Manga Immersion in Tokyo

About this Travel Course

Course Description

Manga, a term that represents a style and tradition of comics and cartooning developed in Japan during the late 19th century, has grown in global popularity over the last few decades. As the artform continues to raise its profile and influence across popular culture— including comics, animation, film, and the academic study of art—many illustrators and scholars are becoming increasingly interested in learning the craft and exploring the unique qualities of manga. What better way to experience the culture of manga and its many intricacies than by traveling to its birthplace, Japan, and studying at an institution that specializes in teaching the artform?

This course will take place in the heart of the manga and anime industry, Tokyo, in collaboration with industry professionals and HAL: College of Technology and Design, a leading arts institution with a comprehensive Manga, Anime, and Illustration undergraduate and graduate program. The program will be led by a team of industry professionals spanning various disciplines related to manga and anime, including graphic novelist, Illustration Critic Cat Huang 19 IL

Participants will engage in a three-week intensive cultural exchange, working alongside student peers at HAL, learning traditional Japanese illustration techniques, researching the wide range of manga genres, and meeting with leading professionals from Japan’s publishing industry. Visits to museums, historical landmarks, and site-scouting locations will provide additional cultural context, and deepen students’ appreciation of the influences that shape manga. Students will create a four-page doujinshi, or independent comic, as part of an anthology of short stories collaboratively produced by students from RISD and HAL, to be published at a later date. In addition to group critiques, participants will receive feedback from RISD and faculty, as well as invited professionals from the local publishing community.

Eligibility

RISD Students

If your current cumulative GPA is 2.5 or above, you are eligible for registration. If your current cumulative GPA is lower than 2.5, you must first contact the Registrar at registrar@risd.edu to seek exception to this academic policy.

Non-RISD Participants

If you are a college student currently enrolled in another art and design college or institution around the world you are eligible for registration. We will collect a recommendation and support form from your institution within the application.

In order to register for RISD Global Summer Studies, you are expected to have a high level of English (speech, writing, and comprehension) as all coursework and critique is delivered in English, and your current cumulative GPA must be 2.5 or above.

Attendance Policy

Global Summer Studies are three weeks long and take place in June and July. You are required to attend all program activities scheduled during the travel course. RISD Global Summer Studies comply with RISD class attendance policy. In case of unexcused or multiple absences, you may be removed from the course, given a grade of “W" (withdrawal) or a grade of “F” (fail).

Withdrawal Policy

Requesting to withdraw from a RISD off-campus global learning program, including RISD Global Summer Studies, prior to the start of the course is highly discouraged and requires a formal process outlined in the RISD course withdrawal policy. It is not possible for a student to drop a RISD Global Summer Studies travel course via the standard Add/Drop process after it has commenced. In the case of unforeseen and extenuating circumstances (and only after students have spoken with the faculty lead and RISD Global for approval to withdraw from the program), students should be aware that no refund will be issued.

More Info

Passports + Visas

Apply for/Renew your Passport

You will require a valid passport that should not expire within 6 months of the return date from your travel course. Additional requirements may apply.
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U.S. citizens – Check the Department of State website for application/renewal guidance.
Citizens of all other countries – Check your consulate/embassy’s website for renewal guidance. If you have an I-20 form, you must also ensure that you get it signed for travel by a member of the International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA) before departing the United States. If you are a Permanent Resident you should carry your green card together with your passport.

Research Visa Requirements

Be sure to research any visa requirements based on your course destination and passport. It is your responsibility to determine if a visa is required based on your nationality and to take the necessary steps to secure one. You need to research the destination(s) of the Global Summer Studies course(s) you are interested in and should not apply to a course in which you may not be able to obtain the necessary visa(s) associated. Assessing the visa application process, feasibility of receiving a visa, and obtaining a visa is your responsibility. You should research visa requirements well in advance, as processing times and documentation may vary depending on your passport and destination country. If you choose to apply for a course where you are not eligible to secure a visa, please note that no refunds will be issued for any course related costs. 

Enrollment + Cancellation

In order to reserve a seat, a non-refundable deposit of $500 is required at the time of application submittal. Students will submit full payment for the course when all seats are occupied but no later than March 23, 2026. Students that fail to make full payment by their deadline will forfeit their $500 deposit and their seat in the course.

All RISD students and full degree seeking students enrolled at other schools or universities are required to remain in good academic standing in order to participate in Global Summer Studies. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required for all participants. Failure to remain in good academic standing can lead to removal from the course, either before or during the course.

In cases where summer travel courses do not reach full capacity, the course may be canceled after the last day of registration. As such, all students are advised not to purchase flights for participation in Global Summer Studies courses until the course is confirmed by RISD Global.