A Century of Manga Culture: An Encounter of Taiwan and Japan’s Youth
May 24 (Sat) – June 24 (Tue), 2025
This exhibition will unravel the modern history of the paths Taiwan and Japan have taken, examining the influence of historical, and political factors that have influenced their manga cultures, as well as the manga artists and editors who resisted these influences to carve out new forms of expression.
The exhibition unravels the modern histories of Taiwan and Japan by focusing on two key works, The Boy from Clearwater (by Yu Pei-yun and Zhou Jian-xin, published by Slowrk Publishing), which portrays the life of editor Tsai Kun-lin, who left a huge mark on Taiwanese manhua history, and The Osamu Tezuka Story (by Toshio Ban and Tezuka Productions, published by Asahi Shimbun), a biography of Tezuka Osamu a seminal manga artist in Japan.
We will also rediscover the little-known history of cultural exchange between Taiwan and Japan, as shaped by their many unexpected encounters, despite the very different paths they have followed.
※After exhibiting at the Kyoto International Manga Museum, this exhibition will travel to the National Taiwan Museum of Comics (Taichung City) from July 2025.
Venue
Kyoto International Manga Museum, 2F, Galleries 1, 2, 3, 4
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)
Closed
Every Wednesday
Display exhibits
The Boy from Clearwater (manuscript replicas); The Osamu Tezuka Story (manuscript replicas); materials that provide and overview of the history of manga in Japan and manhua in Taiwan; original artwork by young Taiwanese and Japanese artists Gao Yan and Kawakatsu Tokushige; and more.
Related events
Open Event Day 1
Opening reception and performance of Taiwanese traditional art puppetry, ‘bùdàixì’.
Date and time
2025, May 24 (Sat) 14:00-16:00
Venue
Kyoto International Manga Museum, 1F, Multipurpose Hall
Contents
Part 1: Opening reception
Part 2: Taiwan's traditional performing arts ‘bùdàixì’
Two groups will put on two performances of ‘bùdàixì’, traditional Taiwanese puppet theatre.
First performance：10:30-11:10
Second performance：15:00-15:50
Capacity
100 people (first come first served)
Admission
Participation method
Pre-registration is not required
*Event tickets will be distributed within the building from 10am on the day of the event.
Image of ‘bùdàixì’
©全楽閣
©明興閣
Open Event Day 2
Performance of Taiwanese traditional art puppetry, ‘bùdàixì’.
Date and times
2025, May 25 (Sun)
First performance: 10:30-11:10
Second performance: 15:00-15:50
Venue
Kyoto International Manga Museum, 1F, Multipurpose Hall
Content
Performances of ‘bùdàixì’, traditional Taiwanese puppet theatre.
Capacity
100 people (first come first served)
Admission
Participation method
Pre-registration is not required
*Event tickets will be distributed within the building from 10am on the day of the event.
Image of ‘bùdàixì’
©全楽閣
©明興閣
Special Talk
Gao Yan and Kawakatsu Tokushige: Identity and/of manga
Date and time
2025, May 25 (Sun) 13:00-14:30
Venue
Kyoto International Manga Museum, 1F, Multipurpose Hall
Content
Two manga artists who have drawn artwork for this exhibition will be invited to talk about the reception and mutual exchange of manga/manhua culture in Japan and Taiwan.
Capacity
100 people (advanced registration required, first come first served)
Admission
Participation method
Advanced registration required, first come first served.
Please fill in the required information and apply below.
*It will only be in Japanese
*The application form is in Japanese.
*Applications will be accepted until noon on the day of the event.
*Registration will close once capacity is reached. (In the event of cancellations, you will still be able to apply, however we do not accept requests to be put on a waiting list.)
Event day access information
Doors will open from 12:30am. Entry will be admitted in order of the number on your e-ticket.
Please present your e-ticket at the entrance to the venue (1F multipurpose hall). Venue seating is unreserved.
How to display your electronic ticket
You can access your ticket by clicking the link “▼ Open ticket” in the ticket reservation receipt email.
If you have a TIGET account, you can also view it from your My Page.
Either way, there is no need to install the smartphone app.
* Registration with the electronic ticket sales service TIGET is optional when purchasing tickets.
Tsai Kun-lin
1930–2023. Taiwanese businessman and magazine editor.
Born in Taichung in 1930, Tsai grew up during the Japanese colonial period in Taiwan, reading magazines published by Kodansha and others. After the war, he was arrested under false accusation during the White Terror period and spent ten years in a detention camp. After his release, he became involved in translating Japanese manga, which led to a career in editing, and in 1961, he founded Wenchang Publishing and began publishing manga. He founded the children’s magazines Prince and others, leaving a significant mark on Taiwanese children's culture. Later, he joined the Cathay Group, where he published Taiwan’s first encyclopedia and launched the women’s magazine Non-no. In 2021, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, by the Japanese government.
Tezuka Osamu
1928–1989. Japanese manga artist, businessman, and animation producer.
Born in Osaka in 1928, Tezuka was captivated by Norakuro and Disney animation and began drawing manga himself. He debuted after the war with Ma-chan’s Diary and gained popularity with works like New Treasure Island (co-created with Sakai Shichima), becoming a popular artist in the “red book” (akahon) manga boom. In 1961, he founded Mushi Production and began producing animation, and in 1963, launched Japan’s first weekly 30-minute TV anime series, Astro Boy. He also established the magazine COM through Mushi Production Shoji, the copyright management division of Mushi Production. In the 70s, he shifted focus and began prolifically creating manga for adult audiences.
Gao Yan
Born in Taipei in 1996, Gao graduated from the Department of Visual Communication Design at the National Taiwan University of Arts and undertook a short-term study abroad program in painting at the Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts. An active illustrator and manga artist in both Taiwan and Japan, Gao's first serialized manga, The Song about Green, ran from June 2021 to May 2022 in Monthly Comic Beam (published by Kadokawa). Her works include The Song about Green and Sukima (both published by Kadokawa).
Kawakatsu Tokushige
Born in Tokyo in 1992, Kawakatsu debuted in 2011 with Gentō (published by Hokuto Shobo). He is involved in editing and writing for the manga magazine Kakū. In 2016, he illustrated the cover art for the analog version of My 20th Century by PIZZICATO ONE. His diverse activities include a critique of Shigeru Mizuki for the Kashihon manga-shi kenkyū (Rental book manga history research). His major works include Telephone, Sleep, Music; Dog thief of the Anthropocene and Theory of Pride's Endurance (all published by LEED).
Organizers: Kyoto International Manga Museum, National Taiwan Museum of Comics.
Cooperation: Tezuka Productions
* Please note that the schedule and contents are subject to change.
