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[INFORMATION] Calling for Applications for the "Fourth Kitakyushu International Manga Competition"!
Come, new talent from inside and outside the country!

The "Fourth Kitakyushu International Manga Competition" is calling for original 4-koma manga! We wonder what works will be awarded the Grand Prix and the asianbeat FUKUOKA, JAPAN Award this year? The application window is until 2 p.m. on Monday 2 September, 2019, and you can apply from a special page belonging to the Kitakyushu Manga Museum. Manga lovers inside and outside Japan, please be sure to take on this challenge!
Kitakyushu International Manga Competition Application Requirements
[Division]
- General Division
- Junior Division (Age 12 or under *As of April 1, 2020)
*Professional and amateur
[Theme]
General Division : Free (Create your manga under your favorite theme)
Junior Division: "Seed" (*Expand your imagination and create your own work from this word!)
[Genre]
Four-panel manga
[Work]
Original, unpublished work of your own (* Works posted in noncommercial media, including coterie magazines, SNS sites, and image posting sites, are considered unpublished works. There are no limits on how old your work is, but your most recent
creation is preferred.)
[Qualification requirements]
None (professional and amateur)
[Application period]
From Saturday, June 1, 2019, to 2:00 PM (Japan Standard Time) on Monday, September 2, 2019.
[How to apply]
Please apply from the official website. >> https://kitakyushu-mangataisho.com/
[Awards]
* General Division (each work)
- Grand Prize (Grand Prix) 300,000 yen
- Overseas Participant Award 200,000 yen (Selected from submissions from abroad.)
- Manga Museum Award 100,000 yen
- asianbeat Fukuoka, Japan Award
Round-trip air ticket to and from Fukuoka Selected from submissions in any asianbeat-designated language (Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, Thai, Vietnamese, or Indonesian)
- TOKIWA Creator Award: Providing activity support under a project to integrate creators in Kitakyushu.
* Junior Division (about five works)
- Manga Artist Introductory Set
[Screening]
(Initial Screening) The organizer will conduct an initial screening.
(Final Screening) The judges will conduct the final screening of works passing the initial screening.
«Judges»
[Chief Judge] Leiji Matsumoto (Manga artist/Honorary Director of the Kitakyushu Manga Museum)
Tochi Ueyama (Manga artist)
Mutsumi Hagiiwa (Manga artist)
Editorial Department at Kodansha's Weekly Morning
[Announcement of awarded works]
Awarded works will be announced on the official website of Kitakyushu International Manga Competition (https://kitakyushu-mangataisho.com/) early in November 2019. Furthermore, winning entries will be posted in the Nishinippon Shimbun, a Japanese language daily newspaper.
[Awards ceremony]
An awards ceremony will be held early in November 2019. (*Award Winners of the General division will be invited. * The asianbeat FUKUOKA, JAPAN Award Winner is excluded.)
[Application method] All applications will be accepted on the official website. Fill out the application form and upload the data file of each work.
[Application rules]
- Each work must be a four-panel manga strip.
Each four-panel manga must consist of a single page, but each panel can be in any shape, size, and arrangement. Each applicant can submit up to five works. Each work must be comprised of four panels. Each work must be completed in four panels. (You may use the same character and world view in all your works.)
- Create and save each work in accordance the following data format guidance.
Number of pixels: Around 3,000 px × 4,500 px
Image format: JPEG format (in RGB or grayscale)
*No works in CMYK format or 2-gradation (monochrome) will be accepted.
- Works in color or monochrome and any language are acceptable.
- Input necessary items into the form at the time of posting.
- Works contrary to the purpose of the contest may not be accepted, e.g., those containing expressions promoting violence,
slander, discrimination, obscenity, or offensive to others. Any work that is found to be entered in other contests will be disqualified even if their winning entry is chosen.
- Entries must not infringe on the copyrights, portrait rights, or other rights of third parties.
[Handling of copyrights]
For each work submitted, a copyright will be issued and belong to the applicant on the condition that Kitakyushu City may use the work (i.e., exhibit, print, publish, and display the work on the Internet) without the applicant's permission being required.
[Handling of personal information]
Personal information on all applicants will be handled properly in compliance with the Act on the Protection of Personal Information and no personal information on any applicants will be used for purposes other than the Kitakyushu International Manga Competition.
[Inquiry] Kitakyushu Manga Museum
Address: 5F/6F Aru Aru City, 2-14-5 Asano, Kokura Kita-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka Prefecture
Telephone: 093-512-5077
Inquiry about the submission of your work: manga@kitakyushu-mangataisho.com
Other inquiryl: manga@city.kitakyushu.lg.jp
- General Division
- Junior Division (Age 12 or under *As of April 1, 2020)
*Professional and amateur
[Theme]
General Division : Free (Create your manga under your favorite theme)
Junior Division: "Seed" (*Expand your imagination and create your own work from this word!)
[Genre]
Four-panel manga
[Work]
Original, unpublished work of your own (* Works posted in noncommercial media, including coterie magazines, SNS sites, and image posting sites, are considered unpublished works. There are no limits on how old your work is, but your most recent
creation is preferred.)
[Qualification requirements]
None (professional and amateur)
[Application period]
From Saturday, June 1, 2019, to 2:00 PM (Japan Standard Time) on Monday, September 2, 2019.
[How to apply]
Please apply from the official website. >> https://kitakyushu-mangataisho.com/
[Awards]
* General Division (each work)
- Grand Prize (Grand Prix) 300,000 yen
- Overseas Participant Award 200,000 yen (Selected from submissions from abroad.)
- Manga Museum Award 100,000 yen
- asianbeat Fukuoka, Japan Award
Round-trip air ticket to and from Fukuoka Selected from submissions in any asianbeat-designated language (Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, Thai, Vietnamese, or Indonesian)
- TOKIWA Creator Award: Providing activity support under a project to integrate creators in Kitakyushu.
* Junior Division (about five works)
- Manga Artist Introductory Set
[Screening]
(Initial Screening) The organizer will conduct an initial screening.
(Final Screening) The judges will conduct the final screening of works passing the initial screening.
«Judges»
[Chief Judge] Leiji Matsumoto (Manga artist/Honorary Director of the Kitakyushu Manga Museum)
Tochi Ueyama (Manga artist)
Mutsumi Hagiiwa (Manga artist)
Editorial Department at Kodansha's Weekly Morning
[Announcement of awarded works]
Awarded works will be announced on the official website of Kitakyushu International Manga Competition (https://kitakyushu-mangataisho.com/) early in November 2019. Furthermore, winning entries will be posted in the Nishinippon Shimbun, a Japanese language daily newspaper.
[Awards ceremony]
An awards ceremony will be held early in November 2019. (*Award Winners of the General division will be invited. * The asianbeat FUKUOKA, JAPAN Award Winner is excluded.)
[Application method] All applications will be accepted on the official website. Fill out the application form and upload the data file of each work.
[Application rules]
- Each work must be a four-panel manga strip.
Each four-panel manga must consist of a single page, but each panel can be in any shape, size, and arrangement. Each applicant can submit up to five works. Each work must be comprised of four panels. Each work must be completed in four panels. (You may use the same character and world view in all your works.)
- Create and save each work in accordance the following data format guidance.
Number of pixels: Around 3,000 px × 4,500 px
Image format: JPEG format (in RGB or grayscale)
*No works in CMYK format or 2-gradation (monochrome) will be accepted.
- Works in color or monochrome and any language are acceptable.
- Input necessary items into the form at the time of posting.
- Works contrary to the purpose of the contest may not be accepted, e.g., those containing expressions promoting violence,
slander, discrimination, obscenity, or offensive to others. Any work that is found to be entered in other contests will be disqualified even if their winning entry is chosen.
- Entries must not infringe on the copyrights, portrait rights, or other rights of third parties.
[Handling of copyrights]
For each work submitted, a copyright will be issued and belong to the applicant on the condition that Kitakyushu City may use the work (i.e., exhibit, print, publish, and display the work on the Internet) without the applicant's permission being required.
[Handling of personal information]
Personal information on all applicants will be handled properly in compliance with the Act on the Protection of Personal Information and no personal information on any applicants will be used for purposes other than the Kitakyushu International Manga Competition.
[Inquiry] Kitakyushu Manga Museum
Address: 5F/6F Aru Aru City, 2-14-5 Asano, Kokura Kita-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka Prefecture
Telephone: 093-512-5077
Inquiry about the submission of your work: manga@kitakyushu-mangataisho.com
Other inquiryl: manga@city.kitakyushu.lg.jp
A message from the Chief Judge

(Manga artist/Honorary Director of the Kitakyushu Manga Museum)
The City of Kitakyushu has a history that produced many manga artists. The Kitakyushu Manga Museum opened in the City of Kitakyushu with the mission of transmitting the passion of current manga artists to future generations and inspiring young people to hold ambitions and follow them. We look forward to receiving great works from everyone who feels pleasure in creation and has passion.