The 21st National High School Manga Championship of Japan, aka Manga Koshien, started at the Cul-Port multipurpose hall in Kochi-city, Kochi Prefecture today on August 4. The name "Koshien" is of course taken from the famous baseball stadium in Hyogo Prefecture, which has been used for Japanese High School Baseball Championship every year.

The two-day event is an annual nationwide competition for high school manga, comic, and anime club in Japan. 296 clubs from all over Japan entered for the competition this year and 30 clubs (3-5 members each) were selected at the preliminary judgment. Only 20 clubs who win the qualifying were able to fight at the final on Sunday. The teams have to draw an original manga with a given-theme in a limited time each day. The first day's theme was "Idol" and the given time was five and a half hours (10:30 am to 4:00 pm). These are the photos from the first day. Feel the power of

the Japanese high school manga artists!

*all of the photos were taken by Mikikazu Komatsu with the organizer's permission

Officil guidebook's cover

Cul-Port

Main event hall

Entrance procession

Opening ceremony

The champion's flag was returned from last year's winning school to Masanao Ozaki, Governor of Kochi Prefecture

Let's the fight begin!

Done!