The winning entries from the 19th Manga Jiman & Yonkoma Competition

The Embassy of Japan continues its search for the best comic-creating talent in the UK and 19 years on, the annual competition Manga Jiman still has the power to amaze and delight.

The competition has two categories; Yonkoma Manga, a comic strip of 4 panels on one page with a fixed structure and Manga Jiman, a short story told across 6 to 8 pages. Entrants are asked to create an original story featuring a theme, with the theme for this latest edition being 'BRIDGE'.

Long before the modern panels of Manga Jiman, bridges have served as a symbol in traditional Japanese art, frequently depicted in landscape paintings and prints. Together with the winning entries, the exhibition also presents woodblock prints and works by Japanese artists, depicting the way bridges have been an important theme incorporated in Japanese arts for many years.

Just as historical artists saw the bridge as a connection between the divine and the earthly, or the natural and the man-made, our UK-based creators continue to use the medium of manga to bridge cultures and imaginations.

In Japan, 'manga' is all encompassing term meaning comics, and Manga Jiman promotes talented artists who tell their stories in a wide variety of comic styles. Visit the exhibition to see their winning stories!

Official website: http://mangajiman.co.uk/

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Please check opening times in advance on our Eventbrite page (advance bookings can be made but walk-ins are also welcome) Admission is free but photo ID is required on entry