Yumiko Igarashi
We are delighted to announce the appearance of one of Japan's most celebrated manga artists: Yumiko Igarashi, whose works have captivated millions of readers around the world and have become true classics of shōjo manga.
Yumiko Igarashi will take part in a special stage talk and a live drawing demonstration on Saturday at 5:00 pm. This unique event will give visitors the opportunity to discover her artistic journey, creative techniques, and the experience of one of the mangaka who played a major role in the worldwide popularity of shōjo manga.
Nel corso del festival saranno inoltre organizzate cinque sessioni di autografi, di cui due gratuite, in programma sabato 19 settembre e domenica 20 settembre.
Yumiko Igarashi is widely regarded as one of the leading figures of shōjo manga, the genre of Japanese comics primarily aimed at young female readers, which experienced remarkable artistic development and growing international popularity from the 1970s onward. Born in Hokkaidō in 1950, she made her professional debut at a very young age, quickly gaining recognition for her elegant, delicate, and instantly recognizable artistic style.
Her name is inseparably linked to some of the most beloved manga ever created. Among them is Candy Candy, first published in 1975, which became one of the greatest successes in shōjo manga history, winning over generations of readers and achieving worldwide popularity thanks to its acclaimed animated adaptation. Another landmark work in her career is Lady Georgie, which enjoyed great success both in Japan and abroad, further contributing to the worldwide popularity of Japanese manga and animation.
Throughout her distinguished career, Yumiko Igarashi has established herself as one of the most admired artists in shōjo manga. Her refined artwork, renowned for its expressive characters and meticulous attention to detail, has made her creations instantly recognizable and cherished by generations of readers.
In recognition of her outstanding contribution to manga, she has received several prestigious awards, including the Kodansha Manga Award, cementing her place among the most respected and influential manga artists of her generation.
Autograph Sessions
Places for each session are limited and advance booking is required.
Session Schedule
Saturday, 19 September 2026
- 14:30–16:30 | Stage 2, Pavilion B1 | Free Meet & Greet
- 18:30–19:30 | Room 3, Pavilion D | Meet & Greet Gold
Sunday, 20 September 2026
- 11:00–12:30 | Stage 2, Pavilion B1 | Free Meet & Greet
- 14:15–15:15 | Room 3, Pavilion D | Meet & Greet Gold
- 16:45–17:45 | Room 3, Pavilion D | Premium Meet & Greet
Please note: to attend a session, you must have a valid Japan Matsuri admission ticket for the day of the session.
Online Bookings
Online bookings will open on Saturday, 29 August 2026 at 4:00 pm.
For each session, the following places will be available online:
- Free Meet & Greet: 40 places per day
- Meet & Greet Gold: 25 places per day
Places will be allocated subject to availability.
To make a booking, you must already have a valid Japan Matsuri admission ticket for the day of the session.
During the booking process, you will be asked to provide your admission ticket number. We therefore recommend logging in to your Ticketino account in advance so that you have your ticket number readily available when making your booking.
Booking Confirmation
Once your reservation is complete:
- The information you provided will be verified.
- Once your details have been successfully verified, you will receive a confirmation email containing a QR code within 24 hours, which must be presented to access the session.
- Completing the booking form alone does not constitute final confirmation. If you do not receive the confirmation email within 24 hours, your booking will not be considered valid.
On-Site Bookings
A portion of the places available for each session will be reserved for bookings made directly on site, at the designated outdoor area shown on the festival map.
On-site bookings will be open:
- Saturday, 19 September | from 9:00 am to 10:00 am
- Sunday, 20 September | from 9:00 am to 10:00 am
For each session, the following places will be available on site:
- Free Meet & Greet: 10 places per day
- Meet & Greet Gold: 10 places per day
Places for the two types of Meet & Greet are allocated separately and will be assigned until all available places have been filled.
There will be two separate queues:
- one for the Free Meet & Greet
- one for the Meet & Greet Gold
For on-site bookings, you will also be required to present a valid admission ticket for that day.
How it works
- A valid ID will be requested.
- Your identity and the validity of your admission ticket will be verified.
- Your admission ticket will be validated by scanning its code, and you will be given an identification wristband, which must be put on immediately and kept intact.
- A personalized entry slip with the session access code will be issued.
Holders of a 2-Day Pass will still be required to present their admission ticket again on Sunday and must also be wearing their valid, intact and properly fitted wristband.
People with disabilities
People who hold an official document certifying a disability may make an on-site booking before the ticket counters open and therefore do not need to already have an admission ticket at the time of booking.
The official document certifying the disability must be presented when making the booking.
Waiting List
Once all places available for on-site bookings have been allocated, the following waiting-list places will be available for each session:
- Free Meet & Greet: 5 waiting-list places
- Meet & Greet Gold: 5 waiting-list places
The two waiting lists are separate.
Being placed on the waiting list does not guarantee admission to the session. People on the waiting list will be admitted only if one or more participants with a confirmed booking for the relevant session do not attend.
For the Meet & Greet Gold, payment will only be required if you are admitted to the session when a place becomes available.
Any places that become available will be allocated in waiting-list order
Important: The Premium Meet & Greet is independently organised and managed by Yumiko Igarashi’s staff and is not managed by the Japan Matsuri organisers.
For information regarding availability, bookings, fees, payments and conditions of participation, please contact the email address provided directly.
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