Deb Aoki

Oh, this is neat — a Manga immersion experience for overseas visitors to Tokyo at Tokiwaso Manga Museum - for groups of 1-6 people, you can experience manga drawing with a pro artist, learn about manga history & the manga biz today. prtimes.jp/main/html/rd...

Tezuka might be the most important comics artist of the whole 20th Century. Great to see this in the works!

Oh boy. Okay. I am going to respond earnestly and genuinely, because I totally understand why this would seem like a contrary concept! Many librarians, educators, and guardians want to encourage their kids to read more, but don't see how graphic novels might help. Let's talk about it!

A Broadway musical based on Moyoco Anno’s manga, « Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen » with music by Duncan Sheik is debuting this month in NYC! www.memoirsmusical.com You can read the manga that inspired this show on @omoi.com & @emaqi-official.bsky.social

INTERVIEW: Akiko Higashimura (Anime NYC 2026) by @wendeego.bsky.social “The most important thing is being able to draw memorable characters with a few lines.” yattatachi.com/interview-ak...

Read an exclusive preview chapter of “Wandering Cat’s Cage” by Akane Torikai, translated by @brainvsbook.bsky.social - our upcoming @fantagraphics.bsky.social / @mangasplaining.bsky.social print release on @animenewsnetwork.com www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-09...

THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT, PLEASE ACCEPT THESE WALLPAPERS AS AN ACT OF DIPLOMACY.

A truck carrying our comics was in an accident. No one was hurt, but the comics. 🌲 1 📚 0 Bad news: These titles will not arrive for OSD: #EventHorizonInferno 5, #SonicxGodzilla 2, #StarTrek60th Anniversary, & #TMNTJourneys 13. Good news: They're in stores 9/9. Thanks for your patience.

Remember: The GOP’s nonsensical culture wars are meant to distract you from corporate corruption and plunder. [Cartoon by Jace Avery]

Breaking News: Yayoi Kusama, a Japanese artist whose work caused a stir in the 1960s, while her “Infinity Room” installations drew crowds in recent decades, has died at 97.

Dolly Parton's family asked that, in lieu of flowers, fans make a donation to the singer's Imagination Library. Here's what the charity does ⬇️ www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

This is the letter kids got at the end of Dolly’s Imagination Library. I defy you to read this and not cry.

Waited on line for two hours to get an autograph from Akiko Higashimura. I asked her to draw Rinko from Tokyo Tarareba Girls! Big thank you to @japansociety.org @debaoki.bsky.social and everyone else who made this possible.

That museum is a gem! If you're heading all the way to Akita, pairing it with a visit to Kakunodate's samurai district makes the trip worthwhile. Our Japan guide has tips on getting there and other off-the-beaten-path spots.

Here’s some pix from Akiko Higashimura’s panel at Anime NYC on Friday + the sketches she drew on stage

Phew. Long night at @japansociety.org for the US premiere of the « Blank Canvas » movie, introduced by manga creator Akiko Higashimura + fun Q&A session + autograph session!

Here’s some pix from Akiko Higashimura’s panel at Anime NYC on Friday + the sketches she drew on stage

Akiko Higashimura is super nice and would you look at this sketch she gave me, after two hours of doing sketches for people.

Phew. Long night at @japansociety.org for the US premiere of the « Blank Canvas » movie, introduced by manga creator Akiko Higashimura + fun Q&A session + autograph session!

Missed “Princess Jellyfish” manga creator Akiko Higashimura’s @kodansha.us autograph sessions at Anime NYC? You can still meet sensei AND get something signed at Saturday’s “Blank Canvas” movie screening at @japansociety.org ! Few tix left! boxoffice.japansociety.org/events/019fa...

They got Akiko Higashimura on MANGA MILLION mangamillion.shueisha.co.jp/en/title/376

They're giving out these incredible Tokyo Tarareba Girls/Princess Jellyfish crossover posters at Akiko Higashimura-sensei's panel at Anime NYC 2026! Rinko and Tsukimi in New York!

Missed “Princess Jellyfish” manga creator Akiko Higashimura’s @kodansha.us autograph sessions at Anime NYC? You can still meet sensei AND get something signed at Saturday’s “Blank Canvas” movie screening at @japansociety.org ! Few tix left! boxoffice.japansociety.org/events/019fa...

🏆AND THE WINNER FOR BEST NEW MANGA IS… 🏆🦇Billy Bat Volume 1 at the American Manga Awards!! #BillyBat #NewManga #Winner #Awards

Congrats to all the winners of the 3rd American Manga Awards!

An honor to host the American Manga Awards last night and see my peers getting justly celebrated. Thanks to the Japan Foundation, all the sponsors, and @debaoki.bsky.social for continuing this important event. And awesome to see my fierce friend @jmitsu.bsky.social own the evening!

FRIDAY at Anime NYC ! Akiko Higashimura spotlight panel with @kodansha.us ! The creator of “Princess Jellyfish,” “Tokyo Tarareba Girls” & Blank Canvas will draw, chat & more! Spotlight: Mangaka Akiko Higashimura 5:00 – 6:00 PM, Room 1A06-08

2026 K-Comics Origin Los Angeles was recently announced! 📅 Sept 11 - Oct 17, 2026 📍Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles 🎟 Free admission Celebrate webtoons like Solo Leveling, Omniscent Reader's Viewpoint, and All of Us Are Dead la.korean-culture.org/en/1896/boar...

Very cool! “Princess Jellyfish” manga creator Akiko Higashimura filming a fan Q&A at @kodansha.us booth #1819 at Anime NYC today! Join us on Friday at 6 pm for her spotlight panel kodansha.us/2026/08/06/k...

San Diego FC has partnered with VIZ Media for a Captain Tsubasa collaboration during the 2026 Baja Cup match against Club Tijuana on September 16, 2026!

FRIDAY at AnimeNYC ! Akiko Higashimura spotlight panel with @kodansha.us ! The creator of “Princess Jellyfish,” “Tokyo Tarareba Girls” & Blank Canvas will draw, chat & more! Spotlight: Mangaka Akiko Higashimura 5:00 – 6:00 PM, Room 1A06-08

But the BIG announcement: Scholastic will bring five Tezuka properties to the US including the classics Princess Knight. Also Astro Cat, Three Eyed One, Zero Men and Tritons of the Sea. They will be reimagined versions ala Unico!! Huge deal with Tezuka Productions. #Scholastic #manga

And now some announcements from scholastics: two new manga! Chuck and the Girl mixed face girl moving to Japan, and A Snow Fox at the Northern Fort. “It’s adorable.” And… #manga #scholastic

Motojiro artist on the Captain Underpants manga was very interested in US kids, their interests and activities. It’s a real collab between Dav Pilkey and Motojiro. It has been a big hit says Saylor Muth is excited by new generations getting into manga as they continue the program #manga #scholastic

Unico was originally published left to right and in color - Tezuka wanted it to reach a worldwide audience. Kids have responded big says Sattin, - a bunch of boys even told him “Unico is pretty cool.” Unico has done well worldwide says Saylor. Volume 3 debuted at #121 on USA Today bestseller list.

Tezuka created so much - there were a ton of concepts for Unico, says Sattin, so they took characters like the East Wind and the West Wind in the original and took them in a different direction and gave them new life.

Here is Nikolai Muth, Sam Sattin, David Saylor and @debaoki.bsky.social talking about adapting classics for manga. There are a lot of problems finding manga suitable for US kids - besides the inappropriate content sometimes “nothing happens” said Aoki. #scholastic #manga

After some household setbacks I finally made it to Scholastic’s Day of Manga! Here I am up at the lunch room. #scholastic #manga

Made a new friend at Scholastic Day of Manga!

New York! Meet Anime NYC mangaka guest Akiko Higashimura at the @japansociety.org NY on Saturday, August 22 for a film screening of “Blank Canvas,” based on her autobio manga from @sevenseasentertainment.com - tix still available! No ANYC badge required boxoffice.japansociety.org/events/019fa...

VOX POPULI: It took a disaster to show us the power of print through a manga www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/artic...

New York! Meet Anime NYC mangaka guest Akiko Higashimura at the @japansociety.org NY on Saturday, August 22 for a film screening of “Blank Canvas,” based on her autobio manga from @sevenseasentertainment.com - tix still available! japansociety.org/events/blank-canvas-with-akiko-higashimura-qa

In a meeting at Tuttle-Mori ages ago, when Ogino found out I love Moomin, she took me to "the Moomin room", an incredible space full of Moomin merch bc they were the licensing agent, and filled a tote bag with treasures for me to take home. I've loved her ever since.

Thrilled to see this write-up of 2026 @mangaawardsusa.bsky.social Publishing Hall of Fame honoree Chigusa Ogino from Tuttle-Mori Agency in The Japan News / Yomiuri Shimbun. Ogino-san is our first Manga Awards honoree from the Japan side of the business! :-) japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/culture/mang...

Here’s my poster design for A2CAF’s small & indie press show, Oct. 3rd in Ann Arbor! DIANA will be available at my table ahead of release day, and I’ll be doing a talk about the decade-long process of building an unplanned, interconnected saga of stories across 3 stand-alone books. See you there!

Want to ask Anime NYC guest Akiko Higashimura (Princess Jellyfish, Tokyo Tarareba Girls) a question about manga, relationships, or life in general? Tag @kodansha.us w/ your question with hashtag #HigashimuraAMA before 8/19! You could get your question answered and win something very cool! #anyc26