TOKYO: Manga artists are set to become members of the Japan Art Academy for the first time, the honorary institution for artists said Tuesday.

Cartoonists Yoshiharu Tsuge, 84, and Tetsuya Chiba, 83, are among the nine people chosen to become new members of the academy this time. The other seven include author Hiroyuki Itsuki, 89, and conductor Seiji Ozawa, 86.

Following the addition of the nine, set to take effect March 1, the academy will have 103 members.

From this time, the fields of manga and photographic and visual arts have joined the list of areas from which new candidates for the academy are chosen.

In addition, outside experts picked by the Cultural Affairs Agency participated in the candidate selection process. They were added in response to complaints that the process was closed.

The academy’s members are part-time national public servants who receive annual pay of 2.5 million yen from the state.

JIJI Press