The 2nd Digital Manga Campus Match

I was on the executive committee for the Digital Manga Campus Match awards ceremony.

Students submit their works to the contest, which is designed to help discover and raise new manga artists.

This year was the second time that the contest was held.

2064 entries were received this year.

They came from 122 schools, also including high schools in Japan, and schools in both China and France.

Sunday, Magazine, and Margaret are some of the 36 editorial departments that participated.

Machiko Satonaka and a cast of well-known professional manga artists acted as judges.

Awards such as the Grand Prize, Tetsuya Chiba Special Prize, Excellence Prize, and Encouragement Prize were given out.

The Grand Prize was awarded to Calvi Sato’s “Jupiter,” and the Tetsuya Chiba Special Prize was awarded to Moe Machita’s “Tatakai no Hitomaku.”  Congratulations.

This may sound strange considering my involvement, but I believe that this is a truly worthwhile project.

The combination of manga, which is one of Japan’s treasured cultural expressions, with digital technology gives birth to new talents and industries.

Professional manga artists, schools, publishers and those involved in the manga business join together for this project, which many young men and women participated in.

Ms. Satonaka brought up two important points.

She mentioned that although people grow, although schools do exist to help them, the problem is the “exit.” It is equally important for these youths to have a place and an industry in which they can spread their wings and fly as professionals. I recognize that it is our job to provide them with both an “entry” and an “exit.”

The second point that she brought up is that manga is a composite way expression. It involves not only drawing pictures, but also writing a scenario/story. Anyone can participate in the creative process. I was told, “That’s why you should make your own manga too,” but I have not quite gotten around to it yet. It is a task for another day.

Ms. Satonaka finished with a speech for both industry members and students.

“There are still many talented people out there who want to draw. We need to provide more exits for them. Pay mind and foster young talents. Giving talent water and fertilizer is important, but so is waiting patiently for them to blossom.

To our award-winners, I would like for you to understand that this is only the very beginning. You have to discover what it is that you want to draw. Trying to calculate and draw only what will be popular or what your editor will like is to climb up the short staircase. What you should be really aiming for is the long staircase.

Many artists have shown promise in their teens only to give up around the age of 25. It is a waste of your talents to give up just because of a little bump in the road. There are some things that you can only achieve by persevering through hardship. Persevere.

Even if things do not work out with your debut work, remember that there are many other publishers out there. There is nothing to be afraid of. The big scary company that you fear is just a figment of your imagination. Make your mark on the world with your own two hands. Everyone out there is equal. From one manga artist to another, good luck.”

Good luck.