KADOKAWA CORPORATION held its first OnSITE Portfolio Review event at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles, California, U.S., from July 2 to July 5, 2026. During the event, editors from KADOKAWA’s World Manga Editorial Team (*1) traveled to Los Angeles to meet one-on-one with manga creators from around the world, primarily the U.S., providing direct feedback on their work as well as guidance on future creative activities and pursuing a commercial debut in Japan.
At the event, editors reviewed each participant’s work and provided feedback and creative advice on topics such as story structure and character portrayal. Participants actively engaged with the editors, taking notes and asking questions throughout the sessions. The booth also drew many attendees who were not participating in the portfolio review but stopped by out of curiosity, saying “I actually create manga myself.”
In a post-event survey, participants included creators actively pursuing a professional manga career, as well as those who regularly publish their work on websites and social media. When asked why they participated, all respondents indicated that they wanted Japanese manga editors to review their work and provide objective feedback and professional advice. Nearly 90% also said that they aspire to make their professional debut or serialize their work in Japan, reflecting the strong interest among international creators in pursuing opportunities in the Japanese manga industry.
When asked which Japanese manga and manga artists had inspired them to start creating manga, participants cited titles such as Chainsaw Man, Delicious in Dungeon, and Berserk, as well as creators including Tatsuki Fujimoto, Kamome Shirahama, and Yoshihiro Togashi. The responses underscore the significant influence of Japanese manga culture on international creators.
Following the event, participants shared their impressions, including: “Speaking directly with the editor helped break down the barrier I had felt between Japanese manga and Western comic traditions, and gave me a clearer understanding of the steps I need to take to pursue a career as a manga artist.” “I realized I could create something unique by blending the bold lines of Western comics with the delicate linework favored by Japanese audiences.” “I was really impressed by how quickly the editor identified my strengths and weaknesses. It really helped me understand what I should work on going forward.” “I learned that creating compelling characters is just as important as the artwork itself.”
Participants also expressed enthusiasm for their future creative endeavors, with comments such as: “I would like to have my work reviewed by KADOKAWA editors again after incorporating the advice I received this time,” and “I want to actively take on challenges such as entering manga contests and submitting my work for review in the future.”
OnSITE Portfolio Review is also planned to be held in regions including Taiwan and Southeast Asia in the future. KADOKAWA will continue to create opportunities for international creators to connect with manga editors, while pursuing initiatives to discover new talent and support their creative endeavors.
Comment from the Organizer (Noboru Segawa : the Chief Editor of the World Manga Editorial Team)
Through this OnSITE Portfolio Review (Overseas Editorial Desk), we had the opportunity to meet directly with creators from outside Japan who aspire to work in the Japanese manga industry. By reviewing their work and speaking with them about their creations, we gained insight into their passion and perspectives on manga creation.
A number of creators we met had backgrounds rooted in graphic novels and American comics, and we had opportunities to engage in creative discussions on how they could incorporate their individual strengths into the visual language of Japanese manga and explore the future direction of their work. I believe these direct exchanges were a unique feature of holding the event in the United States.
This experience also gave our editorial team an opportunity to reflect on how we can bring the unique ideas and creative expressions of international creators to readers in Japan.
We hope to apply the insights gained from this experience to our future initiatives supporting international creators and look forward to meeting many more creators at upcoming events in other regions.
KADOKAWA’s Support Programs for International Creators
KADOKAWA continues to support international creators through its creative support project, KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA ATELIER (KWMA), which includes initiatives such as the international manga contest “KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA CONTEST,” the online submission site “Online Portfolio Review MOCHIKOMI,” and “OnSITE Portfolio Review,” where editors provide hands-on feedback on manga works. Guided by its corporate mission – “To become a creative platform that connects the world’s talent with the power to move people” – KADOKAWA will continue to collaborate with talented international creators, driving the creation of new IP and accelerating the development of content that transcends borders and languages.
Source: Press Release
