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 25 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.