The author of the UQ Holder! and Love Hina, Ken Akamatsu, shared an update on Twitter about a situation that occurred to him when, during an official event, when asked what the Japanese manga industry needs to survive abroad. Akamatsu has served as an adviser to the Japanese government in the past when it comes to creators and the manga industry.
今月、参議院の参考人質問に呼ばれましたが、国会議員から「日本の漫画が世界で生き残るにはどのような方策が必要か？」という質問がありました。私からは、「まずは何と言っても表現の自由。日本は諸外国に比べて自由な創作ができるのが強み。ただ外資系プラットフォームが寡占化する中で、→— 赤松 健 (@KenAkamatsu) June 29, 2020
“This month, I was invited to participate in a discussion forum in the House of Councilors, but instead, a member of DIET (Japanese government) asked me:« What measures are needed for the Japanese manga industry to survive in the world ? » To which I replied: «First and foremost, freedom of expression. Compared to other countries, Japan's strength is its freedom in creating stories. However, with foreign platforms becoming increasingly dominant, I would like to avoid a situation where Japanese works are regulated by foreign standards. "
Akamatsu went on to say that, to preserve manga for the next ten years, draft manga manuscripts should be stored, displayed, and monetized at the National Manga Center. According to Akamatsu, all members of the government present at the meeting agreed.
In the past, Ken Akamatsu distributed his works with the brand "doujin" on the covers, expressing that the author of the work agreed that fans made derivative works. The first series to feature this imprinted brand was the UQ Holder! Manga.
Source: Official Twitter Account
