On February 26, the 12th Japan International MANGA Award Ceremony was held at the likura Guest House.

At the Award Ceremony, one Gold Award and three Silver Awards were presented with certificates of commendation by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Taro Kono and trophies by Ms. Machiko Satonaka, Chairperson of the Selection Committee. Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Kono stated that Manga, beyond entertainment, expresses various ideas, philosophy and view of life, and has the power to appeal, and that he expected growing number of people interested in visiting Japan and expressing themselves by Manga. Chairperson of the Selection Committee, Ms. Satonaka gave a review of the works, in which she stated that selection of various unique works was impressive and she believed that shared emotion through Manga, would lead to closer world in a mental sense.

The Award Ceremony was attended by the Selection Committee members, Ms. Ban Ippongi, Mr. Masafumi Kumata, Mr. Tsutomu Fujita, Mr. Mitsuru Miura, and the Executive Committee members, Mr. Kotaro Sugiyama, Mr. Frederik L. Schodt, Mr. Kiyoshi Yokota and Mr. Hiroyasu Ando, President of the Japan Foundation. Among the guests were Member of Parliament, famous Manga artists, publishers and people in the cultural circle and they interacted with the Award winners at the reception which followed the Ceremony.

The winning works are as follows