Oct 14: Lecture | Manga as a Global Form with Kofi M. Bazzell-Smith

 

Join us for this FREE event! Wednesday, October 14th, 2026 Doors open 6:00PM Lecture starts 6:30PM 📌 JICC, Embassy of Japan 🎫 Registration Required  Join us for a talk on how manga serves as a bridge between cultures, a site of innovation, and a platform for new narratives! Kofi M. Bazzell‑Smith, artist, educator, and the first professor of Japanese manga practice in the United States, shares an inside look at his upcoming graphic novel Azuki, his work in U.S.–Japan cultural exchange, and the development of manga education in America. Drawing from years of training and research in Japan, Bazzell‑Smith will discuss how manga can serve as a bridge between cultures, a site of innovation, and a platform for new narratives. Kofi M. Bazzell‑Smith is an artist, educator, and former professional boxer specializing in Japanese manga. He is the first professor of Japanese manga practice in the United States, teaching in the School of Art at Rochester Institute of Technology. His work centers Black narratives within a Japanese medium, exploring manga as a space for cultural exchange, linguistic immersion, and new forms of storytelling. He is currently developing his first graphic novel, Azuki, and is represented by The Writers House Literary Agency. Bazzell‑Smith is the Founder and Director of the Manga Training Academy and leads a study abroad program in Tokyo that connects U.S. students with the Japanese manga industry. He is a U.S.–Japan Leadership Program Fellow (Class of 2025–26), a binational fellowship for emerging leaders shaping the future of U.S.–Japan relations, and he serves on the board of the U.S.–Japan Bridging Foundation, a scholarship organization supporting American students studying abroad in Japan. Events hosted at the JICC are free and open to the public. Due to capacity limits, registration through Eventbrite is required. Please cancel your reservation in advance if you cannot attend and refer to our website for events' specific start/end times. Registered guests are seated on a first come, first served basis. Registration does not guarantee a seat.   The JICC reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken at any event sponsored by JICC without the express written permission of those included within the photograph/video. In the event of a cancellation or if you require further assistance, please contact us at jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp. Thank you for your patience and cooperation!   © 1981-2026 Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan   1150 18th St NW, Suite 100  ||  Washington, D.C. 20036 US To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.

Virtual Screening - Animezing!: Modest Heroes

Enjoy a FREE Children's Day virtual screening from the JICC!

Images: © 2018 STUDIO PONOC Virtual Screening  Animezing!: Modest Heroes: Ponoc Short Films Theatre, Volume 1 Watch Online on Thursday, April 30 at 4:00 PM The JICC: Japan Information & Culture Center Embassy of Japan is excited to present a virtual screening in honor of Children's Day on May 5! This is also the first time we are presenting an anthology of Japanese short films with English audio so that younger audience members can enjoy our special program as well. Registration on Eventbrite is open to all.  Image Courtesy of Sozai Library Studio Ponoc, the new animation studio founded by two-time Academy Award®-nominee Nishimura Yoshiaki (The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, When Marnie Was There) and featuring many artists from the venerable Studio Ghibli, made an immediate splash last year with its acclaimed debut film Mary and The Witch's Flower. Studio Ponoc returns this year with Modest Heroes: Ponoc Short Films Theatre, Volume 1, an ambitious anthology of three thrilling tales created by some of the greatest talents working in Japanese animation today. Together, the stories explore ideas of heroism in everyday life, and the infinite potential of the short film format allows the directors and Studio Ponoc to experiment with breathtaking visuals and gorgeous fantasy worlds in this unforgettable short film showcase. With English Audio | PG | 2018 | 54 min | Directed by YONEBAYASHI Hiromasa, MOMOSE Yoshiyuki, and YAMASHITA Akihiko Registration required "These are all truly stories of modest heroes, their little braveries filling the screen..." — Austin Chronicle Viewers will also receive a digital JICC educational packet with fun activities they can try at home with their children! Virtual Screening Animezing!: Modest Heroes: Ponoc Short Films Theatre, Volume 1 Thursday, April 30 from 4:00 to 5:00 PM Hosted online by the JICC: Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan  Enjoy a JICC screening from home! REGISTER HERE This event is free and open to the public, however registration through EventBrite is required in order to receive an exclusive access code to the virtual screening via follow-up email.A digital JICC educational packet with activities will also be included. In the event of a cancellation, please contact us at jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp. Online program begins at 4:00 PM. The film will be streamed during this time frame and  the link will expire after the screening ends. 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 100 | Washington, D.C. 20036-3838 TEL: 202-238-6900 | FAX: 202-822-6524 | jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp © 1981-2020 Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan