Vietnam's Comic Market Thrives Following Memorandum of Understanding Signing Between Hue City and Murano Group – Japan

On the morning of October 10, 2024, at the Hue City Administrative Center, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony took place between the People’s Committee of Hue City and Murano Group (Japan). The ceremony was attended by Mr. Vo Le Nhat, Member of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hue City; Mr. Murano Koji, CEO of Murano Group (Japan); and representatives from related organizations.

According to the MoU, Hue City and Murano Group agreed to promote cooperative activities to support education and talent development in Vietnam, foster international exchanges and collaboration, and boost industrial promotion efforts in Hue to address local challenges.

At the ceremony, Mr. Murano Koji affirmed that in the near future, various activities, including tourism and educational exchange programs, especially for Japanese students visiting Hue, will be organized. He emphasized strengthening youth interactions between both countries, particularly in cultural exchanges and the development of manga culture in Hue.

Murano Group, originating from the Murano family (村野) with a 400-year legacy, is a leading real estate company in Tokyo, Japan. The company maintains strong economic ties with Vietnam and Hue City through its official representative, MH Raroma Co., Ltd. Acting as a cultural bridge between Vietnam and Japan, the company pursues the mission of spreading Vietnamese culture through education, events, manga production, tourism, and other related activities. This partnership plays a significant role in realizing MH Raroma’s vision of transforming Hue into the “Manga Capital.”

The signing ceremony between Hue City and Murano Group underscores the primary goal of fostering “connections and exchanges” between Vietnamese and Japanese cultures. In this spirit, HuMa Creative, a subsidiary of MH Raroma’s ecosystem, is dedicated to promoting Vietnamese culture and leaving a global imprint through comic (truyen tranh) art. Comic (truyen tranh) is a powerful medium capable of conveying messages and emotions through visual storytelling. Despite linguistic, cultural, and lifestyle differences, readers worldwide can connect, forming a vast community of comic enthusiasts.

In Vietnam, the comic industry is experiencing rapid growth, and accessibility for readers has significantly improved compared to previous years. Young and promising Vietnamese comic artists are being discovered and provided with more training opportunities. Riding this trend, HuMa Creative focuses on identifying and nurturing comic talent while crafting a distinct identity for Vietnamese comics on the global stage. The company is committed to sharing Vietnam’s rich cultural narratives with international audiences through comic. With support from Murano and Hue City, HuMa Creative is even more determined and steadfast in pursuing this vision.

This collaboration marks a new chapter not only for HuMa Creative but also for Vietnam’s entire comic industry - a new era for Vietnamese-style comics.

Source: Hue City Information Portal

Photo 1: Chairman of the People's Committee of Hue City, Vo Le Nhat (left), and CEO of Murano Group, Mr. Murano Koji, at the MoU signing ceremony (Source: Hue Ngay Nay Online)

Photo 2: Scene from the signing ceremony (Source: Hue City Information Portal)

Photo 3: Scene from the signing ceremony (Source: Hue City Information Portal)