India, 23rd May 2025: In a landmark moment for India’s pop culture landscape, Hon’ble Mr. Ken Akamatsu, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Government of Japan, paid a special visit to The Comic Book Store in Bandra, Mumbai on 1st May 2025. The visit followed an earlier one by the Consul General of Japan, who toured the store just two weeks prior, reinforcing the growing recognition of The Comic Book Store’s role in strengthening India-Japan cultural connections.
Mr. Akamatsu, a celebrated manga creator himself, is best known for titles like Negima! Love Hina, and UQ Holder! —led an official delegation to explore the store’s expansive collection of manga, comics, and Japanese merchandise. He spent nearly two hours at the store, engaging in detailed discussions with the team on how The Comic Book Store can actively contribute to promoting manga and Japanese culture in India.
The visit also featured a special interaction with renowned Indian artists, including Eisner Award-winning comic book artist Anand Radhakrishnan (Anand RK) and multidisciplinary artist Santanu Hazarika. The minister viewed their work, conversed with them about artistic practices, and exchanged perspectives on the global influence of manga and comics.
Mr. Akamatsu also carefully reviewed and considered a formal proposal presented by The Comic Book Store team to and spread Japanese manga culture across India. He and his delegation spent time chatting with the team about popular manga titles and took numerous photographs to commemorate the historic visit.
“We are truly honoured by Mr. Akamatsu’s visit and deeply encouraged by the dialogue we shared,” said Hamza Sayed, Co-Founder of The Comic Book Store. Sajid Sakarwalla, Co-Founder of The Comic Book Store further added, “This recognition from a manga legend and a cultural leader is not just a proud moment for us, but a significant milestone in building lasting cultural bridges between India and Japan”.