Manga in Japan

Participate in an intensive manga production workshop at Japan's premier technical training school for manga.

• Learn technical manga drawing and storytelling skills.
• Meet with professional manga artists (mangaka), editors, and educators in Japan.
• Find inspiration for your own art as you experience the style and visual language of Japanese comics.
• Learn Japanese language and phonetic basics during the spring 2026 semester, then practice your new language skills in Japan (no previous Japanese language is required).

Course Term: Spring course at RIT, travel to Japan in June
Travel Dates: June 11-24, 2026
Credits: 3

A studio-based Spring 2026 course in Rochester will teach you the idiosyncrasies of Japanese manga drawing and storytelling. Over the semester, each student will produce a 16-page one-shot manga that will be reviewed by industry professionals in Japan. Exceptional works will have opportunities for publication.

In June, you’ll travel to Tokyo for first-hand exposure to the manga industry. You’ll study at Nihon Manga Juku, the professional manga school with the highest number of graduates who go on to become mangaka. You’ll also receive direct feedback on your work from professional artists and an editor from Kodansha, one of Japan’s leading publishers.

Students will also visit Studio Oni, a cutting-edge Tokyo-based creative studio known for its work in manga, games, and animation. The visit will provide a behind-the-scenes look at their creative process and include a guest lecture from their artists, offering insight and inspiration for your own creative practice.

Don’t worry about language barriers! A professional interpreter will be there to help you communicate during all scheduled program activities.

Tokyo is the manga capital and cultural center of Japan. It is a must-visit for manga and anime enthusiasts, with its bustling Akihabara district, themed cafes, and countless shops dedicated to manga and anime merchandise.

Course Details:

• ILLS 550 - Topics in Illustration: Manga in Japan (3 credits)
  Students will be enrolled in a spring 2026 course at RIT and travel to Japan in June
  
  This course offers the experience of producing manga to Japanese industry standards. Coursework will be rigorous and deadlines strict, reflecting the realities of professional practice. Students who rise to the challenge will leave with invaluable skills, industry feedback, and a professional-level portfolio piece.

Program space is limited. Open to undergraduate majors and graduate students (priority will be given to students in their 3rd year and above), 2.5 cumulative GPA or above. No course pre-requisites, but applicants must have art, illustration, or design skills as demonstrated by a portfolio. No previous Japanese language is required.

Please note: you will need to submit a portfolio link as part of the application for this program.  Don’t have an online portfolio? RIT students can use Adobe’s online portfolio with RIT free access to Adobe software.

Housing

• While in Tokyo, students will stay at a hotel

Please note that this program includes: A considerable amount of walking, navigating stairs, and using public transportation.

Application deadline: October 19, 2025

Program Cost & Financial Aid

Program Cost: Student Budget Worksheet - Manga in Japan Spring/Summer 2026 - outlines all program costs. 

Financial Aid:
Financial aid may cover some program costs. As you review the budget worksheet, please remember that it does not include your RIT financial aid or scholarships, which may cover some of the program costs. The purpose of the budget worksheet is to show all the costs associated with your study abroad program, which will help your RIT Financial Aid Assistant Director determine how your aid and scholarships may be applied. 

To understand how your financial aid and scholarships may apply to your program costs:

• Make an appointment with your financial aid assistant director (call Financial Aid at 585-475-2186) and mention that you are calling for a study abroad appointment
• Upload a copy of your budget worksheet(s) via the Financial Aid upload portal at https://join.rit.edu/register/FA_upload (at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled meeting so they have time to prepare) 
  • Please rename the file name of your budget worksheet before uploading it to the Financial Aid portal based on the instructions provided in the portal (adding your name and student ID)

To find out the name of your financial aid assistant director for your degree program visit: https://www.rit.edu/admissions/aid/contact#counseling-team

We recommend you meet with Financial Aid before the application deadline so you understand how your aid will apply. The RIT financial aid office is located in Bausch and Lomb Center (Bldg. 77), 2nd floor, 2125.

Scholarships:

• RIT Education Abroad Travel Grants ($500-$1,000)
  All students with pending applications in the RIT Study Abroad Compass for this program will be automatically considered for an RIT Education Abroad Travel Grant. You will be informed of your scholarship status shortly after the application deadline. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need, as determined by financial aid and your FAFSA on file.

• Additional Scholarships
  RIT scholarships and national scholarships for study abroad are good options to explore for scholarship funding. Ensure you check scholarship eligibility requirements and note the scholarship deadlines. 

To Apply

Applications are currently closed (application deadline has been reached)

Watch this video, which goes over all important application steps for RIT Faculty-Led Programs. Use this Student Application Checklist for Faculty-Led Programs to help you complete all application steps.

Contact

Kofi Bazzell-Smith
College of Art & Design
kbsfaa@rit.edu