ReportsIMART Talk Session – The Potential of Diverse Manga in North America: The Challenge of the Manga International Network Team

2024/12/3

Five of MINT’s advisors participated in a talk session at the fifth International Manga Anime Reiwa Toshima (IMART) event in Ikebukuro, Tokyo (November 12–16). Under the theme of “The Potential of Diverse Manga in North America: The Challenge of the Manga International Network Team,” the team introduced the project, covered the latest manga trends in North America, and talked about the future potential of lesser-known genres of Japanese manga.

In the first part of the talk, advisors Iwashita Housei and Odagiri Hiroshi introduced the overall project, the selected participants (11 manga creators), their featured work, the reasoning behind their inclusion into this project, and their potential to find an audience in North America.

In the second part, advisors Debora Aoki, Christopher Woodrow-Butcher, and Ed Chavez exchanged opinions on how different genres of manga are received by North American readers. In contrast to the market in Japan, North American readers have a low level of trust conerning digital comic platforms and prefer paperback editions. They also seek out a more personal relationship with manga artists, which in turn helps prevent piracy. Speaking from their area of expertise, each of the previously mentioned advisors spoke about how Japanese manga has long been, and continues to be a source of inspiration for creatives in Europe and North America, the fanbase of josei manga, and how it will likely take time before we see a large number of sales in that genre.

MINT plans to bring the 6 manga artists and 5 editors to actively participate in overseas manga-related events, hold an exhibition of their work, and introduce their work to an overseas readership. Debora, Chris, and Ed commented on working with each individual artist’s strengths to best develop their overseas presence and stressed—most important of all—the need to work with publishers and editors who are passionate about manga.

DETAILS
Date/Time: November 12, 2024 (Tue.) 18:00–19:00
Venue: animate Theater B2F
Theme: The Potential of Diverse Manga in North America: The Challenge of the Manga International Network Team
Speakers
Debora Aoki (Manga Critic, Editor)
Christopher Woodrow-Butcher (Manga Critic, Editor)
Ed Chavez (Co-founder of manga publishing house DENPA LLC.)
Iwashita Housei (Sagami Women’s University Professor of Manga Studies)
Odagiri Hiroshi (Writer and Manga Researcher)
Moderator
Shiina Yukari (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Senior Specialist for the Arts & Culture Division)