The first "manga" cartoon strip exhibit in Brussels opened last Friday with artist Keiko Ichiguchi present to promote her new work, "1945."

"I am very happy to see my work hanging on the walls here," Ichiguchi said as she autographed her newest comic book for fans.

"I had some exhibits in Lucca and Naples, but never outside Italy or in Japan," Ichiguchi said as she sat in front of her work in a leading Belgian comic book shop here.