Kodansha is making a return to the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, bringing along special guest Kamome Shirahama, the Eisner & Harvey Award-winning mangaka of “Witch Hat Atelier”. The event is set to take place at the Toronto Reference Library and Japan Foundation Toronto on Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12.
However, there are some important guidelines for fans attending Shirahama’s appearances. She will be wearing a self-made mask for privacy, and recording or photography will not be allowed during any of her events. Additionally, a purchase will be required at the time of signing, with the TCAF 2024 poster by Shirahama available for CAD along with a selection of her work.
The schedule for interacting with Shirahama is as follows:
On Saturday, May 11, there will be a live drawing session with Kamome Shirahama from 10:00AM to 11:00AM in the Novella Room at the Toronto Reference Library. A Q&A session will also be included. Doors for this event will open at 9am EST and will be first-come, first-served.
Following that, there will be an autograph signing session from 1:00PM to 2:30PM at the TCAF Basement Signing Area. Tickets for the signing session will be distributed by lottery to ensure equitable distribution of signing spots.
On Sunday, May 12, there will be a Q&A session with Kamome Shirahama at the Japan Foundation Toronto from 1:30PM to 2:30PM. This event is ticketed and registration is now full.
After the Q&A session on Sunday, there will be an autograph signing session at the Japan Foundation Toronto Event Hall. Similar to the Saturday session, tickets for the signing will be distributed by lottery to manage demand.
It’s important to note that only items purchased at the time of signing, including the Shirahama TCAF Poster or a selection of manga volumes from the creator, will be eligible for signing. This event promises a unique opportunity for fans to engage with the talented mangaka in person.
