by Suman Gupta
Strengthening the growing collaboration between India and Japan in the creative technology ecosystem, a series of engagements around Manga, Anime, digital creativity and skill development brought together Japanese industry expertise, technology leaders and India’s emerging AVGC talent ecosystem.
As part of this collaboration, a Manga Masterclass was conducted on 22nd June 2026 in collaboration with Wacom India, which facilitated the participation of Akiko-San, a renowned Manga Artist from Japan, with over 30 years of industry experience. The session introduced participants to the history and evolution of Manga, traditional Manga creation techniques, storytelling methods and professional approaches used in the industry.
Held at the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), Mumbai, the workshop was conducted across two batches of 30 participants each, with one session exclusively for IICT students and another open to the public. The free masterclass received over 250 registrations, reflecting the growing interest among Indian creators and students in Japanese creative formats and global storytelling practices.
The Manga Masterclass was part of a broader India–Japan engagement focused on expanding opportunities in Anime, Manga and creative technology education. A strategic meeting was also held between Mr. Koji Yano, Global Head, Creative Experience Unit, Wacom Co. Ltd., Japan; Mr. Rajiv Malik, Senior Director, Wacom India; Ms. Jenica Kalra from JETRO; and representatives from IICT, including its leadership team and faculty members from Animation and Comics disciplines.
The discussions explored opportunities for collaboration between Indian and Japanese institutions, including specialised training initiatives in Anime and Manga production, potential partnerships with Japanese universities and institutions through JETRO, and strengthening industry-led education models for future creators.
Further strengthening this partnership, IICT and Wacom India exchanged an addendum to their existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), building on their collaboration in creative education, industry readiness and access to global digital creative technologies. The MoU provides a framework for joint workshops, expert sessions, industry-oriented training programmes, access to professional creative tools, inter-institutional initiatives, Japanese Anime artist-led short courses and mentorship opportunities for students.
Speaking on the India–Japan collaboration, Dr. Vishwas Deoskar, Chief Executive Officer, Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), said, “India’s creative economy is at a stage where global partnerships, industry exposure and access to advanced tools will play a key role in building future-ready talent. The collaboration between Indian and Japanese stakeholders brings together Japan’s expertise in Manga, Anime and creative technology with India’s growing talent base in the AVGC sector. Such initiatives will help create stronger pathways for learning, innovation and international engagement for aspiring creators.”
Mr. Koji Yano, Global Head, Creative Experience Unit, Wacom Co. Ltd., Japan, said, “I am truly honored to have the opportunity to hold this workshop at the IICT campus. This innovative workshop allows participants to learn the essential skills of idea creation and storytelling through Manga, one of Japan’s most iconic cultural expressions. I hope this experience will inspire young creators and strengthen the creative connection between Japan and India. Wacom has been supporting creative education in India through its partnership with IICT, and we look forward to building an even stronger partnership to help nurture and empower many more creators in India.”
Mr. Rajiv Malik, Senior Director, Wacom India, said, “At Wacom, we believe India has the potential to become a global leader in the AVGC ecosystem. Our collaboration with IICT reflects Wacom’s long-term commitment to strengthening the country’s creator economy by investing in skill development, industry-academia partnerships and access to world-class digital creative technologies. Through initiatives such as the Manga Workshop and continued engagement, we aim to equip students with globally relevant creative skills while encouraging innovation, storytelling and digital content creation.”
