Manga Artist Talk with Keiko Takemiya in London

Date: 2019 August 09 20:16

Posted by Joe

Manga fans in London are truly being spoilt with all the guests and events currently available over the last couple of months. This trend is continuing with a Special talk event with legendary manga artist - Keiko Takemiya. Known for her shojo manga, pioneer of the Boys' Love genre and author of the iconic manga including To Terra... and The Poem of Wind and Trees. Comic book expert Paul Gravett will be talking to Keiko Takemiya from 2:30pm to 4:30pm on Sunday 25th August 2019 at Foyles Charing Cross Road.

The talk will be followed by a Q&A and an opportunity for books to be signed bring them along with you!

This exclusive UK event is in partnership with Japan Foundation London.

The event costs £8 per person or £5 for students and Foyalty members.

Full Story

Press release as follows:



PRESS RELEASE
August 9, 2019

The Japan Foundation in collaboration with Foyles presents:

Artist Talk by Keiko Takemiya
竹宮恵子 特別講演

Legendary manga artist Keiko Takemiya gives an exclusive talk this August!

Keiko Takemiya is arguably one of the most influential manga artists in Japan. Starting her career as an artist in late 1960 while still a teenager, her fame rapidly grew to stardom. This reached a new height in the 1970s when she became a seminal member of "the Fabulous Year 24 Group" - a new wave of female authors that revolutionised manga by developing new drawing techniques and introducing unconventional subject matters to the genre of girls' manga, such as science fiction, fantasy, as well as boys' love. Takemiya's representative manga, The Poem of Wind and Trees (1977-80), which has sold nearly 5 million copies so far, is praised by critics and readers alike as a monumental work that laid the foundation for the rapidly growing genre of boys' love within manga. In addition to her creative work, Takemiya has been a great advocate of preserving this nation-specific graphic art form as a cultural asset and was the first manga artist in Japan to be elected as President of an academic institution.

During this very special talk and in a rare appearance Takemiya, in conversation with comics historian Paul Gravett, will discuss her extensive career as one of Japan's leading manga artists, and her inspirations behind iconic works such as To Terra... (1976-84) which shaped the precedent for female manga artists to create stories for a young male readership.

Reflecting on the development of the narrative art form in Japan, she will also review what manga has meant to her and the society at large.

This event is held in collaboration with Foyles Bookstore

About the Japan Foundation

The Japan Foundation was established in 1972 by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and became an Independent Administrative Institution in 2003. The organisation promotes international cultural exchange between Japan and the rest of the world by organising projects as well as providing financial support through grant programmes in the fields of Arts and Culture, Japanese language and Japanese studies. The Japan Foundation currently has its Head Office in Tokyo, with offices and centres in over 20 countries outside of Japan. The Japan Foundation London is the Foundation's only office in the UK, and one of the first overseas offices to be established, opening in 1972. www.jpf.go.jp (Head Office), www.jpf.org.uk (London)