KODANSHA MANGA ACADEMY AWARD – MANGAKA DISCOVERY 2026
Purpose
The Kodansha Manga Academy Award – Mangaka Discovery is an international manga competition organized by Kodansha, one of the world’s leading manga publishers. The award aims to discover talented manga creators from around the globe and provide opportunities to enter the Japanese manga industry.
Deadline
July 22, 2026
11:59 PM (JST)
Entry Fee
Participation is completely free.
Eligibility
- Open to participants from all countries.
- Both amateur and professional creators may apply.
- No age restrictions.
- Minors must obtain parental or legal guardian consent.
- Team submissions are permitted.
Theme
There is no fixed theme.
Participants may submit original manga works in any genre, including:
- Adventure
- Fantasy
- Science Fiction
- Horror
- Romance
- Comedy
- Drama
- Mystery
or any other original story category.
Technical Requirements
Page Count
- Minimum: 8 pages
- Maximum: 60 pages
Language
Dialogue must be in:
- English
- Japanese
Silent manga are also accepted.
File Format
- JPG or PNG
- Minimum resolution: 350 dpi
- Maximum file size per page: 100 MB
- Files must be submitted as a ZIP archive
- Maximum ZIP size: 200 MB
Color
Both black-and-white and full-color manga are accepted.
Page Layout
- Recommended size: B5 (257 mm × 182 mm)
- Page numbers must be included.
Ineligible Works
- Illustration-only projects
- Scripts and storyboards
- Vertical-scroll webtoons
- Works currently submitted to other contests
- Previously awarded works
- Commercially published works
Awards
Grand Prize
- ¥300,000 JPY cash prize
- Dedicated Kodansha editor (Henshusha)
- Invitation to the award ceremony in Tokyo
- Travel and accommodation covered by Kodansha
- Publication opportunity on K MANGA and COMIC DAYS
Encouragement Prize
- Dedicated Kodansha editor
- Professional editorial support
Top 100 Entries
- Personalized feedback from Kodansha editors
Judging Criteria
Entries will be evaluated based on:
- Storytelling
- Artwork quality
- Character appeal
- Composition
- Overall manga potential
Results Announcement
First Screening:
Late August 2026
Final Results:
October 2026
Official Website : CLICK HERE PLEASE
Submission Method
Applications must be submitted online through the official competition website.