Manga Jiman Competition 2022 - Deadline extended until Monday 9 January 2023

The Embassy of Japan is once again on the lookout for the best creators of comics in the UK! Do you create stories in comic form? Enter our competitions to win superb prizes!

The Manga Jiman Competition is now in its 16th year and has two different formats with three different categories:


Yonkoma manga is a story told within four panels set out on a single page.

• Those aged 11, 12 or 13 by the start of 2023 can enter the Yonkoma Youth category
• Anyone aged 14 or over will be judged separately in the Yonkoma Manga 14+ category

If you are not familiar with the structure of a Yonkoma, information on how to approach making one can be found here.


Manga Jiman

• A short story told across 6 to 8 pages for anyone aged 14 or over

The annual contest aims to find the best entries from a broad range of styles, from graphic novelists, storytellers, comic artists and manga-ka which you will recognise by reading the winning stories from last year and from previous years.

N.B: you can enter both the Yonkoma 14+ competition AND Manga Jiman if you wish.

Those entering any category of the completion must reference in their manga this year's theme: connect. The judges are looking forward to diverse and creative interpretations of the theme.

Winners of the competition will receive fantastic prizes from original manga and animation cells, to cameras and Japanese snacks and gifts! The winning entries will be displayed at the Embassy of Japan in London in early 2023.

	Manga Jiman	Yonkoma Youth	Yonkoma 14+
What is required?	A story created in 6 to 8 A4 pages and drawn so that the comic reads left to right. Title pages are allowed but are included in the page count.	A story told in 4 panels on one A4 portrait sheet of paper. The manga must only contain four panels and be drawn so that it reads from top to bottom. A template can be found here.	A story told in 4 panels on one A4 portrait sheet of paper. The manga must only contain four panels and be drawn so that it reads from top to bottom. A template can be found here.
What are the prizes?	1st Prize: A prize from the Japanese Gallery, Kensington.   Runners-up will receive prizes including an A4 Scansnap scanner from PFU ltd, a digital camera from RICOH UK Ltd, luxury Japanese sweets from Minamoto Kitchoan, gift vouchers for Japan Centre, electrical goods from Daikin and manga publications from UK manga publishers SelfMade Hero and Fanfare amongst other exciting prizes!	1st Prize: an original manga page provided by prize sponsors Manga Originals.     Runners up will receive a selection of fantastic Japan-related prizes.	1st Prize: an original, vintage animation cel personally chosen for the winner by prize sponsors cel-ga.com.     Runners up will receive a selection of fantastic Japan-related prizes
Who can enter?	Entrants must be legal residents of the United Kingdom who are or will be 14 years and older on 1 January 2023.	Entrants must be legal residents of the United Kingdom who are, or will be, aged 11, 12 or 13 by 1 January 2023. Entrants must be born between 2 January 2009 and 1 January 2012.	Entrants must be legal residents of the United Kingdom who are or will be 14 years and older on 1 January 2023.
Entering digitally	Please send a completed entry form along with a pdf/png of your artwork to manga@ld.mofa.go.jp.	Please send a completed entry form along with a pdf/png of your artwork to manga@ld.mofa.go.jp.	Please send a completed entry form along with a pdf/png of your artwork to manga@ld.mofa.go.jp
Entering by post	Please send a completed entry form along with a photocopy of your artwork to: MANGA JIMAN COMPETITION Japan Information and Cultural Centre 101-104 Piccadilly London W1J 7JT	Please send a completed entry form along with a photocopy of your artwork to: YONKOMA MANGA COMPETITION Japan Information and Cultural Centre 101-104 Piccadilly London W1J 7JT	Please send a completed entry form along with a photocopy of your artwork to: YONKOMA MANGA COMPETITION Japan Information and Cultural Centre 101-104 Piccadilly London W1J 7JT
What are the criteria?	Full details can be found in Manga Jiman Competition 2022 Rules and Regulations. Please read the document carefully before entering.	Full details can be found in Yonkoma Manga Competition 2022 Rules and Regulations. Please read the document carefully before entering.	Full details can be found in Yonkoma Manga Competition 2022 Rules and Regulations. Please read the document carefully before entering.

Do you think you have what it takes to win? Read the Rules and Regulations and get started on your entry!

The deadline to receive entries has been extended to Monday 9 January, 5pm (GMT).

If you are entering via email and your artwork is over 10mb, please contact us in advance for instructions on how to enter. If you are entering by post, please send copies of your artwork, not the original.

Please email manga@ld.mofa.go.jp or contact us on social media with any questions.