The Village

How to Join Us

Yuji Chikano

Yuji Chikano

The first step to join the Artists Village Aso 096k is to apply to the SILENT MANGA AUDITION® (SMA), one of the largest manga competitions in the world. With manga entries without dialogue, SMA aims for manga to become a common international language.

To achieve this goal, an international community of manga creators called the SMA MasterClass was created. Based on their abilities shown through their entries, a select number of SMA award winners are invited to join the SMA MasterClass, where they receive invaluable editorial support and exclusive opportunities to help them break into the Japanese manga industry.

Among these exclusive opportunities is the Artists Village Aso 096k. The MasterClass members who show the most potential and passion necessary to work in Japan will be invited to join the Artists Village. There, the linguistic and professional support of the SMA Editorial Dept. and COAMIX Inc. will assist them in achieving goals difficult to reach if living outside Japan.

The recruitment of the MasterClass is carried out periodically, and opportunities for the MasterClass members to join the Artists Village will be based on the timing of COAMIX's projects. We hope this will give you more motivation to impress us with incredible manga so that we can help you start “ticking towards your dreams” here at the Artists Village!

How to Join Us

Step 1

Enter the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®︎.
Step 2

Receive awards in
the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®︎
and enter the SMA MasterClass.
Step 3

Show you have what it takes
to make manga
at the Artists Village.

The SILENT MANGA AUDITION®
Editorial Department

The SILENT MANGA AUDITION® (SMA) is the world's largest international manga contest, with over 4,000 manga creators from over 120 countries participating.

SMA strives not only to teach international manga creators about the basics of manga making, but to also offer them multilingual and editorial support to aid them in creating entertaining stories for any kind of reader. Rather than translating manga from Japanese and selling it internationally, the goal of SMA is to develop international manga creators and for them to spread the manga industry throughout the world with cooperation from publishers in their home country.

In addition, international creators who are recognized for their achievements and talents are invited to join the SMA MasterClass and are provided editorial support from the SMA Editorial Department. MasterClass members also have access to exclusive opportunities such as invitations to intensive workshops, lectures, and chances to meet with Japanese manga artists and editors.

Furthermore, the international creators who will be first invited to join the Artists Village Aso 096k project will be chosen from within the MasterClass.

Messages from the SMA Editorial Department

SMA Lead Editor
Enrico

SMA is the gateway to the Japanese manga industry for international creators. Now that the Artists Village Aso 096k project has begun, I feel that the exit to this gateway - that is, the chance for international creators to make their debut in Japan - has finally become a reality. I hope that by coming to the Artists Village international creators can absorb Japanese manga culture and production methods, and spread the true meaning of manga and what they learned here to their own countries after returning home.
SMA Editor
Taninaka

Manga can be drawn with a pen and paper. However, there is one more thing needed to deliver it to the world. It is your passion: "I love these stories and characters! I want to share them with everyone!"
That is why you and I must do our best to be sincere about what we like, and we must aim to create works that people around the world will find more interesting. SMA has the power to accept your passion.
If you have a story you want to tell, you can send us your work right away.
Let's deliver happiness to the world together through manga and share its power.
SMA believes in your talent and the potential of manga.
　
We look forward to meeting you!

SMA Editor
Rose

There are infinite possibilities hidden within manga. Manga leads readers all over the world into the realm of imagination, where borders disappear. In this realm of imagination, I think manga has the power to connect everyone through emotion. There is no end to the world of manga, which transcends language barriers and cultural differences and brings us new perspectives. At the Artists Village Aso 096k I’d like to work hard as an editor, grow as a person with international creators, and both explore and spread this infinite world of manga.
SMA Editor
Ueda

I believe that manga has the power to change lives, and that the manga you draw has the potential to touch the hearts of people all over the world. I look forward to meeting you in person at the Artists Village Aso 096k and creating together your next masterpiece for Japanese and international readers!

SMA Editor
Kurata

Before I became an editor, I had the chance to see the SMA award-winning works displayed at Takamori Station, and I was really impressed by them! Even without dialogue, manga can overcome language and cultural barriers to move the hearts of people who have never met, and it doesn’t even require a lot of money and staff, like a movie would. At least, I was personally moved by the works I saw.
That’s the power of manga. Please use your imagination and your pen to share your work with people around the world! We at the SMAC editorial team will assist you. We look forward to receiving your entry!
SMA Editor
Eve

Manga connects people, despite their differences, by tapping into key human emotions. Despite the universal nature of manga, there are still few opportunities for non-Japanese people to become professional manga artists. SMA is a rare opportunity for international creators to show their talent and begin down the path of a professional manga artist. I’m looking forward to working with talented artists from around the world!