News

Authors at the highest world level will be present during the days of the festival to meet the passionate audience that, in this historical period more than ever before, is exploring all facets of Asian production, in particular that of the Rising Sun. Readers will be able to see live an astonishing number of oriental guests, an unprecedented representation gathered in a single Italian event, experiencing the excitement of signings, author meetings, showcases, and unmissable panels.

The first guests have already been announced in recent weeks and their presence has been greeted with overwhelming enthusiasm: Lucca Comics & Games 2023 will in fact see the presence of Naoki Urasawa (an award-winning master with over 140 million copies sold worldwide, who will be at the festival thanks to the collaboration with Panini Comics); Hiro Mashima (internationally renowned mangaka, who will be in Italy thanks to the collaboration with Star Comics); Mingwa (beloved author of BJ Alex, queen of the webtoon Boy's Love, present thanks to the collaboration with J-POP Manga), Masaaaki Ninomiya (author of Gannibal, for the first time in Italy thanks to the collaboration with Hikari Edizioni) and Liang Azha (author of manhua, followed by a vast audience all over the world, present in collaboration with Jundo).

And it doesn't end here: among the incredible novelties announced today, also the presence of six other leading names of the Japanese comics scene.

Thanks to the collaboration with Coconino, Usamaru Furuya will be a guest of Lucca Comics & Games with meetings and book signings and will also be one of the protagonists of the exhibitions set up at Palazzo Ducale. His exhibition, entitled “This Time is Different”, will explore the artistic path of one of the most eclectic contemporary mangaka, among original drawings and visual suggestions.

Kan Takahama, guest of Lucca Comics & Games and Archdiocese of Lucca, will be the protagonist of the exhibition offKan Takahama: the hidden stories and will meet the public in signing sessions and events. His work Memorie dell'Isola Ventaglio (Dynit Manga) is among the 30 finalist titles at the Lucca Comics Awards.

Keigo Shinzo, who is present thanks to his collaboration with Dynit Manga, debuted in Italy with the Tokyo Alien Bros. series, and over the years has been able to conquer the public with his works, inserted in the slice of life strand, capable of investigating feelings such as friendship, in the context of contemporary society. Shintaro Kago, master of the ero-guro who will present the first volume of his new manga series Parasitic City, will be present at the festival thanks to the collaboration of Hollow Press. Eldo Yoshimizu, all-round artist, sculptor and independent Japanese mangaka, will meet Italian readers thanks to Bao Publishing. And again Satsuki Yoshino (her illustration in the news), author of Barakamon, ready to conquer the Italian public thanks to the collaboration with Goen - RW Edizioni.