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Last Call For Entries: Deadline approaching to enter this year’s Manga Jiman Competition

By John Freeman on November 30, 2022

The Embassy of Japan is again on the lookout for the best creators of comics in the UK.

Do you create stories in comic form? Enter the 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.

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.

• Entries for the competition must be submitted by 5th December 2022 | Here are the details

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.