The Preparatory Office of the National Taiwan Museum of Comics has launched its inaugural international exhibition, “A Century of Manga Culture: An Encounter of Taiwan and Japan’s Youth (臺灣少年與日本少年──臺日漫畫․百年邂逅),” in collaboration with the Kyoto International Manga Museum. Showcasing the rich and vibrant history of manga culture in Taiwan and Japan, the exhibition opens through June 24 in Kyoto, followed by a display in Taiwan later this summer.
Highlighting two iconic figures in manga history from both countries, Japanese cartoonist Tezuka Osamu and Taiwanese comics publisher Tsai Kun-lin (蔡焜霖), the exhibition explores the development of manga in Japan and Taiwan and the cultural intersections between the two nations. Featuring over 300 exhibits, it marks a significant milestone in Taiwan-Japan manga research.
Notably, the exhibition’s main visual theme was designed by Zhou Jian-xin (周見信), illustrator of “Son of Formosa (來自清水的孩子),” a graphic novel based on Tsai Kun-lin’s life.
At the opening ceremony on May 24, Deputy Minister of Culture Sue Wang (王時思) emphasized that Tsai is not only the founder of the children’s magazine “Prince (王子),” but also a pioneer in Taiwan’s human rights movements. She warmly invited the Japanese public to engage with the exhibition, expressing hope that Taiwan’s stories will reach wider audiences through the exhibition.
For more information, go to: https://www.ntmc.gov.tw/home/zh-tw