Kochi Prefecture, Japan, the hometown of Takashi Yanase, creator of “Anpanman,” actively promotes manga culture and holds various manga events throughout the year. 
Currently, we are accepting manga entries for our manga contest “Manga Koshien” this summer.

What is Manga Koshien?

This manga contest is a chance for high school students to team up and submit their manga creations. This competition started in 1992 and celebrated its 30th anniversary last year. Since 2014, schools from overseas also started entering the competition, and we are seeing approximately 300 schools participating each year from Japan and abroad.

Teams of three to five students each work together to create a one-page manga in accordance with a specified theme for the preliminary round. Teams who manage to pass the preliminaries will gather in Kochi during summer for the main competition.

Teams in the main competition (semifinals, revival round, finals) stand a chance to win the grand prize and other awards. This can come in the form of prize money, drawing materials, and many more! In addition, during the main round, talented students may even be scouted by major manga publishers and perhaps debut as professional manga artists. 

1. Preliminary Round Theme

• Space debris (宇宙ゴミ)
• ∞ Infinity (むげん)

      Create and submit a one-page manga of either one of these themes.
      Manga Koshien Website: https://mangaoukoku-tosa.jp/manga-koshien31/

2. Eligibility

• Japan and overseas senior high school students (approximately 15 to 18 years of age)
• Only one team per school is allowed to participate

3. Guidelines for the Preliminary Round Entries

• Entries should be submitted online at https://mangaoukoku-tosa.jp/manga-koshien31/
• The manga must be of B4 size (257mm x 364mm, in any orientation)
• The manga must be produced jointly by all students registered in the application form

4. Timeline
   (1) Preliminary Round (Online) 
   • Deadline: 31 May 2022 (Tuesday), 24:00 (JPT)
   • Judging: 14 June 2022 (Tuesday)
   • Method of judging: Voting and Discussion by the judges
   • Chosen schools: 33 schools (30 from Japan, 3 from overseas)

      (2) Main Round (Kochi Prefecture, Japan)

• • Participants: 33 schools that passed the preliminary round
  • Date: 30 July 2022 and 31 July 2022 (Sat and Sun)
  • Venue: Kochi Jibasan Center
  • Participation fee: JPY 30,000 (per person)

          *The participation fee will cover the participants’ air ticket, accommodation, etc.
          *Travel arrangements will be made by the event organizer

5. Main Round Judges

• Yamane Aooni (Chief Judge, Director of the Japan Cartoonists Association)
• Kusaka Riki (Manga Artist)
• Moo. Nenpei (Manga Artist)
• Hinomoto Meguru (Manga Artist, Past Participant of Manga Koshien)
• Kume Hiroo (Chairperson of the Kochi Manga Group)
• Iwagami Yoshihiro (Director General of the Kochi Manga Group Kujira)
  
  

    ○ Guest Judges

• Fujimaki Tadatoshi (Famous works: Kuroko no Basuke, Robot x Laserbeam)
• Yukimoto Shuuji (Famous works: Kemo Life, Shark Girl)

*For more details, please refer to the Implementation Outline at the following URL:
→ https://mangaoukoku-tosa.jp/manga-koshien31/

For further inquiries
In-charge: Okamatsu, Matsumoto
Manga Kingdom Tosa Promotional Committee (within the Manga Kingdom Tosa Office)
TEL: 088-823-9711 FAX: 088-823-9296
Email: 140201@ken.pref.kochi.lg.jp
Website: https://mangaoukoku-tosa.jp/manga-koshien31/