NewsMINT Project Official Start

Manga International Network Team / MINT Project
Introducing the diversity and potential of Japanese manga overseas

In FY2024, with financial support from Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Arts & Culture Revitalization Fund (JP: 文化芸術活動基盤強化基金) was established by the Japan Arts Council to support the next generation of creators. Under this framework, the Creator Cultivation Program (JP: クリエイター等育成プログラム) was started to support the global activities of these creators. Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture has taken on the role of project secretariat for the manga section of this program, hereby known as Manga International Network Team (MINT).

The MINT project aims to support the international efforts of manga artists with the potential to make a name for themselves outside of Japan. In addition, each selected artists’ editor has also been included as a participate in the project. Both artists and editors will take part in a series of lectures followed by meetings with project advisors. This project is set for 3 years with the US market as its main focus.

Out of the approximately 90 submissions received from the project’s advisors and directly from publishers, 6 manga artists were selected. Out of the 6 artists, 5 of their editors were also confirmed for participation.  Each submitted candidate was scored in four categories, artistic skill, storytelling, originality, and potential.

Starting in February 2025, each of the participants will take part in a series of lectures. From July 2025, artists and editors will take part in overseas manga-related events. Overseas exhibitions featuring the work of the selected artists are also being planned. After completion of the events and exhibitions, a synposium is planned to be held in Japan along with a presentation of the project’s results.

Future news and reports will be posted here on the official website so please be sure to check for updates.

MINT PROJECT ADVISORS
★Selection committee chief, ☆Selection committee vice chief, 〇Selection committee member

★Debora Aoki (American manga editor and critic)
☆Christopher Woodrow-Butcher (Canadian manga editor and critic
〇IWASHITA Hosei (Sagami Women’s University professor)
〇Ed Chavez (Co-founder of manga publishing house DENPA LLC.)
〇ODAGIRI Hiroshi (Writer and manga researcher)
〇Shige “CJ” Suzuki (CUNY association professor and manga researcher)
OBAYASHI Eriko (Owner of Popotame book store & gallery)

MINT PROJECT PARTICIPANTS
Manga Artists
Battan (Soshite hiroin wa inaku natta, Futabasha)
Katsushika Keita (Higashi Tokyo machimachi, Two Virgins)
Kawakatsu Tokushige (Yasegaman no setsu, LEED)
Kinoshita Itaru (Dinosan, Shinchosha)
Kohinata Marco (Akari, Heroes)
Onmae Moka (Ohayou, oyasumi, mata ashita., Akita Shoten)

Editors
Inoue Yuki (Editor at Two Virgins)
Kobayashi Setsuko (Editor at Akita Shoten)
Matsumura Tomoka (Editor at Shinchosha)
Nobuto Sumire (Editor at Futabasha)
Emily Yoshimoto (Editor at LEED)

CONTACT
MINT secretariat
Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture (JPIC)
Kyodo Bldg. Jinbocho 4F
2-2-30 Kanda-Jinbocho Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 101-0051, Japan
TEL: +81 3-5211-7283
EMIAL: creator-project@jpic.or.jp