Riyadh: Saudi Manga Artist Samah Kamel Receives Special Encouragement Award
The Japanese Ambassador to the Kingdom, Fumio Iwai, presented Saudi manga artist Samah Kamel with the 17th Japan International Manga Award’s Special Encouragement Award at a ceremony held at the Japanese Embassy in Riyadh.
Kamel, known for her work in Manga Arabia, was elated to win the prize for her piece “Taif,” which sheds light on the challenges faced by parents of children on the autism spectrum and explores ways to integrate autistic individuals into society.
Speaking to Arab News, Kamel shared, “I was shocked to win because I had entered a few times before without ever winning. This taught me that persistence pays off, and my daughter, who is here with me today, inspired the manga. I would like to encourage any mother raising a child with a disability to know that she is a powerful and inspirational person.”
Issam Bukhari, editor-in-chief of Manga Arabia, hailed Kamel’s achievement as a significant milestone in showcasing Saudi and Arab creativity to the world, marking the first Saudi work to win the prestigious Japan International Manga Award, presented by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador Iwai expressed his delight at Kamel’s recognition, stating, “What Manga Arabia is doing is great. I’m very happy today to commend one of their talents for being awarded the International Manga Award, the 17th edition.”
He added, “Manga is one of the most popular cultural fields in Japan. So again, I’m very happy to see the spread of Manga culture, not only in Saudi Arabia but also in the Arab world. What is quite impressive is that Manga Arabia produces so many companies and is providing Saudi kids, Saudi juniors, with their Arabic version of Japan.”
Furthermore, Ambassador Iwai highlighted the potential of manga in various fields such as education, history, and environmental protection, emphasizing the efforts of Saudi authorities in utilizing manga for positive impact.
For those interested, “Taif” is available for download on the Manga Arabia for Kids app.