International Manga Award launched

COMIC books are no laughing matter in Japan, whose diplomats today announced an international award to promote the art - and with it, they hope, the country.

Japan said it was creating the International Manga Award for one foreign artist and three runners-up to be conferred in July.

Comics and cartoons, referred to as "manga" in Japan, are hugely popular among both adults and children.

"With this award, it is hoped that the understanding of Japanese culture among foreign comic artists will be further enhanced," the foreign ministry said.

The annual award will entail a visit to Japan but will not include prizemoney, a foreign ministry official said.

The award is the brainchild of Foreign Minister Taro Aso, a gruff 66-year-old former businessman known to be an avid manga reader.

Mr Aso made sure to boast about manga today as he met Singapore's elder statesman, Lee Kuan Yew.

After Mr Lee explained the recent Chinese effort to promote its language and culture around the world through Confucius Institutes, Mr Aso said Japan had manga.

"Foreign Minister Aso said a growing number of people overseas have interest in the Japanese language through the popularity of manga, games and its subculture," the foreign ministry said.

Last year, Mr Aso called for the award to be "the equivalent of a Nobel prize in manga" and hoped recipients would feel a bond with Japan.

"Manga, as a genre originating in Japan, is truly unique in its form of presentation and expression. In manga, it is possible to depict the realities of life or convey to the reader a person's innermost thoughts," Mr Aso said.

"With all due respect to Mickey and Donald, whether you look at J-pop, J-anime, or J-fashion, the competitiveness of any of these is much more than you might imagine."

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