Kodansha names 7 global manga winners in first company-wide award

Kodansha has released the final results of its first global manga award, selecting seven Grand Prize winners from 1,822 entries across 51 countries and regions. The winners will receive editorial support, cash prizes and planned publication on K MANGA and COMIC DAYS starting around December 2026.

Why it matters: - Kodansha used the award to connect editorial teams across the company with new manga creators worldwide. - The competition focused on potential, not polish, giving emerging artists a direct path to editorial review and possible debut. - The winning works are scheduled for publication on K MANGA and COMIC DAYS, which could turn the contest into a creator pipeline.

What happened: - Kodansha announced the final results of the 1st KODANSHA MANGA ACADEMY AWARD: MANGAKA DISCOVERY on Nov. 7, 2026. - KODANSHA MANGA ACADEMY ran the award as an official platform linking aspiring manga artists around the world with Kodansha. - The contest drew 1,822 entries from 51 countries and regions. - Seven editorial teams judged the submissions: Weekly Shonen Magazine, Monthly Shonen Magazine, Sirius Magazine, Women’s Comics, Young Magazine, Morning Magazine and Afternoon Magazine. - Each editorial team selected one Grand Prize winner, for a total of seven Grand Prize works. - Kodansha also selected 21 Encouragement Prize winners.

The details: - The Grand Prize winners are: “Saint & Rocky” by Isaacell of the United Kingdom; “GOOSI AND THE LIST” by the goose man; “Penitent Crown” by Ichi of Uruguay; “A Heart of Lead” by goroweko; “FLY” by Heitor Amatsu of Brazil; “MOVIEAFTERLIFE” by 8OttoVan of Italy; and “Pitcher in the trench” by Susumu Romu of Italy. - The contest accepted submissions regardless of nationality, language or experience. - Judges evaluated entries on potential rather than finish quality. - Details on the winning works are available on the results announcement page. - Each Grand Prize winner will work closely with a Kodansha editor while preparing for debut. - Each Grand Prize winner will receive JPY300,000 and an invitation to the awards ceremony in Tokyo. - Each Grand Prize winner will also receive CLIP STUDIO PAINT EX, a 2-year, 2-device plan. - Each Encouragement Prize winner will also be assigned an editor.

Between the lines: - Kodansha’s winner list spans multiple countries, including the United Kingdom, Uruguay, Brazil and Italy, signaling a broad international reach. - Two Grand Prize winners were listed with undisclosed countries, which suggests the program is prioritizing the work itself over creator identity in some cases. - The award structure blends scouting, mentorship and distribution, which can help Kodansha find talent earlier in the development process.

What's next: - Kodansha plans to publish the Grand Prize-winning works on K MANGA and COMIC DAYS starting around December 2026. - The awards ceremony is tentatively set for February 2027 at Kodansha headquarters in Tokyo. - Kodansha will continue using KODANSHA MANGA ACADEMY to connect creators with editorial teams through educational content, Discord, YouTube, Instagram and other channels. - KMA’s official website is official website.