Transborder Manga VOL.4: Let's connect to the world from Tsukuba!

The TRANSBORDER MANGA Research Group (Group representative: )in the University of Tsukuba held a workshop titled "Transborder Manga VOL.4: Let's connect to the world from Tsukuba!", an event of Social Contribution Project (social contribution project of the University of Tsukuba) from September 21 to 23. This workshop, at which participants and domestic and international Manga artists gathered, aimed to make local and global rediscoveries through making a Manga which could be inspired by an old folk house.

At the workshop, a total of 20 participants including junior high school students, university students and residents of Tsukuba tried to make Manga in a group supported by lecturers: University of Tsukuba alumni manga artists Hinata Kino and Sanpo Yokoi, Associate Professor Miki Yamamoto of the Faculty of Art and Design, Mr. Julien Pare-Sorel from Canada, Miss Ayo from Taiwan, and Miss FACCINI BORJAS ISABEL, an international student at the University Tsukuba.?

The first day of the workshop took place at Yanaka no Mori, a registered tangible cultural property, in Hojo, Tsukuba City. In the morning, guided tours were provided by a custodian. Many of the participants who were first-time visitors eagerly listened to the custodian and were keen on taking photos. In the afternoon they plotted stories in a group where the lecturer and participants shared their impression and tried to build up stories.?

On the second day, they worked on drawing the manga at the Creative Media Lab on the Kasuga Campus of the University of Tsukuba. In spite of the diverse backgrounds of the members, such as a complete novice for manga drawing and a person who has experience drawing manga or illustrations, they finished work by dividing responsibility. Anyway, they had a good opportunity to see a professional production works on site, and also a special lecture by Mr. Julien was delivered, in which he introduced his activities and works, and share the Manga and illustrations which influenced on him.

On the final day, the work of each group was printed together and bound at Sakura Minkaen, a traditional Japanese house. Participants experienced the process of turning their work into a book and with sounds of glee at the finished collection book. In the afternoon, a group presentation session took place where they introduced the meaning and twists in the work.

Making a manga and turning it into a book in 3 days was a hard schedule but it was impressive that participants and lecturers had a look of real pleasure with their own made Manga in hand.

Cover illustration of the workshop collection book, illustrated by Hinata Kino