Hikobae: Japanese culture from a Czech perspective
In early October, Kyoto Seika University’s Character Design Course welcomed Václav Šlajch and Dominika Lizoňová from the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Czech Republic. Both faculty members were visiting the university to present a project over three years in the making: a manga collection entitled Hikobae. This collection of fifteen manga created by University of West Bohemia students, none of whom have ever been to Japan, describes different aspects of Japanese culture and daily life through a variety of unique styles and approaches.
Character Design x Czech Republic
After presenting at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Václav Šlajch and Dominika Lizoňová came to Professor Shinichi Maruoka’s Character Design class to share their work with Kyoto Seika students. With the help of interpreter Eva Takamine, the visitors discussed the Hikobae project and introduced the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art. Students were able to share their impressions of the Hikobae manga, and also receive feedback from the Czech Republic visitors regarding their own artwork.
This event exposed KSU students to manga styles not normally encountered in Japan, and provided an invaluable opportunity to consider the ways in which Japanese culture is perceived and depicted.
This event exposed KSU students to manga styles not normally encountered in Japan, and provided an invaluable opportunity to consider the ways in which Japanese culture is perceived and depicted.
CONTACT
Kyoto Seika University Office for Global Initiatives
137 Kino-cho, Iwakura, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8588 JAPAN
📞 Tel: 075-702-5199
📧 Email: kokusai@kyoto-seika.ac.jp