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HELLO SMA16 AWARD WINNER, Virand!

PROFILE

Name: Virand Age: 24 Country: Italy Favorite manga: Dragonball Favorite movie: The Iron Giant Entry title: The Wall Round: SMA16 “Moments of  FEAR, JOY, or LOVE” Award: Excellence Award
“Create something new!”
About SMA

READ VIRAND’S SMA16 ENTRY HERE!

About your Manga
About Virand

Thank you, Virand! We can’t wait to see your SMA18 entry and hope that it will move the readers to TEARS!

You have time until August 1st to SURPRISE the judges and potentially get the chance to develop your potential as a manga creator with us in Japan!

HELLO SMA16 AWARD WINNER, Gawinsat!

PROFILE

Name: Gawinsat Age: 42 Country: Thailand Favorite manga: City Hunter Favorite movie: Mad Max: Fury Road Entry title: The Answer Round: SMA16 “Moments of  FEAR, JOY, or LOVE” Award: Excellence Award
“Time management is critical. Make sure you can make a high quality piece of work before the deadline.”
About SMA

READ GAWINSAT’S SMA16 ENTRY HERE!

About your Manga
About Gawinsat

Thank you, Gawinsat! We can’t wait to see your SMA18 entry and hope that it will bring you the answer to HAPPINESS!

You have time until August 1st to WOO the judges and have a chance to develop your potential as a manga creator with us in Japan!

In Regards to a Work that Bears a Strong Resemblance to an Awarded SMA Entry Recently, it came to the attention of the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®︎ (SMA) that an award-winning work in the 2021 15th Japan International MANGA Award showed a strong resemblance to MasterClass member Yoonmi’s 2019 SMA-EX5 Excellence award-winning work “Daze.” Upon realizing this, SMA reached out to the Japan International MANGA Award Executive Committee regarding this matter. The committee conducted an investigation and ultimately withdrew the awarded work in question that bore a strong resemblance to “Daze.” An official announcement from the Committee regarding this matter can be found here and on their homepage. Additional publication on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website in English: https://www.mofa.go.jp/p_pd/ca_opr/page22e_000980.html https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/culture/exchange/pop/manga/index.html Additional publication on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website in Japanese: https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/p_pd/ca_opr/page22_003854.html https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/culture/koryu/pop/manga/index.html   SMA is thankful for the cooperation of the Committee and is relieved that this matter has been concluded. It is SMA’s belief that it is in all of our interests to support young artists to be able to create in a fair and friendly competitive environment. SMA will continue to protect the copyrights of all entries submitted to SMA and to support artists around the world in order to share their love of manga without infringing on the works and images of other artists. SMA is looking forward to your continued participation and support. Sincerely, The SILENT MANGA AUDITION®︎ April 18, 2022
HELLO SMA16 AWARD WINNER, Ichigin!

PROFILE

Name: Ichigin Age: 27 Country: Spain Favorite manga: Inuyasha and Bleach Favorite movie: Back to the Future Part II Favorite quote: “Now tomorrow seems scary but the next week you will see it as something far away.” Entry title: 坂道リメンバー(An Uphill Road to Remember) Round: SMA16 “Moments of  FEAR, JOY, or LOVE” Award: Excellence Award
“The true heart of a story is the plot!”
  About SMA

READ ICHIGIN’S SMA16 ENTRY HERE!

About your Manga
About Ichigin

Thank you, Ichigin! We’re eagerly expecting your future masterpieces and hope that thinking about entering SMA18 makes your heart brimming with AFFECTION!

You have time until August 1st to WOW the judges and have a chance to develop your potential as a manga creator with us in Japan!

Finnish MasterClass Enewald's awarded manga printed in Japan! New MasterClass member Enewald has been published in the Japanese manga magazine “Monthly Comic ZENON” after receiving the top award in Monthly Comic ZENON’s 23rd Manga Taisho manga contest! Enewald is the second MasterClass member to do so after Australian MasterClass member monotone_ink, who’s recent award winning manga was also published in Monthly Comic ZENON.   Manga Taisho is Comic ZENON’s oldest contest where Japanese newcomers can prove themselves DIRECTLY to their future fans with a 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. Enewald’s touching entry “The Sunflower Theorem” (Japanese title: Himawari no Teiri) received the top award of this round, allowing the Finnish creator to have their work published in the latest issue of Monthly Comic ZENON.   The following is a comment from Comic ZENON’s 23rd Manga Taisho special judge Homura Kawamoto-sensei (writer of The War of Greedy Witches etc.) regarding Enewald’s entry:
The expressions that were conveyed throughout the manga were superb. It was vastly enjoyable to read, due the fact that just one expression, such as an innocent, happy face or a face in despair, lets you understand 120% of the situation. I thought the manga could be even better if the theme of “mathematics” was more involved in the main theme of “friends” during the last scene.
  “The Sunflower Theorem” tells the story of Noe, a very special girl with a great passion for math and the ability to see it in the beauty of nature and daily life. For this reason, Noe doesn’t have many friends that can understand her, but this doesn’t bother the young girl as long she has her beloved numbers with her. However, everything will change for Noe once a new classmate, Maika, arrives to math class…

A page from “The Sunflower Theorem” – go to the bottom of this article to read the English version of this manga!

  In the latest Monthly Comic ZENON, a special illustration and exclusive interview with fresh, new talent Enewald was featured in the issue, which we have translated!
 
1. What are your feelings towards your award?

I’m shocked, but happy! It’s like a dream that my manga was chosen to receive an award. I’m too happy.

 
2. What made you decide to enter Manga Taisho?

My editor first told me about Manga Taisho. I had never drawn a manga with dialogue, and wanted to join the contest as a challenge.

 
3. What was the inspiration behind your entry?

Actually, I drew from a lot of my past experiences. In my hometown there’s a sunflower field, an old school in the countryside, and I even had a math showdown with a classmate. It ended with us in a draw (laughs).

 
4. What was the hardest part in drawing this entry?

Definitely it was the sunflower seeds. I tried out different ways of drawing them until I was satisfied with one. Drawing the backgrounds was also difficult.

 
5. What’s your favorite part of the manga?

Personally, I like the scene where Noe goes to the sunflower field and the scene where she sits across from Maika right before the math showdown. I also enjoyed applying the screen tones to show the lighting effects.

 
6. Please tell us what manga you are reading recently.

Lately I’ve been reading Vinland Saga, Land of the Lustrous, and Golden Kamui.

 
7. What kind of manga do you want to create next?

I haven’t decided, but for now I want to draw a lot of manga!

 
8. Please leave a message for our readers.

I am full of gratitude and respect if you are not good at math and still read my manga! I will do my best to deliver other works to you from now on. I hope you enjoyed “The Sunflower Theorem!”

 
  Enewald’s work is only one of the manga created by the SMA MasterClass that won an award in Monthly Comic ZENON’s manga awards; with the support of the SMA Editorial Department, the MasterClass members are showing year after year their potential to the Japanese readers.

Learn more about the MasterClass and the SMA projects!

 

READ “THE SUNFLOWER THEOREM” IN ENGLISH HERE!

  “The Sunflower Theorem” and “My Friend Mana” have also been published IN JAPANESE on the Monthly Comic ZENON website! Take a look and leave a comment to support Enewald and monotone_ink by clicking the banners below❤️

“The Sunflower Theorem”

“My Friend Mana”

The Kumamoto Reporter #08 – The Tastes of Kyushu Hey SMA community! Last time we took a peek into the fantastical world of Kumamoto’s legends and infamous “Yokai,” or Japanese spirits. This time we’ll learn about another magical part of Kumamoto Prefecture and Kyushu: the food! Hope you guys are feeling hungry, we’re about to go on a food tasting trip across Kyushu to discover the most delectable specialties of each prefecture. Kumamoto: Basashi Basashi is a combination of the Japanese kanji for horse, which can be read as “Ba” and “sashimi” which is slices of raw fish served with soy sauce, wasabi, and ginger. Yup, that’s right; Basashi is slices of raw horse meat. There’s many speculations as to why it became a Kumamoto specialty, but one story tells of when samurai were forced to eat their horses when under siege in a castle. Served cold and with soy sauce like sashimi, Basashi is tender and sweet, similar to beef. If you’re hesitant to try Basashi, don’t worry; other famous Kumamoto tastes are Karashi Renkon (mustard lotus root), Japanese brown beef from Aso, Kumamoto ramen, and a Chinese-based noodle dish called Taipien. Fukuoka: Hakata Ramen When people think of Kyushu ramen, they think of Hakata ramen! Served with a creamy pork bone based broth, Hakata ramen’s signature style is its thin noodles. It usually comes with thin slices of pork and chopped green onions, but if you’re feeling in the mood for some variety you can also add a hard boiled egg, wood ear mushrooms, pickled ginger root, garlic, bean sprouts, sesame seeds, or more. The Hakata and Tenjin districts of Fukuoka City are also known for their late night food stalls called “Yatai,” and a hot pot dish made with pork tripe is also a famous Fukuoka speciality. Nagasaki: Champon MORE noodles! Champon is made by frying pork, seafood, and vegetables together, and then boiling it all together in soup with a special type of ramen noodle. It’s inspired by Chinese food, which is only natural since Nagasaki has its own Chinatown and deep history with Chinese trade. If you do make your way to the oldest Chinatown in Japan, you can enjoy Chinese food with a Nagasaki twist and Nagasaki’s famous Turkish Rice dish. If you’re fiending for dessert afterward, be sure to try Nagasaki’s famous Castella cake! Saga: Aritaware Curry Aritaware Curry’s name has a double meaning; the curry is a special kind of Japanese curry that’s baked, which is then served in “Arita yakimono.” Arita yakimono is the Japanese name for Arita City’s pottery, which literally means “baked” or “burnt” thing in Japanese. Saga’s pottery is famous all over Japan, and often has pottery festivals where you can buy beautiful handcrafted pieces. But enough about pottery, back to the food! Some other famous tastes in Saga include Karatsu Burger, Kanzaki Soumen, boiled tofu, squid, and other seafood. Oita: Dango Jiru Soup for the soul! Dango Jiru is Oita’s unique spin on “Dago Jiru,” a healthy soup that is popular across Kyushu. Dango are round Japanese dumplings, but in Oita they are stretched out into the shape of noodles and cooked with chicken and vegetables in miso soup. “Jigoku Mushi” is another unique cuisine of Oita, and comes from Beppu’s “hells” or hot springs. Ingredients such as vegetables and eggs are placed in a small chamber and with a lid placed over them, and with time the steam from the hot springs cook the ingredients! Other famous tastes of Oita include tempura style fried chicken, Reimen (cold noodles), and Hyugadon, which is tuna over rice. Miyazaki: Chicken Nanban Chicken Nanban is an example of Western food that has been adapted to suit Japanese tastes. Originating in Miyazaki, juicy fried chicken called “Karaage” is marinated with a special sauce and then covered in tartar sauce. This indulgent spin on fried chicken may not be the healthiest, but Chicken Nanban is often served with salad on the side. Other tastes of Miyazaki include Karamen (spicy noodles), rice balls wrapped in pork, Miyazaki beef, and mango flavored sweets. Kagoshima: Kurobuta Kurobuta, which literally means “black pig,” are said to have been brought to Kagoshima from the Ryukyu Kingdom (which includes present day Okinawa) about 400 years ago. Today, free-range Kurobuta in Kagoshima are known for their sweetness and rich flavor. The meat is crisp, tender, firm, and juicy, with the fat being light. You can savor this high-quality meat in a variety of ways, but eating it in a kind of hot-pot dish called Shabu-Shabu is hugely popular. Shabu-Shabu is traditionally enjoyed with beef, but Kurobuta has made pork Shabu-Shabu spread across Japan. Other famous tastes of Kagoshima include Abura Soumen, shaved-ice called “Shiro-Kuma,” chicken sashimi, and sweet potato shochu, an alcoholic drink much stronger than sake. These are the most famous mouth watering specialties of each prefecture in Kyushu, but Kyushu is also known for its high quality fruit, vegetables, livestock, and marine products. If you want to learn more about how this connects to us in the Artists Village, be sure to check out the latest article from the Artists Village Insider to learn more about Zizoya, the gourmet subsidiary of COAMIX Inc., and how they’re merging manga with gourmet!
The Kumamoto Reporter #07 – Kumamoto: The Cradle of Myths and Legends! Hey SMA community! Last time we got fired up by taking a look at the Land of Fire’s (Kumamoto’s) festivals, an important part of its culture and history. This time we’ll take a step into the fantastical world of Kumamoto’s legends and infamous “Yokai,” or Japanese spirits! First, let’s take a look at Kumamoto’s mystical and mysterious Yokai. Amabié Amabié is a Kumamoto Yokai that has been in recent news due to the fact that she can protect against disease and plague. A strange mermaid type creature with three legs, wavy hair, and a beak, Amabié first appeared in 1846 off of the sea coast and prophesied the following: “From this year on, you will have a bountiful harvest for six years, but if a plague spreads, show people a picture of me.” Many illustrations have been based on the original drawing of this benevolent Yokai in the hopes to ward off disease. Abura sumashi The Abura sumashi are said to be extremely rare Yokai that are native to Kumamoto. Their name literally means “oil presser,” a phrase referring to the act of pressing oil out of tea plant seeds. Legend has it that the abura sumashi are the ghosts of tea oil thieves, which was an expensive and time consuming product to make. Their appearance is of a squat humanoid with a large, ugly potato shaped head. Watch out for them in the mountains where wild tea plants grow! Yamawaro Another mountain dwelling Yokai appears! The Yamawaro are known by different names based on different areas in Kumamoto, and are said to be Kappa (famous Yokai who have a turtle-like appearance) that have migrated from rivers to the mountains. With the appearance of a 10 year old child with one eye, long hair, and fur covering its body, the Yamawaro love to play pranks and do sumo. If you’re not careful, they’ll hop in your bath and stink up the place! Gokanosho: A hidden samurai village One of Kumamoto’s greatest legends is based on real historical events. Long ago during the Genpei War (1180–1185), the powerful Taira and Minamoto clans fought each other with the Minamoto clan emerging as the victors. This began the Minamoto clan’s military rule as the Kamakura shogunate from 1192 to 1333. Utterly defeated, the Taira clan (also called “Heike”) fled to the remote corners of Japan, far from the reach of the Minamoto clan. Legend says that one of the places they hid was “Gokanosho,” deep in the mountains of Kumamoto. Even today, traditional thatched private houses remain in this secluded gorge that’s famous for its natural beauty and fall leaves. The legend of how Aso was made Another Kumamoto legend stems from its natural history and tells how the Aso region, home of our Artists Village Aso 096k, was formed. Hundreds of thousands of years ago, the colossal Aso volcano erupted and collapsed in on itself, forming a giant lake. Legend has it that Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto, the main deity of Aso Shrine and the grandson of Emperor Jinmu (the first Emperor of Japan) wanted to make the Aso region livable for humans. He kicked part of the caldera to let the lake drain, but fell after kicking it, which led the area that he kicked to be called “Tatenu” which means “can’t stand” in Japanese. “Tatenu” would eventually become “Tateno,” an area that is in southern Aso. Takeiwatatsu no Mikoto noticed that the water stopped flowing out, and looked down to see a giant catfish at the bottom of the lake. He asked it to leave, which it politely agreed to and went to Kashima in south Kumamoto City. The giant catfish’s soul was enshrined there, but the shrine was eventually moved to Kokuzo Shrine, directly 6km north of Aso Shrine. Legends and supernatural creatures not only give you a glimpse into a region’s history, but can also inspire new stories! Be sure to check out one of the Kumamoto Reporter’s previous articles to learn how two shrines in Fukuoka and Oita may have inspired some aspects of the hit manga Demon Slayer. Oita is also famous for a very unique and “hellish” dish…stay tuned next time for a look at the legendary cuisine of Kyushu and Kumamoto!
The Kumamoto Reporter #06 – Fire Up! Festivals in the Land of Fire Hey SMA community! Last time we learned about Kumamoto Castle and its importance to both Kumamoto Prefecture and the Artists Village Aso 096k. This time we’ll learn even more about Kumamoto Prefecture by looking at an important part of its culture: festivals! Grab your friends and throw on some festival gear, it’s time to party! Aso Fire Festival Just a short drive from our Artists Village lies Aso Shrine, the oldest shrine in Kumamoto. If you happen to visit the shrine in March and are feeling adventurous, you can try your hand at swinging around a flaming hale bale on a string (seriously!). All playing with fire aside, the Aso Fire Festival’s purpose is to pray for a successful harvest and to celebrate the marriage of two gods that reside in the shrine. If your hunger for fire isn’t satisfied by swinging around the flaming hay bale like a wild person, you can see the controlled burning of Aso’s great swathes of silver grass just a few weeks before the festival. Ushibuka Haiya Festival On the opposite side of the spectrum is the Ushibuka Haiya Festival in Amakusa, known for its pristine beaches and sublime seafood. Located in the most southern part of the island, Ushibuka was a bustling port town in the Edo Period (1603-1867) and an important point for passing ships and fishermen due to the southern winds that were needed for their boats to sail north. It was these southern winds, called “hae no kaze” during those times that led local women singing to entertain sailors taking refuge from storms and waiting for favorable “hae no kaze.” Today, approximately 3,000 people dance through the streets of Ushibuka each year in April singing the same song that was sung over 200 years ago. Koinobori Festival Speaking of fish, if you visit the small hot spring town of Tsuetate Onsen in May you’ll witness an incredible sight of over 3,500 koi (carp) streamers strung over the river that flows through the town. The festival celebrates the May 5th holiday of Children’s Day, and has significant importance for young boys. The streamers are a symbol of courage and strength, since carp are known for their ability to swim against the river current and even up waterfalls. Tamana Iris Festival Rivers and ponds are vital for both people and animals, as well as for the beautiful iris flowers! Every year people gather far and wide to enjoy the dazzling display of colors from the wide variety of irises that bloom in Tamana City in northern Kumamoto. Usually they bloom near the end of May, right before the rainy season starts in Kyushu. During your visit, don’t miss out on Tamana’s famous ramen and onsens!  Yamaga Lantern Festival Near Tamana lies Yamaga, famous for onsen, the Yachiyoza Theater, and its thousand lantern dance. On the nights of August 15th and 16th 1,000 women gather dressed in white yukata (summer kimono) and wearing carefully crafted paper lanterns on their heads to participate in the festival. The festival can trace its beginnings to an ancient legend which tells of how the Yamaga villagers came to the aid of Emperor Keiko (71 to 130 AD) and his followers by leading them with pine torches through a thick fog. Mizuakari Festival If dancing with a lantern on top of your head isn’t your thing, swing by Kumamoto City for a spectacular light up display! Over 54,000 candles and 3,500 bamboo shoots are lit and placed around Kumamoto Castle, making for a few magical nights in October. 5,000 lanterns are also lit and set afloat along the Tsuboi river, or the moat of Kumamoto Castle. Hinokuni Festival The last festival on this list is one that your very own Kumamoto Reporter participated in! Long lines of food stalls and games lead up to Kumamoto Castle during the festival, but the main event of the festival is the free-for-all Otemoyan Dance. During the dance, the streets are closed off and the participants dance and sing the famous Kumamoto folk song “Otemoyan” which was made about 80 years ago. If you’re lucky, during the festival you may even spot one of the most popular Prefectural mascots in Japan: Kumamon! Next time on the Kumamoto Reporter we’ll dive even further into Kumamoto’s culture by taking a look at its legends and “Yokai,” or Japanese spirits! In the meantime, if you’d like to learn about the legend of the true Kabuki-mono, a man always with the festival spirit, check out the latest article from the Artists Village Insider about “Keiji’s Kabuki Adventure!”
The Artists Village Insider #06 – The Smash-Hit Manga Comes Alive At Kumamoto Castle Today we’ll be seeing the talented actresses in action! An all-female theater group, the “096k Kumamoto Drama Company” is an ambitious project from COAMIX Inc. that aims to support young actresses from all over Japan and offer them a place to nurture and develop their talents. At the same time, one very important aspect of this project is to contribute to the development of the Kumamoto region. For this reason, the actresses not only practice acting, but are also actively developing other skills by being active in various areas that help them connect with the people around Kumamoto. Their main work, however, is theater – currently, they’re most known for their debut work “Keiji’s Kabuki Adventure The Stage Play – Chapter of Kiyomasa Katō: The Tiger of Kumamoto.” The stage play portrays the story of “Keiji Maeda,” one of the most outrageous samurai of all time who lived in feudal Japan and set off on an adventure across the ancient provinces of Japan in the aftermath of the Warring States Period and the newly-established peaceful era. The stage play is performed at the Kumamoto Castle Museum Wakuwakuza, which is just a brisk walk away from the entrance of Kumamoto Castle itself. In this way, the stage play is the bridge between the past and the future, and is being performed right in the near vicinity of the place that the fictional tale is based on. The stage play is in fact an adaptation of manga “Keiji’s Kabuki Adventure,” its original title being  “Maeda Keiji Kabukitabi,” written by Tetsuo Hara-sensei and Nobuhiko Horie, and drawn by Masato Deguchi-sensei. As of last week, you can check out its first chapters in English for free on Manga Hot! The manga was inspired by real historical events but the story took on a life of its own, taking an unknown path of “What if…Keiji Maeda encountered other famous historical figures, such as Kiyomasa Katō, Muneshige Tachibana, Kojirō Sasaki, and Musashi Miyamoto during his travels?” The stage play follows the first arc of the manga, in which Keiji Maeda decides to leave the bustling capital of Kyoto and head south to the island of Kyushu, where allegedly, the spirit of war still roams freely. There, Keiji meets Kiyomasa Katō, the son of a tiger, the legendary castle-builder, Hideyoshi’s trusted ally, and a charismatic leader that strived to unify the country…just a few of the titles that crown the man who built the symbol of Kumamoto: Kumamoto Castle. Seeing the grandiose castle being built with his own eyes, Keiji immediately realizes that Kiyomasa is a unique and powerful man. He’s infatuated with Kiyomasa’s architectural achievements and with his vision for the country. Just as big as Kiyomasa’s plans are, however, there are also troubles emerging from Nusubito Island, the spot Kiyomasa uses for international trade with the Spanish Empire… What on Earth happened there? I’ll stop here with the story explanation, in order not to spoil all the fun. Instead, let’s focus on the performance and the preparations that are needed for the actresses to bring the best out of these powerful and famous historical figures on stage! Admittedly, I had no idea until I saw the stage with my own two eyes. Not only the historical aspects and speech pattern, the actresses have to study the actions of the male roles they are portraying in a detailed and meticulous way. Moreover, they have to undergo fighting, singing, and even special vocal lessons so that their voices are artificially lower once they are set into the role. At the same time, however, they should also keep some spice that is uniquely theirs: being on stage for the 096k doesn’t mean to just take on the mantle of a feudal samurai and warlord; no, it’s more like taking the historical role and molding it carefully in a way so that you can also express your own talents and passion. The stage is a show, after all, and the actresses from the 096k Kumamoto Drama Company  surely know how to create one! Their one-hour long performance keeps its audience wanting more – extravagant hairstyles, lush costumes, and make up that are nothing short of art itself, the narration style truly makes one feel as if they were transported into ancient times and sit under a tree or in a tavern and listen to this adventurous tale, the tap dancing fusion that is performed in pairs with a traditional Japanese drums taiko – all performed and played by the actresses themselves.  And the best part about it? Those who have seen the play more than once will be able to tell that every play is deliberately changed and modified every single time – no performance is identical to the one before! When you think of a Japanese theater, you might know that there’s a rich repertoire of traditional as well as modern genres. In fact, one of the most famous musical theater troupes, The Takarazuka Revue, is also an actresses-only theater troupe that also had a significant influence on the “father” of manga, Osamu Tezuka-sensei. The “096k Kumamoto Drama Company” knows for sure that manga and theater are two closely related artistic genres and uses the charms of both in order to grasp the audience’s attention from the first moment to keep everybody on their toes until the end. You might be wondering: is the theater group planning any new stage plays in the future? Well, here’s a little hint: read the manga Keiji’s Kabuki Adventure and you might find out! 😉 
The Kumamoto Reporter #05 – Kumamoto Castle: The Symbol of Hope

Discover the history of Kumamoto Castle and its connection with manga!

Hi SMA community! Last time we learned even more about Kumamoto and Kyushu’s manga roots by taking a road trip through Kumamoto and Kyushu in search of famous manga and anime spots. This time we’ll take a look at a place that has special importance in Kumamoto and is connected to both manga and the Artists Village Aso 096k: Kumamoto Castle! First, let’s learn about Kiyomasa Katō, the wise warlord and “Tiger of Kumamoto” who built this legendary castle. Kiyomasa Katō: the Lord and “Tiger of Kumamoto” Kiyomasa Katō was the first feudal lord of Higo Province (present day Kumamoto). He was raised by the legendary Hideyoshi Toyotomi (one of the three “Great Unifiers of Japan”) and was called “Toranosuke,” which means “the son of a tiger.” While serving Hideyoshi, Kiyomasa distinguished himself on the battlefield and was known as a strong and brave general, said to be so brave that he even fought tigers. Kiyomasa became the lord of the northern half of Kumamoto at the mere age of 27, and after Hideyoshi’s death he gained the rest of Kumamoto’s land and even some of Hideyoshi’s forces. Loyal to Hideyoshi even after his death, Kiyomasa decided to build Kumamoto Castle as the symbol of rebellion against the Tokugawa Shogunate. Kiyomasa not only built the castle, but also enriched Kumamoto by designing the water irrigation and flood control systems, supporting local agriculture, and even trading with the Spanish and Portuguese Empires. The impenetrable castle Under Kiyomasa’s guidance, the construction of Kumamoto Castle was completed on top of the hilly plateau Mt. Chausu in 1607. Kumamoto Castle is known for its multi-storied towers called “yagura” and curved stone walls known as “musha-gaeshi.” There are also iron spikes called “shinobi-gaeshi” and traps used to keep out intruders, as well as an underground stone passageway called “Kuragari-Tsuro,” which is very unique compared to other Japanese castles. Thanks to these defensive features, Kumamoto Castle was called “the impenetrable castle” and “warrior-proof” during the times of the samurai. After Kiyomasa Katō After Kiyomasa Katō, the Hosokawa Clan ruled Kumamoto and resided in Kumamoto Castle. In 1877, a major battle took place at Kumamoto Castle between the Satsuma Clan in the south and the Meiji Government during the Satsuma Rebellion. Unfortunately, much of the castle burned down during the siege, but after the end of World War II the people of Kumamoto called to rebuild the castle, and most of it was restored in 2008. The 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake In 2016, Kumamoto Prefecture was struck by two strong earthquakes, which caused severe damage to Kumamoto Castle. The people of Kumamoto were devastated to see their beloved castle in such a state, but some of the towers and walls stood strong even after the earthquake, which gave people courage during this difficult time. Since it’s such a special historical site, many people outside Kumamoto Prefecture are contributing to its reconstruction, and in Spring 2021 the inner towers were finally reconstructed. Even though it’ll take many years to finish rebuilding Kumamoto Castle, it’s seen as a symbol of strength and resilience of Kumamoto Prefecture and a sign of its revival since the earthquake. The Kumamoto Castle Museum Wakuwakuza: Where manga comes alive As part of the revival of both Kumamoto Prefecture and Kumamoto Castle, the Kumamoto Castle Museum Wakuwakuza was built in the Sakuranobaba Josaien castle square.  “Wakuwaku” means “thrill” or “excitement” in Japanese, conveyed through its fun and interactive features to explore the history of the castle. Among the features included is a 3D model of the castle and projection mapping to show how the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake damaged the castle. On the second floor of the museum, visitors can experience “Keiji’s Kabuki Adventure The Stage Play – Chapter of Kiyomasa Katō: The Tiger of Kumamoto,” the hottest new tourist attraction in Kumamoto! The stage play is based on the manga “Keiji’s Kabuki Adventure” (original Japanese title “Maeda Keiji Kabukitabi”) which is written by SMA judges Nobuhiko Horie and Tetsuo Hara-sensei and published by COAMIX Inc., the manga publishing company that hosts THE SILENT MANGA AUDITION®︎. The “096k Kumamoto Drama Company,” an all-female theater group who trains at our Artists Village Aso 096k, brings this adventure to life through authentic action, sword fights, songs, and dances for an explosive and entertaining performance. Be sure to check out the latest article from the Artists Village Insider to learn more about this all-female theater group whom we share the Artists Village with!