A golden opportunity for the aspiring creative high schoolers of Kumamoto and all over Japan!

Kumamoto Prefectural Takamori High School is on the path to making a revolutionary change in Japan’s education system by introducing a “Manga Studies” department at a school level which will take effect as early as spring 2023. On September 8, a signing ceremony held at the Kumamoto Prefectural Government headquarters set the initiative in stone partnering with Coamix Co.

The new department will be established at Kumamoto Prefectural Takamori High School in the town of Takamori, with the aim to revitalize the school, which has had fewer applicants than places in recent years. The school intends to engage both the public and private sectors to give students the opportunity to learn directly from industry experts including professional manga artists.

It is not a secret that Japan has university departments and special high school courses where they teach the art of manga to an expert level, however, establishing an entire high school department dedicated to the craft is a Japan first.

This is a joint venture under a partnership agreement with Tokyo-based manga publisher Coamix Co., who has a “second headquarters,” one of its production hubs, in Takamori. They will involve expert manga artists and editors, who will teach drawing techniques, manga knowledge, and other facets of the industry.

Among the well-known creators, the company is apparently considering lectures in the new department by Tetsuo Hara, known for “Hokuto no Ken” (Fist of the North Star), and Tsukasa Hojo, whose works include “City Hunter,” among others.

Looking into the future, the department sure will draw quite some attention, and students from all across Japan will flock here, the Takamori Municipal Government plans to establish a municipal student dorm.

Source: Mainichi