Manga Legend Ken Akamatsu Makes Exclusive Appearance at Mumbai’s Comic Book Store
Discover how the creator of Love Hina and Negima brings Japanese pop culture to India at the exclusive WAVES panel event.
Ken Akamatsu, Creator of Love Hina and Negima, Visits Mumbai's The Comic Book Store
Renowned Manga Creator Joins Indian Panel and Promotes Manga Culture
Ken Akamatsu, famed creator of Love Hina and Negima, and Japan's Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, recently visited Mumbai as part of his participation in the Indian government’s WAVES event.
A Special Stop at Mumbai's The Comic Book Store
Akamatsu made a notable stop at The Comic Book Store in Bandra, Mumbai. The store’s proprietor, Hamza Sayed, shared the excitement on X (formerly Twitter):
Big day for us at The Comic Book Store! We hosted Hon'ble Japanese Minister @KenAkamatsu (fun fact: he's also a legendary manga creator!) who spent 2 hours with us exploring how to spread manga culture in India. We're still buzzing! #MangaIndia #JapanIndia #ComicBookStore pic.twitter.com/ZPKjV2yVTD
Engaging With India's Comic Community
During his two-hour visit, Akamatsu:
- Browsed the store's extensive comic and manga collections
- Discussed strategies to promote manga culture in India
- Interacted with celebrated artists, including Eisner award-winning Anand Radhakrishnan and visual artist Santanu Hazarika
Akamatsu also shared his impressions through a series of manga panels on his X/Twitter account, highlighting why he believes India is an ideal destination for "manga diplomacy."
Akamatsu at the WAVES Event
Akamatsu participated in a panel at the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Media and Entertainment Association of India’s (MEAI) World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES). The Mumbai edition took place on March 23.
The Comic Book Store, recognized as “India’s 1st comic book store,” continues to be a hub for comics, manga, and collectibles for fans both in-store and online.
Ken Akamatsu: Creator, Politician, and Advocate for Japanese Artists
- In November 2024, Akamatsu was appointed Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, as well as Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Reconstruction. Read more
- He launched the manga UQ Holder! Magister Negi Magi! 2 (also known as UQ Holder!) in Kodansha’s Weekly Shōnen Magazine in August 2013, later moving to Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine. The series concluded in February 2022 as Akamatsu focused on his political career.
- Akamatsu’s works, including Love Hina, Negima, and Itsudatte My Santa, have inspired several anime adaptations and a live-action TV series. His manga are published in English by Tokyopop and Kodansha Comics, and were previously available in India through Penguin Random House’s Del Rey imprint.
A Politician for Creators’ Rights
- Akamatsu made history as the first manga creator to win a seat in Japan’s House of Councillors. He is a member of Japan’s conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
- He has consistently advocated for the rights of creators, especially regarding copyright laws and taxation issues affecting freelancers and manga artists. In 2011, he warned that changes to Japan’s Copyright Law could harm self-published (dōjin) works.
- Akamatsu also launched the "Zeppan Manga Toshokan" (later Manga Library Z) digital library in 2008. Sadly, the service closed in November 2024 due to payment processing issues.
Sources: Ken Akamatsu’s X/Twitter account, The Comic Book Store’s X/Twitter, and Instagram