested in lately?
I’ve been watching a lot of anime and playing games lately. I started watching Pokemon for the first time in my life and now I really want to collect some plushies haha.
9. Lastly, please share a final comment!
Finally, I want to thank the editors and my friends for supporting me. It may seem like a small thing, but without your kind words, It would has been emotionally difficult. I am very happy that I took part in this competition and I will try my best to become a professional mangaka in the future!!
nemuisemi’s work is only one of the manga masterpieces created by the SMA MasterClassthat won an award through Comic ZENON and COAMIX; with the support of the SMA Editorial Department, the MasterClass members are showing year after year their potential to the Japanese audience and working towards their professional debut by joining SMA exclusive projects such as the “Artists Village Aso 096k!”
“Take it easy to produce a first draft and then try to adjust and refine it.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? It’s an honor to get this incredible recognition. I was so happy to be able to show my work with artists from other countries. My grandma was so happy that she prepared fried chicken for me that night. What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? The characters were inspired by two friends that I have known since high school. Our personalities and interests are very different, and they don’t even read manga at all. However, these two friends have always stood by me and given me immediate assistance. I want to express my gratitude to them in the way I am good at, it can be said to be dedicated to their works.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? In this work, I tried to draw thick lines, which is not very comfortable for my wrist. It seems that I need to adjust this attempt again.
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners? I’ve been trying to create since college, and I’m confident that I’ll continue to grow. I think in the field of art, people love to talk about the importance of talent, but I think the love of painting and the desire to express oneself is the best talent.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? I sketch with pencil, and then use Clip Studio Paint to describe the details.
What was the first manga you picked up? When I was a child, who couldn’t even speak clearly, my father introduced me to Initial D. To this day, I still pretend I’m racing down a mountain road when I’m driving. Which manga changed your life? Gintama. In terms of world building, the author combines Japanese history and alien themes, which I find very ingenious. Based on this, the author has written a sophisticated unit drama series, giving the characters many events to show their diverse charm.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? Spike in Cowboy Bebop. I like the image of a chivalrous character, seemingly like a ruffian but with a strong sense of justice inside.
What kind of manga do you want to make next? I wanted to create a unit drama story about cowboys walking around different planets and interacting with aliens.
About you
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? I like to take random trips. It’s fun to meet things without being prepared.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? I’m still a college student.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time? I plan to accumulate experience and create opportunities by submitting short-length works, while conceiving long-term serialized content. I hope to sign a contract with a fixed platform within one year and start a stable serialization. In addition, I also try to operate a personal website in order to gain more readers.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? Take it easy to produce a first draft and then try to adjust and refine it. If you always evaluate the feasibility of an idea in your mind, you will end up agonizing and get nothing done.
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? The limitation of “unable to use dialogue” can refine your story expression, which is an interesting way to play. You can use more explicit actions and exaggerated expressions to convey the story.
Thank you, 米豆(Mido)! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
PROFILE Pen Name:Nachi Age: 26 Social network profiles: Instagram: @nachi.g32 Country: Vietnam Favorite manga:Tsubasa (Clamp), Ran and the Gray World, Letter Bee Favorite movie: Interstellar, Amelie Poulain Favorite quote: “More than what meets the eyes.”
“As a beginner, emerge yourself in other professional mangakas’ work. Pay attention to the composition, structures, and how they manage a story.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? The feeling was so unreal for me. I didn’t even know that I won until after my friends had messaged me. Even then, I had to refresh the SMA page again and again to make sure that it was my name on there. After that, it was just a burst of joy, especially since I hadn’t expected to actually win.
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? I have always believed in hidden majestic “beauties” of nature. Their aura feels so pure and so gentle at the same time. That’s what draws me towards such encounters between humans and these hidden gems.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? SMA19’s theme was easy at first glance, but hard to fully realize. I did my best to manage the story-telling not only to create an easy-to-follow read, but also to engineer the most perfect and genuine reaction for the main character, especially during the highlight of the story. Every panel on the page had to be carefully structured. Every read and reread was another consideration being made. One usual comment about my work is that it can be too abstract, so I asked my friends to read the manga to see if they could flow with the story as I did.
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners? I started drawing manga when I was in the 3rd grade of elementary school. But I only got really serious and paid attention to my work from the start of secondary school. As for advice for beginners, the best thing to do is expand your horizon by emerging yourself in other professional mangakas’ work. Pay attention to the composition, structures, and how they manage a story.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? I spent most of my years drawing by hand actually until two years ago when I switched to digital. My go-to digital tools are Photoshop and my trusty Samsung Pad.
What was the first manga you picked up? Doraemon.
Which manga changed your life? Cardcaptor Sakura.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? This is such a hard question to answer. I would have to say it’s a mix of Mio, Yuuko and Mai from Nichijou. They have such “extra” innerself reactions to everything. Another character that I resonate with would be Miuora Hayasaka from Yotsuba. Like me, she makes a lot of weird toys and she babysits kids by making up unbelievably wild stories.
What kind of manga do you want to make next? I intend to write a story about astronomy.
About you
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? I enjoy listening to music, reading books, making arts and crafts, playing video games, … Recently, I’m having a lot of fun watching esports. Particularly, I’m rooting for Identity V’s ZETA DIVISION from Japan. Their positive energy brings me so much comfort.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? I’m a freelance artist. I draw manga primarily, while selling handicrafts. I also work part-time as an art teacher.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time? I hope to have happily finished my astronomy story. To be honest, I just got back to drawing manga 2 years ago. So right now I’m only looking at short-term goals.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? I did give up on drawing in the past because somehow I always hated my stories after I finished them. However, that decision gave me the time to process everything and I no longer feel the pressure to “draw correctly”. And I found what I wanted to illustrate for myself. That decision to give up ultimately led me to today. So, if I could give advice to my younger self, it would be: “Don’t rush. Spend some time giving yourself a chance to realize what you truly want.”
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Simplicity, positivity, and humanity are the most important elements. They are the keys to every reader’s heart.
Thank you, Nachi! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
July 2023. The 096k (pronounced O’Clock) Kumamoto Drama Company set off for the biggest manga event in all of Europe: Japan Expo 2023 in Paris!
Japan Expo is a fair dedicated to Japanese pop culture, held in Paris, France. Since its first edition in 1999, the number of attendees has continued to grow, reaching 255,000 visitors this year. The audience has enjoyed areas dedicated to manga and anime, webtoons, cosplay, exhibitions, live events, and various other activities related to Japanese culture.
This year, the event grew large crowds from COAMIX, thanks to the presence of the guest of honor, Tsukasa Hojo-sensei (creator of CITY HUNTER and Cat’s Eye), and the096k Kumamoto Drama Company, along with the editors of the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®!
The manga has now sold over 900,000 copies in Japan, and the theatrical performance has become increasingly popular with audiences in Kumamoto, where the show is presented weekly. It seemed like the perfect time to show it to the international audience, and there couldn’t have been a better place than France, where manga is published by piccoma Europe, and the love for manga is among the highest in all of Europe.
SMA editorsEnrico and Rose, participated in the festival as representatives and promoters of the Drama Company. They had the opportunity to meet various French publishing houses and promote the SILENT MANGA AUDITION® to a large number of visitors through specially created flyers for the Japan Expo. You can find all the photos and details on the SMA’s Instagram!
As for the 096k Kumamoto Drama Company, the 25 actresses and a large number of staff members performed two types of shows during the four days of the manga and anime festival:
・The theatrical performance “Keiji’s Kabuki Adventure THE STAGE PLAY – Chapter of Kiyomasa Katō: The Tiger of Kumamoto” on the ICHIGO stage (main stage).
・Live performances of traditional Japanese art and anime songs on the SAKURA stage (Japanese cultural performance stage).
◾️The theatrical performance (July 13th and 15th)
For the theatrical performance, the challenge for the 096k Kumamoto Drama Company at Japan Expo was to represent the play “Keiji’s Kabuki Adventure THE STAGE PLAY – Chapter of Kiyomasa Katō: The Tiger of Kumamoto” in just 60 minutes. The show was originally designed for the Japanese audience and had a duration of about 70 minutes. This time, the limited time available for the performance forced the show to be modified and simplified to make it understandable to the French audience… and it was a success that exceeded all expectations!
With the number of spectators increasing from 400 to 1500 in just two days (!!!), the theatrical performance enchanted the French audience with specially created subtitles supervised by an international editorial team, its moving story, and the vibrant energy of the 25 actresses. The stage went beyond the boundaries of the Japanese language and touched the hearts of the new French fans, who showed their support and warmth for the theatrical performance.
Special guests Kumamon (the worldwide famous mascot of Kumamoto) and KUNI-KEN also participated in the two days of the show with their shamisen performances, captivating the international audience. KUNI-KEN Has participated in the Japan Expo countless times before.
The backgrounds will continue to be used in future theatrical performances, so they hope their artistic quality will be appreciated as soon as possible on stage!
◾️Live performance and anime song medley (July 14th and 16th)
In addition to the theatrical performance, the 096k Kumamoto Drama Company also had the opportunity to showcase their Japanese arts specialties to their new French fans, including Japanese drum performances, singing, sword fights, and dance. The performances were accompanied by the opening theme songs from the historic years of Tsukasa Hojo-sensei and Tetsuo Hara-sensei: “Get Wild,” “Cat’s Eye,” and “Ai wo Torimodose!!” They enchanted the audience with the exciting voices and performances of the actresses.
Moreover, given the creator’s special connection with the Kumamoto region, a special cover of “WE ARE!” (the opening of ONE PIECE) was sung on stage, providing a perfect conclusion to these special performances that drew nearly 3,000 spectators over the two days!
During the four-day fair, the French audience got to know more and more about the members of the 096k Kumamoto Drama Company. The actresses were stopped by a large number of fans to take pictures together and to receive direct positive feedback. They sincerely hope to see their French fans again in Kumamoto to relive the emotions they shared this year! They also hope for a large number of manga created in France for the upcoming rounds of SMA!
The 096k Kumamoto Drama Company will continue its performances both in Japan and abroad, hoping to reach as many fans as possible worldwide with the beauty of Kumamoto and Takamori Town and the charm of manga by COAMIX and SMA!
MERCI, JAPAN EXPO!
MERCI, FRANCE!
A BIENTOT (See you again soon!）
HELLO SMA19 AWARD WINNER, ryancomicpress!
PROFILE Pen Name: ryancomicpress Age: Late Twenties Social network profiles: Twitter: @ryancomicpress, Youtube: @ryanime2 Country: United States of America Favorite manga:Yu-Gi-Oh!, My Hero Academia, Chainsawman, Gantz, The Quintessential Quintuplets Favorite movie: Zodiac or Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Favorite quote: “So if you need a hero Just look in the mirror No one’s gonna save you now So you better save yourself” -After the Storm by Kali Uchis”
“Focus on the big emotional moment and the build up to it. Don’t make your story too complex and have fun with it.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? It feels like a dream. I’ve never had this kind of success before. I’m so happy!
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? I’ve had something similar happen to me in the past with stray cats around the neighborhood. I thought that making the protagonist a grumpy old man would be a good foil to the cute cat and help make his overflowing emotion more impactful.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? Keeping everything consistent was pretty challenging. I was constantly cross referencing each page with each other to make sure it all looked correct.
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners? I started making 4 page manga around 2019 on my iPad for fun. My advice would be to start with really small projects first instead of a long series. You’ll learn more that way.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? I draw my manga digitally on the desktop and the iPad. My go-to digital tool is Clip Studio Paint. I use the basic pens.
What was the first manga you picked up? It might have been a volume of Shonen Jump I got at my middle school book fair.
Which manga changed your life? It’s probably Bakuman. Or Naruto. Or Yu-Gi-Oh!
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? Kaiji from the manga series Kaiji. He loses more than he wins but he keeps enduring no matter what.
What kind of manga do you want to make next? Something with action in it!
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? I try to work on other creative projects like animation or watercoloring or streaming myself playing Yu-Gi-Oh. Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time? Hopefully successful enough to have financial stability and to go eat at a nice restaurant every week.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? Just start. You’ll get better over time. You have to fail a bunch of times before you see even a sliver of success. It’s okay to fail. JUST START NOW. DON’T WAIT. STOP PROCRASTINATING. GOGOGOGO!!!!!!
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Focus on the big emotional moment and the build up to it. Don’t make your story too complex and have fun with it.
Thank you, ryancomicpress! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
Two MasterClass Members Finalists in Manga Taisho Contest! Two members of the SILENT MANGA AUDITION® MasterClass are finalists in Monthly Comic ZENON’s 26th Manga Taisho: nemuisemi from Ukraine and Andrea Jen from
Argentina!
“Marmoris” is created by SMA18 Grand Prix Runner-Up nemuisemi. The manga follows Olivia, a girl tormented by the sea with no memory of her past,
and Adelia, a member of a mystical race of fox-people who have a unique gift for magical potions’
creation and medicine. Will coming together bring them happiness, or will the trauma of the past and
wounds too deep to heal tear them apart?
“The Lady Afraid of Flowers” is created by SMA-EX1 Grand Prix Runner-Up Andrea Jen. Working earnestly on her family farm, Jasmine is hindered by a crippling fear of
flowers, despite wanting to enjoy their beauty. Her life is changed when she encounters her kind
neighbor Samuel, but something sinister and more terrible than Jasmine’s fear is lurking in the
shadows…!
“Monthly Comic ZENON’s Manga Taisho” (lit. “The Great Manga Audition of Monthly Comic ZENON”) is ZENON’s oldest contest where Japanese
newcomers can prove themselves DIRECTLY to their future fans with a 39 page entry. Manga Taisho is
not only judged by manga legends such as Tsukasa Hojo-sensei and Tetsuo Hara-sensei, but also judged
by booksellers and the general public in order to evaluate the marketability of the entrants. Andrea
Jen and nemuisemi follow monotone_ink, Laica Chrose, Enewald, and Momo Sanse as international creators discovered by the SMA Editorial Dept. who have reached the finals of the
prestigious Manga Taisho, which allows you, the SMA Community, to READ and VOTE for their manga!
Both Andrea Jen and nemuisemi’s manga will be available for review by Japanese and international
readers from today July 7th until July 14th,11:59 (JPN time) on the Comic ZENON website.
3 – Fill the form with YOUR name and vote for an entry HERE
That’s it!
We’re looking forward to reading your opinions and reactions! *The English versions of “Mamoris” and “The Lady Afraid of Flowers” will be published on the
SMA website in the future! Kyushu International Manga Award
Want to challenge yourself beyond silent manga? Submit an up to 39 page one-shot manga with dialogues to the “Kyushu International Manga Award”, a Japanese manga contest hosted by COAMIX Inc. and get your chance to be published in a Japanese manga magazine!!
About the “Kyushu International Manga Award”
The “Kyushu International Manga Award” manga contest is open exclusively for international creators and creators from Okinawa and the Kyushu region in southern Japan in order to support local manga creators locally. Rather than silent manga, entries with Japanese dialogue are judged by the ZENON Editorial Dept. and manga artist guest judges, and the winners’ entries are published in the Japanese manga magazine Monthly Comic ZENON alongside worldwide hit manga. Kyushu International Manga Award winners go on to work towards their series debut, just like how winners Enewaldandmonotone_ink are doing with us at the Artists Village Aso 096k, as well as Poodpoopsie, Plushelisa, and monami are doing with us remotely!
Application Requirements
・Applicants must be residents of the Kyushu/Okinawa area or outside of Japan (regardless of nationality).
・Entries must be works that have not been published in a commercial magazine.
・Any genre is acceptable.
・Entries in the story manga category should be no longer than 39 pages, and entries in the 4-panel manga category should be no longer than 10 pages.
・Submit by set deadlines (Japan Standard Time): November 20th or May 20th
Prize Money (may be subject to change)
・Grand Prix: 1,000,000 yen + support towards a series debut offer (in one of the following media: Monthly Comic ZENON, Web Comic Zenyon, or Comic Tatan)
・Entries should be drawn on B4 size paper with a basic frame of 270mm (length) x 180mm (width) and a margin of at least 20mm (width), drawn with black ink or sumi ink (or monochrome/grayscale if working in digital). If there is text over the drawing, cover the drawing with tracing paper and write in pencil over it.
・The data should be uploaded in PSD or TIFF format with integrated layers, and a resolution of 600 dpi or higher for monochrome/grayscale 2-bit.
・Entries done on paper should be scanned and digitized with a 300 dpi resolution.
・Each page must be numbered.
・The reading order is from right to left and dialogue should be written in Japanese (the use of machine translation is permitted).
Submission Method
Upload your work via the designated Google Form (in Japanese) or in case of any further questions, contact us via the following address: sma_info@coamix.co.jp.
Please write the title of the work, name (with your pen name, if any), age, occupation, telephone number, address, brief personal history, and publication history inside your email. We can’t wait to read your manga masterpiece!!
Meet the Artists Village MasterClass #5: Ichirou
PROFILE Pen Name:Ichirou Country: Brazil Favorite manga:20th Century Boys, AKIRA
“The most wonderful thing is that I get to spend time with artists who have different experiences and backgrounds than I do.”
What made you decide to come to Japan?
I wanted to improve my storytelling skills, which are essential to creating good manga. I thought I could achieve this by working in the Japanese manga market with the support of editors.
I also thought that coming to Japan and being exposed to so many works different from Brazilian culture would be a great source of knowledge and experience. Just as Osamu Tezuka’s early works were influenced by Disney, I believe that absorbing and understanding the best aspects of other cultures’ works can improve my own work and make it more universally appealing to audiences.
What is your impression of Japan, Kumamoto, and Aso?
It is a beautiful, quiet place surrounded by mountains, and I can’t see this kind of scenery in the urban area of Brazil where I lived. Walking surrounded by nature makes me at peace and full of ideas. Also, the climate in Aso is comfortable for me, whereas in Brazil, it is hot all year round and at certain times of the year it is difficult to concentrate on my creative work.
How do you feel about the Artists Village Aso 096k’s location in Kumamoto as an environment for drawing manga? What’s your impression of the living environment and food?
It’s an excellent environment. The best part is being around artists from different countries with different experiences and backgrounds. It’s a valuable and stimulating experience to meet people you never thought you would meet, and to become friends and talk with them. I also find it wonderful to receive feedback from the editors on my ideas and work. There are editors in Brazil, but unlike in Japan, they do not give detailed feedback to artists.
In terms of facilities, the Artists Village is excellent. The best digital equipment and analog tools are provided. The editors in Kumamoto are very supportive and always ready to help. In addition, we have easy access to the ZENON Editorial Department in Tokyo if needed.
In addition, meals are provided by a professional chef who takes into account our daily nutritional needs, and the menu is also extensive. Onigiri (rice balls) and prepared foods are also always available, so you can eat those meals outside of the scheduled meal times.
What does an average day at the Artists Village look like for you?
I start working at 10 am and usually stay in the art studio until it closes. During lunch and dinner, I reunite with the other artists, all from different countries, to chat and eat together. It’s a vastly rich experience.
What are your goals for the future?
I want to become better at creating comics, so I can make a work that captivates the readers.
Please give a message to those who are thinking about working at the Artists Village Aso 096k!
It requires some bravery and sense of adventure to move to a different country, but if you’re willing to immerse yourself daily in the manga work, you might want to pay the Artists Village a visit, where you’ll find the support needed to focus on your career.
Thank you, Ichirou! We’re eagerly awaiting your original manga debut!
Learn more about how YOU can join the Artists Village and create manga with us!
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