Comic books are no laughing matter in Japan, whose diplomats have announced an international award to promote the art — and with it, they hope, the country.
Japan said it was creating the International Manga Award for one foreign artist and three runners-up to be conferred in July.
PHOTO: EPA
Comics and cartoons, referred to as "manga" in Japan, are hugely popular among both adults and children.
"With this award, it is hoped that the understanding of Japanese culture among foreign comic artists will be further enhanced," a foreign ministry statement said.
The award will be annual and entail a visit to Japan but will not include prize money, a foreign ministry official said.
The award is the brainchild of Foreign Minister Taro Aso, a gruff 66-year-old former businessman known to be an avid manga reader.
In a speech last year, Aso called for "the equivalent of a Nobel prize in manga" and hoped recipients would feel a bond with Japan.
"Manga, as a genre originating in Japan, is truly unique in its form of presentation and expression. In manga, it is possible to depict the realities of life or convey to the reader a person's innermost thoughts," Aso said at the time.
"With all due respect to Mickey and Donald, if you look at J-pop, J-anime, or J-fashion, the competitiveness of any of these is much stronger than you might imagine."
(AFP)
在日本，漫畫書是不可玩笑視之的東西，為了推廣這項藝術，當地外交官員宣佈設立一項國際大獎，並希望藉此宣傳日本國際形象。
日方表示，針對國外優秀漫畫家成立的「國際漫畫賞」將選出一部優勝作品及三部佳作，並於七月舉行頒獎儀式。
連環漫畫與卡通（日本統稱為「漫畫」）廣受成人及兒童喜愛。
外務省在一份聲明中表示：「希望藉由這個獎項讓國外漫畫家更進一步了解日本文化。」
外務省一名官員表示，年度「國際漫畫賞」的獲勝者將應邀赴日，但不會獲頒獎金。
想出這個計畫的是現年六十六歲的外相麻生太郎，過去經商且不苟言笑的他是個超級漫畫迷。
麻生太郎去年在一場演說中呼籲設立一個「漫畫界的諾貝爾獎」，並期許獲獎者能更貼近日本。
當時麻生太郎說：「起源於日本的漫畫，呈現及表達方式自成一格。漫畫可以描繪現實生活狀況，也能傳遞個人內心深處的想法給讀者。」
「我無意冒犯米老鼠和唐老鴨，但日本流行音樂、日本動畫和日本流行時尚全都比你想像的更具競爭力。」
（法新社／翻譯：林倩如）
The phenomenon of being “tea drunk” is a unique experience often associated with this popular beverage, especially when consuming brews that are particularly high-quality or strong. Unlike being drunk on alcohol, the effects of tea drunkenness stem from various compounds found in tea leaves. __1__ These substances can have a synergistic effect on the brain, resulting in a state of euphoria, relaxation, or heightened sensory awareness. __2__ One of the most obvious is the caffeine present in tea. It acts as a stimulant that increases alertness and cognitive function. Unlike coffee, however, tea also contains L-theanine, an amino acid
A: Taiwan has won three golds at the BWF World Tour Finals in the past. B: Cool, who were the gold medalists? A: Badminton queen Tai Tzu-ying won gold in 2020 and 2023, and men’s double, Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin, won the title in 2020 as well. B: It’s too bad that both Tai and Lee announced their retirement from badminton. A: Hopefully, Wang and his new partner — the 21-year-old, 189cm-tall Chiu Hsiang-chieh — can also perform well in the future. A: 台灣在「BWF年終總決賽」，曾3度奪金耶。 B: 真酷耶，是誰啊？ A: 戴資穎在2020、2023年度的女單，李洋、王齊麟在2020年的男雙都曾奪金！ B: 不過小戴、李洋已宣布，要從羽壇退休。 A: 希望王齊麟和新搭檔—21歲189公分的邱相榤—未來也能打出好成績。 （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩）
Global coffee prices have soared to their highest in nearly 50 years due to poor weather in Brazil and Vietnam, forcing roasters such as Nestle to raise prices and consumers to hunt for cheaper brews amid the cost of living crisis. Spiking prices will benefit farmers with the crop this year, but challenge traders who face crippling hedging costs on exchanges and a scramble to receive the beans they pre-bought. WHAT DRIVES PRICES? Production problems linked to bad weather in Brazil and Vietnam have seen global supplies lagging demand for three years. That has left stocks depleted and driven benchmark ICE exchange prices
Continued from yesterday（延續自昨日） https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang __3__ These generally include a sense of calm, mental clarity and a mild feeling of euphoria. Some people may also experience a light-headedness, giddiness, or a heightened appreciation for the flavors and aromas of the tea they are drinking. __4__ All these are signs that one should reduce their tea intake. It is essential to understand the balance between the beneficial and adverse effects of tea. Becoming tea drunk shows the potency of the natural compounds in tea and their impact on human physiology. Moreover, it highlights the complicated relationship between what we consume and how it
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