The term mangaka traditionally refers to a Japanese comic artist who publishes serialized manga through a structured editorial system (e.g., Shueisha, Kodansha). However, globalization and digital tools have democratized manga production. Singapore—a multicultural, English-proficient, tech-savvy city-state—has become an unexpected hub for aspiring mangaka . Among these creators, the pseudonymous “Kanna” (born 1995, Singapore) has gained a modest but loyal following since 2018. This paper explores: (1) How does Kanna’s work reflect a Singaporean manga identity? (2) What challenges do Singaporean mangaka face without a local industry infrastructure? (3) What role do digital platforms and state policies play?
Several conventions in Singapore have featured manga-related activities, including: mangaka kanna singapore