The Mayor of Kitakyushu City Kenji Kitahashi gave some opening remarks at the award ceremony. He said, "Kitakyushu City has produced over 100 well-known manga artists. We are proud to be known as a city of manga. I hope that Kitakyushu can continue to show the rest of the world what manga has to offer to."

Here is Mayor Kitahashi delivering his opening remarks.