Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu attended the 19th Japan International Manga Awards Ceremony | Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Japan

Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu attended the 19th Japan International Manga Awards Ceremony

On March 4, 2026, Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu attended the 19th Japan International MANGA Award Ceremony, chaired by Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Motegi Toshimitsu. Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu, Minister in charge of Foreign Resident Policies Onoda Kimi, members of the Japanese Diet, members of the Award Executive Committee and Selection Committee, as well as many manga artists and editorsattended the ceremony.

In opening remarks, Minister Motegi emphasized that manga is one of Japan’s cultural prides and noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has the mission of promoting greater international understanding of Japan. He stated that sharing distinctive Japanese cultural values, such as manga, is an important way to achieve this goal. The award-winning creators also remarked that manga serves as a universal language that enables people from different countries to share emotions and experiences. In his exchange with Vietnamese artist Vu Dinh Lan, who won the Silver Award, Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu praised Lan’s efforts in promoting cultural exchange between Vietnam and Japan and contributing to the international development of Vietnamese comics.

The award was launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in 2007 to honor manga artists who have contributed to promoting manga worldwide and fostering international cultural exchange. This year, the competition attracted a record 738 entries from 110 countries and regions, with 15 works receiving awards, including one Gold Award for an artist from Brazil and three Silver Awards for artists from Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Taiwan.