The World of Comics by Asian Women
[inside cover of program]
Asia In Comics 2004 - Comics by Asian Women
February 21, 2004 (Sat.) 14:00-17:00
February 22, 2004 (Sun.) 14:00-17:00
The Japan Foundation Forum
Organized by The Japan Foundation Asia Center
[page 4]
Purpose of This Forum
"The World of Comics by Asian Women" is the theme of this 4th Asia in Comics, a series of exhibitions The Japan Foundation Asia Center has been presenting since 2001.
The marvelous achievements of women comic artists in Japan have been a driving force in Japan's comics gaining wide readership overseas. Women comic artists of various Asian nations, on the other hand, are creating and releasing works, infused with cultural and national character and artist orginality as well as depicting distinctive worlds, which are garnering popularity and developing a support base, particularly among youths of these nations.
Given these circumstances, The Japan Foundation Asia Center has invited a total of 7 leadng women comic artists and editors of major publishers from Indonesia, Korea, The Philippines, and Singapore, and also brought in Japanese women comic artists, women's comic editors, and specialist on girls' comics of Korea for panel discussions centering on works produced by women comic artists in these countries, the secrets behind their making, and means of editing; we have also organized a display of works for introducing the latest "Comics by Asian Women" from the various countries.
We hope this forum helps deepen understanding and appreciation of the unique senses and worldviews of Asian women, traditions of respective countries, and other features that comprise our cultural backgrounds.
We would like to take this opportunity to heartily thank each of the panelists for their unstinted cooperation toward the holding of this forum.
The Japan Foundation Asia Center
February 2004
[page 5]
Program
Day 1, February 21 (Sat.) 14:00-17:00
14:00-14:10 Opening Address by the Organizer
14:10-17:00 Session 1
"Techniques for Editing Comics by Asian Women"
Editors of Indonesia, Korea, The Philippines, and Japan and specialist on girls' comics of Korea will discuss the present conditions in which women comic artists in each country make works, expectations of readers, ways of discovering new artists, training and instruction, editing techniques, and copyright problems from the editor's standpoint.
Moderator:
Mr. Kimura Tadao—Principal, Nihon Manga Gakuin/Japan
Panelists:
Session 1/Presentation No. 1
Recent Developments in the Works by Women Comic Artists in Indonesia, by Ratna Sari, Editor in Chief, Elex Media Komputindo/Indonesia
Session 1/Presentation No. 2
Korean Girls' Comics of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, by Kim Young Joong, Editor in Chief, Seoul Cultural Publishers, Inc./Korea
Session 1/Presentation No. 3
The Present Condition of Female Comics in the Philippines, by Terry C. Bagalso, Editor in Chief, Atlas Publishing Co., Ltd./Philippines
Session 1/Presentation No. 4
What Do Women Seek In Reading Comics? by Yamauchi Yasuko, Vice Editor in Chief, Shogakukan, Inc./Japan
Session 1/Presentation No. 5
Intrigued by Korean Girls' Comics, by Sajima Akiko, Associate Professor, Fukuoka Jo Gakuin University/Japan
Day 2, February 22 (Sun.), 14:00-17:00
14:00-14:05 Welcome to 2nd Day Program
14:05-17:00 Session 2
"Asian Women Comic Artists - Secrets Behind Their Creations"
Leading women comic artists active in Indonesia, Korea, The Philippines, Singapore, and Japan, and a specialist on girls' comics of Korea will discuss on [sic] each country's environment for creative activities, hardships experienced in creating works, means of envisioning and expressing themes, the cultural and social circumstances buttressing the characteristics and background of works, future prospects, etc.
Moderator:
Mr. Kimura Tadao—Principal, Nihon Manga Gakuin/Japan
Born in 1944. He establishes Japan Manga Gakuin in 1977, which has produced many comic artists through correspondence courses. The organ for Gakuin students, Manga Shimbun (Manga Newspaper) is known as a dsitinctive newspaper, that has traced comic world movements and introduced Asian comics during its 26-year publication history. Author of Cartoonist Directory (Vol. 1-2, 1989, 1990). Currently Honorary Principal of Dong Fang Chao Cartoon School in China. Pursuing international exchange with cartoonists in Asian nations, he promoted holding of Asian Manga Summit, for which he has [sic] recognized with 31st Japan Cartoonists Association, Special Award (2002).
Panelists:
Anzu Hizawa—Comic Artist/Indonesia
Born in 1980. Graduated from Petra Christian University. Drawing comics for comic magazines for children, etc., from high school days, made debut with Magic of Love (2001). Her representative work is His Other Personality (2002).
Park So Hee—Comic Artist/Korea
Born in 1978. Graduated from Department of Comic and Arts, Kongju Culture College. Made debut upon winning The 2nd Seoul Cultural Publishers, Inc. New Comic Artist Grand Prix Silver Prize in 2000. Debut work called Spooky Wedding. After serializing the full-length comic Real Purple, she is currently serializing another full-length comic Palace, favorably received by the public, in Wink magazine.
Tina (aka Christina) Francisco—Comic Artist/Philippines
Born in 1973. Studies computer systems design and programming at AMA Computer Learning Center (currently NIC). After working as textbook illustrator at Golden Publishing Co., Ltd., she presently is serializing comics in publications of Atlas Publishing Co., Inc.
[KAT'S NOTES: Her comics are in English. She is the only artist in her family. Her father is a carpenter, and her sister is a creative writer. She doesn't have much difficulty creating her work because she loves what she is doing.
She is an illustrator and is given the script by her editors. She draws for children and adults. Eventually she would like to draw her own comics.]
Foo Swee Chin—Comic Artist/Singapore
Born in 1977. Graduated from School of Design, Temasek Polytechnic Singapore. Turns into comic artist after working as a designer of characters and mobile-phone animation, and others. Representative works are Manga Doomei Books 1 and 2 (1997, 1998), Illustrating Nightmare and Fairytales (2002), A Lost Stock of Children (2002), and others. Her hobbies include batik painting.
[KAT'S NOTES: She said there are comics from Japan, the U.S.A., Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Ten years ago, comics were considered bad influences. Her parents forbade her from reading comics. The import of Japanese comics, as well as U.S. movies based on comics, changed attitudes. The public is more knowledgeable because of the popularity of comics.
Some people have asked about her education because she draws comics, thinking she could not find any other work.
There are no comics made by local artists in Singapore[?]. (They do have anime and cosplay conventions.) Publishers view local talent as being inferior. Many local artists will not risk becoming full-time artists. They will do it as a hobby and put their stuff on the Internet. It is a small community, so they try to help one another. With the Internet, they can get to know other artists from around the world.
Many artists are very poor. She is living on savings from a previous job, and she has been drawing full time for one year. She has more male readers than female because girls find her drawings scary.]
Watase Yuu—Comic Artist/Japan
Born in 1971. Having her work selected in 23rd Shogakukan Comic Competition (1988), she debuted the following year. Releases numerous hits representative of which is Fushigi Yugi that has been adapted into a TV animation. Won the 43rd Shogakukan Manga Award (1998) for her Ayashi no Ceres. Has many fans both in Japan and abroad. Currently serializing Zettai Kareshi and Fushigi Yuugi—Genbu Kaiden simultaneously in Shojo Comics.
Sajima Akiko—Associate Professor, Fukuoka Jo Gakuin University/Japan