The 3rd Kitakyushu International Manga Competition Awards Ceremony

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The 2nd Kitakyushu International Manga Competition

The outcome of the "Grand Prix" and "asianbeat FUKUOKA, JAPAN Award" that we were all curious about!

On Saturday 22nd December 2018, the awards ceremony for the "Third Kitakyushu International Manga Competition" was held at the Kitakyushu International Conference Center, gathering together manga artists, from within the country and abroad, who had submitted their fascinating works. Not to mention the Grand Prix, last year, the "asianbeat FUKUOKA, JAPAN Award" that asianbeat newly established was also a point of curiosity. Providing introductions to the recipient works, the awards ceremony, and the judges' talk show!

The 3rd Kitakyushu International Manga Competition Awards Ceremony

Commemorative photo of Mayor Kitahashi of Kitakyushu City, Chief Judge, Matsumoto Leiji, the judges, and the award recipients.

The awards ceremony kicked off with opening remarks from the mayor of Kitakyushu City, 北橋健司 (Kitahashi Kenji), in which he said, "There is a movement to revise our view of the power of culture and art as directly connected to the invigoration of regions and societies, and not just individual happiness. In Kitakyushu City, we want to advance step by step whilst offering support to many manga-ka."

The 3rd Kitakyushu International Manga Competition Awards Ceremony

Mayor Kitahashi gives the opening remarks.

The work that was awarded the glorious Grand Prix was "サンタその2" (lit.: Santa vol.2) by Saitama Prefecture's 宇楽 (Uraku). Uraku submitted a total of five works, from "Santa vol. 1" to "Santa vol.5". Each work was interesting in and of itself, but the fact that the five were connected story-wise meant that the judges, reading them consecutively, could do nothing but laugh and shower praise on them! Here, we'd like to introduce the awarded work, "Santa vol.2" and the preceding piece of the story "Santa vol.1". Those who are interested in the rest of the story should be sure to check out the official site of the Kitakyushu International Manga Competition! >> HERE!

©北九州市

Newly established award last year, the "asianbeat FUKUOKA, JAPAN Award" was given to the work, "Okage de kyou mo tanoshiku owaresou", by Thailand's madecor94!!

The Third Kitakyushu International Manga Competition

The Third Kitakyushu International Manga Competition

©北九州市
Pets heal all the hardships and concerns of our everyday life. This story, with which anyone can empathise, is simply communicated via the plot device of a mobile phone battery that displays the protagonist's psychological state. The author, madecor94 elaborated on her delight at receiving the award: "This is my second time coming to Japan, and my first to Kitakyushu. In my heart, Japan is the country of manga, and also my dream country. I was very happy to receive an award this time." The extra prize for the "asianbeat FUKUOKA, JAPAN Award" was a set of return flight tickets to Fukuoka. We intend to report on the madecor94's coming to Japan, so please stay-tuned for it!

The 3rd Kitakyushu International Manga Competition Awards Ceremony

madecor94

For the commentary, Mr 小松悠真 (Komatsu Yuma), from Kodansha's Morning Editorial Department, took the podium. He commented, "Men and women of all ages sent us submissions from overseas, allowing us happily to cast our eyes over a broad range of manga. I want this 'Kitakyushu International Manga Competition' to become the foremost competition in Japan, in the world. Thank you for submitting truly excellent work."

The 3rd Kitakyushu International Manga Competition Awards Ceremony

Mr Komatsu (Kodansha) added comments to the awarded works.

After the "Awards Ceremony", a talk show was carried out, wherein each judge commented on the awarded works, and introduced works that had not received awards, but which the judges personally recommended. At the very end of the talk show, manga-ka Ueyama Tochi closed the event with these encouraging words: "Past award recipients of the "Kitakyushu International Manga Competition" can submit new work, so all the recipients who are here in this venue, and those paying attention in the world at large, please do your best next year too and be sure to aim for the Grand Prix!"

The 3rd Kitakyushu International Manga Competition Awards Ceremony

The talk show
The 3rd Kitakyushu International Manga Competition Awards Ceremony

うえやまとち (Ueyama Tochi)
The "Kitakyushu International Manga Competition" entered a new phase, with overseas applications exceeding domestic ones. From here on out, we will be excited waiting to see what kind of novel works there will be at next year's competition!

"The 3rd Kitakyushu International Manga Competition" - Results

[Application period]
From Sunday, July 1, 2018, to 2:00 PM (Japan Standard Time) on Sunday, September 30, 2018.
[1,784 applications] [General Division] Japan: 630, Overseas 876 [Junior Division] Japan: 144, Overseas 134
[Theme]
General Division : Free (Create your manga under your favorite theme)
Junior Division : Water（Expand your imagination and create your own work from this word!）
[Genre]
Four-panel manga
«Judges»
[Chief Judge] Leiji Matsumoto (Manga artist/Honorary Director of the Kitakyushu Manga Museum)
Tochi Ueyama (Manga artist)
Mutsumi Hagiiwa (Manga artist)
Yuma Komatsu (Editorial Department at Kodansha's Morning)
* Award Winning Works / artists
[General Division]
　Grand Prize (Grand Prix): "サンタその2" 宇楽 (Saitama Prefecture, Japan)
　Overseas Participant Award: "Bad Idea" ゲーナーマニー (Thailand)
　Manga Museum Award: "竹取物語" 浅沼ひろゆき (Tokyo Prefecture, Japan)
　asianbeat FUKUOKA, JAPAN Award: "おかげで今日も楽しく終われそう" madecor94 (Thailand)
　TOKIWA Creator Award: "食べ放題" ソウダミク (Kyoto Prefecture, Japan)
　Judge Encouragement Award: "天空城" デュアチー (China)

[Junior Division]
　"何のしずく？" モチイロ (Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan)
　"ゆきうさぎ" さっち (Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan)
　"ゾウにさらわれた少女" ケイ素 (Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan)
　"海洋環境を保護する" ワンリールー (China)
　"水になるまで" ヨンヨン (Thailand)

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