Exhibition: Children Who Grew Up with Manga– 40 Years of Manga in Europe
September 17 (Thu), 2026 - January 19 (Tue), 2027
We hope this exhibition will be an opportunity for all of us to think about the past, the present and the future of the flourishing, global culture of manga.
This exhibition is a related program of the Kyoto International Manga & Anime Fair 2026 (commonly known as "Kyomaf").
Dates
September 17, 2026 (Thu) – January 19, 2027 (Tue)
Venue
Kyoto International Manga Museum, 2nd Floor, Galleries 1, 2 & 3
Admission
* Tickets for same-day admission can be purchased at the ticket vending machine at the entrance.
* Admission tickets can be purchased at the ticket vending machine on the day of your visit or can be pre-purchased online.
Opening hours
10am-5pm (last entry at 4:30pm)
*On the 9/19 and 20, 10:00 - 19:00 (admission until 18:30) as part of the Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair 2026.
Closed
Every Wednesday (except September 23 and November 25), September 24 (Thu), October 11 (Sat), 12 (Sun), and 29 (Thu), November 24 (Tue), and the New Year holidays (December 26, 2026 – January 6, 2027)
Exhibition Structure / Contents
(1) The History of Manga Reception in Europe
Beginning as a subculture among a small group of dedicated fans, manga is now becoming part of mainstream culture in Europe. This section traces the history of its reception in earnest, from the late 1980s to the present, through keywords such as the anime boom, fan communities, media, translation, and education.
(2) Former Children Who Came Back as Manga Artists
Among the European fans who grew up reading manga, some chose the path of the creator. Works by European manga artists, who began appearing gradually around 2000, often take a form close to that of Japanese works while shining with diverse themes and original perspectives. This section explores their characteristics and appeal through works by roughly 30 European manga artists.
(3) Manga Reading Corner
Freely browse works by European-born manga artists.
■ In line with the above sections, the exhibition presents approximately 100 reproduction artworks (digital prints) by around 30 artists, along with dōjinshi (fanzine), interview videos, magazines, and published volumes.
- Christina Plaka Yonen Buzz, Kimihe
- Diane Truc / Rutile Colossale
- Guillaume Singelin / Mathieu Bablet Shin Zero
- Hagane / Izu Kraken Mare
- Kenji Tsurubuchi / Konata Meaheim
- Mogiko Black Letter
- Shoji Fujimoto / Juan Albarran Matagi Gunner
- Sozan Coskun Kiela und das letzte Geleit
- Tony Concrete Majo no Michi
- Yoann Vornière Silence
- Etc.
Related Events
●Talk Event with Manga Artist Mogiko
Black Letter has been published in Italy since 2024 and in Japanese translation since 2025. For this event, we welcome the work's creator, Mogiko, together with her Italian editor, to discuss the current state of Manga culture in Italy, fan communities, dōjinshi, the working environment for creators, as well as her own work. A signing session (capacity: 50) follows in the second half.
Date & Time
Sunday, November 22, 2026, 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Venue
Kyoto International Manga Museum, 2nd Floor, Gallery 6
Speaker
Mogiko (manga artist)
Capacity
50
Languages
Japanese and Italian (with consecutive Japanese–Italian interpretation)
How to Participate
Advance registration required (first-come, first-served). Please complete the form via the registration button below. (The registration site is in Japanese.)
*Registration opens Tuesday, July 21, at noon. *Numbered tickets for the signing session will be distributed at the event venue from 12:30 p.m. on the day, first-come, first-served. *Registration closes once capacity is reached. (Should a cancellation occur, registration may reopen; however, we do not accept waitlist requests.)
Co-organized by
Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Osaka(Italian Cultural Institute in Osaka)
●Live Drawing: "Drawing the Future of Manga"
A live performance in which four of the exhibition's featured artists draw together. Experience firsthand how manga is a culture shared and shaped across national borders.
Date & Time
Wednesday, November 25, 2026, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Venue
Kyoto International Manga Museum, 1st Floor, Workshop Corner
Performers
Yoann Vornière (manga artist / France),
Konata (manga artist / Spain),
Mogiko (manga artist / Italy),
Sozan Coskun (manga artist / Germany),
etc
Capacity
None (drop in and out freely)
How to Participate
Watch at the Workshop Corner any time during the event.
●Symposium: "What Shapes Manga"
Part 1: "What Shapes Manga: Manga Production in Europe"
Manga artists and editors based in Japan and Europe discuss the elements that shape "Japanese-style" manga among the world's diverse comics traditions, examining the question from multiple angles: visual expression, story, theme, and media.
Part 2: "What Shapes Manga: Creative Work Bridging Japan and Europe"
Konata, the Spanish-born manga artist currently serializing Mareheim in Japan, and Kodansha editor Chiba Ayane discuss what goes on behind the scenes in production and publishing. Working across different native languages, working environments, countries of residence, and time zones, they consider the new possibilities this process opens up for manga.
Date & Time
Saturday, November 28, 2026, 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
(Part 1: 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.; Part 2: 2:45 - 4:00 p.m.)
Venue
Kyoto International Manga Museum, 1st Floor, Multipurpose Screening Hall
Speakers
Part 1 : Yoann Vornière (manga artist / France), Sozan Coskun (manga artist / Germany), etc
Part 2: Konata (manga artist / Spain), Ayane Chiba (editor / Japan)
Capacity
200
Languages
Japanese and English (Part 1); Japanese and Spanish (Part 2).
Consecutive interpretation between Japanese and each language will be provided.
How to Participate
Advance registration required (first-come, first-served).
Please complete the form via the registration button below. (The registration site is in Japanese.)
*Registration opens Tuesday, July 21, at noon. *Registration closes once capacity is reached. (Should a cancellation occur, registration may reopen; however, we do not accept waitlist requests.)
Reference
About the ‘Kyoto International Manga and Anime Fair’
The largest scale manga and anime event in western Japan, this fair is held every year in September to promote the Kansai contents industry through initiatives such as acting as a forum to generate business networking between companies in the Kansai region and Tokyo region; creating a market that will foster exceptional young creators in Kansai; and attracting new groups of tourists, including local manga and anime fans, as well as foreigners. This year is the 14th installment of the fair. Please check the official website for details including events at the main venue and shared ticket information with the museum.
Yoann Vornière「Silence」
© Yoann Vornière – KANA (Dargaud-Lombard s.a)
Sozan Coskun「Kiela - und das letzte Geleit」
© Sozan Coskun/ Altraverse GmbH
Kenji Tsurubuchi／Konata「Meaheim」
© Kenji Tsurubuchi・Konata/KODANSHA
Black Letter © 2025 Mogiko.
All rights reserved.
First published in Italy in 2024 by Edizioni BD srl.
Publication rights for this Japanese edition arranged through Edizioni BD srl.
Organizers: Kyoto Seika University International Manga Research Center/Kyoto International Manga Museum
Co-organizers: The Kyoto Shimbun Co.,Ltd. Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair executive committee
Cooperation: Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Osaka, Goethe-Institut, Instituto Cervantes
*This exhibition and events are supported by the Japan World Exposition Commemorative Fund.
