For those who argue that university courses are outdated and 'not with it', check out this bit of news. Kyoto Seika University recently announced a masters program in manga studies for 2010!

This is a manga lover's dream come true. Can you imagine learning about the cogs and wheels that make up a manga story? Discovering the art forms and stylistic touches behind it? That's not work, that is an extended vacation where you potter around with your favorite hobby.

Photo source:Steve Keys via Flickr

The course will apparently be taught by bigwigs of the manga industry - Keiko Takemiya, Shuho Itahashi and Yukio Shinohara. In case you're wondering where you've heard the name, Takenmiya is often touted as one of the defining factor for the shojo genre through works like Kaze to Ki no Uta.

So far, it l ooks like there will be 20 spots open for students and anyone eager to give it a shot must keep an eye out for February entrance exams.

This is not the first time Kyoto Seika University has expanded the horizons for the genre. Can you guess who was the first folks to create a separate department for manga studies? That's right. In 2006, they combined a few of their existing courses and added a few new aspects and created the very first Faculty of Manga.

Their name also comes up in relation to prominent manga-related research. Thus, you will find that they are an integral part of maintaining standards for the Kyoto International Manga Museum. Furthermore, they also form the basis for the wonderful little research center housed in that museum. [link4]