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.