From Friday, May 29, 2026, through Tuesday, June 2, 2026, the MINT (Manga International Network Team) project presents a series of public events across New York City focused on Japanese manga and its broader artistic range. Organized by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan Arts Council, and the Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture (JPIC), the program highlights manga beyond mainstream shōnen titles, including alternative manga, graphic medicine, and literary/experimental comics. Events feature artists, editors, translators, and scholars in conversations, book launches, and moderated panels. Locations include the Society of Illustrators, Desert Island Comics in Brooklyn, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library, and the School of Visual Arts.

Event List:

• Drawing Connections: The Art of Manga in Japan and North America
  • Date: Friday, May 29, 2026
  • Time: 6:30pm–8:00pm
  • Location: Society of Illustrators, 128 East 63rd Street, New York, NY
  • Description: A discussion featuring manga artist Battan, editors Sumire Nobuto, Lydia Nguyen, and Kristiina Korpus, moderated by manga journalist Deb Aoki.
• The Cursed Body — Book Launch & Signing with Tokushige Kawakatsu
  • Date: Friday, May 29, 2026
  • Time: 7:00pm–8:00pm
  • Location: Desert Island Comics, 490 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
  • Description: Book launch and signing event with Tokushige Kawakatsu.
• Illness in Illustration: Graphic Medicine in Japan and North America
  • Date: Monday, June 01, 2026
  • Time: 6:30pm–7:30pm
  • Location: Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library, 455 5th Avenue (Rooftop), New York, NY
  • Description: A panel with manga artist Moka Onmae, editor Tsubasa Kosaka, and comic artist Gianna Paniagua, moderated by Kriota Willberg.
• Alternative Manga: Yesterday and Today
  • Date: Tuesday, June 02, 2026
  • Time: 6:00pm–7:30pm
  • Location: School of Visual Arts, 133 West 21st Street, Room 101C, New York, NY
  • Description: A conversation with manga artists Tokushige Kawakatsu and Akino Kondoh, and editor Emily Yoshimoto, moderated by Ryan Holmberg.