Contest for foreign artists held annually in Japan

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan announced the winners of its 10th Annual Japan International Manga Awards on Tuesday. The awards recognize foreign manga creators, and anyone outside of Japan can submit their work for consideration. There were a total of 14 winners: one Gold, three Silver, and 10 Bronze.

Joël Parnotte and Xavier Dorison of France won the Gold Award for their work "The Master of Arms" (pictured right).

The three Silver Award winners are as follows:



Han Zuzheng of China for his work "scavengers"



Laura Iorio, Roberto Ricci, and Marco Cosimo D'amico of Italy for their work "The Heart of Darkness"



Can Tieu Hy of Vietnam for her work "Gateway to Underworld"



The Bronze Award winners are as follows

Mangkorn Soraphon and Wipaporn "Usagi" Rutchote of Thailand with "King of Vampires"

Wiroj "Beast" Ruengsiri of Thailand with "Evil Discus"

Akiko Shimojima of Japan and Seàn Michael Wilson of the United Kingdom with "Secrets of the Ninja"

Zhao Ze and Guo Qiang of China with "TsangyangGyatso"

Ann Maulina of Indonesia with "Raruurien"

Toledando and Robledo of Spain with "Tebori"

Zuo Hsuan of Taiwan with "Summer Temple Festival I"

Youngoh Kim of Korea with "Tussles Against Spectres"

Patrycja Kicyla of Poland with "Dream About Japan"

Dimaz Sadewa of Indonesia with "Woelan"

The contest received 296 entries from 55 countries. The regions with the most entries were Taiwan with 41, Thailand with 33, and China with 27.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan established the International Manga Awards in May 2007 and it has been held annually since then. The jury included manga artists Machiko Satonaka, Yoshimi Kurata, and Kimie Shiga and publishers Tsutomu Fujita and Kouichi Yuri.

This year entries were accepted from April 1 through June 30. Gold and Silver Award winners will be invited to attend an awards ceremony in Japan, where they will also be able to meet Japanese manga artists and visit publishing companies. The ceremony will take place on February 6, 2017.

[Via Viet Jo]