Entries arrived for the first time from Afghanistan, Nepal, Libya, Togo, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Puerto Rico.
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ International Manga Award received an unprecedented 738 submissions from 110 countries and territories this year – its highest-ever participation.
Notably, entries arrived for the first time from Afghanistan, Nepal, Libya, Togo, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Puerto Rico, ramming home manga’s expanding cultural footprint beyond its traditional East Asian and more recent European strongholds.
Winners reflect emerging markets
Brazilian creator Laica Chrose secured the Gold Award for Winged, while Silver Awards went to Saudi Arabia’s Meeda (Quarter Life Crisis), Vietnam’s Lương Minh Quang/Lang Huynh (The Ritual), and Taiwan’s GoodTrip Creative (The Nature Chef).
Taiwan also claimed the Special Encouragement Award for Lang-Chi’s The Echo Before Dawn. These victors will attend Tokyo’s award ceremony in March 2026, courtesy of the Japan Foundation.
The View From The Beach
The award’s record participation aligns with industry data showing overseas manga revenues surging 75% since 2020, with the European market alone forecast to grow at a 20% CAGR through 2030.
For publishers, this reveals three critical opportunities:
first, emerging markets like Saudi Arabia and Vietnam represent untapped creative talent and localised content potential;
second, digital-first distribution models now command 72% of global manga revenue, mandating platform optimisation;
and third, simultaneous worldwide publishing – exemplified by Shueisha and Kodansha’s partnerships – has become essential for combating piracy and capturing demand.
Market context and opportunities
The global manga market reached $8.8 billion in 2024, and is projected to exceed $24 billion by 2030. This growth is driven by webtoon-format adaptation, genre diversification (including LGBTQ+ and educational titles), and smartphone penetration.
Publishers should note that Japan’s government now designates manga as a core “Cool Japan” industry, potentially facilitating international licensing agreements and co-production funding.
The award’s selection committee, chaired by veteran artist Machiko Satonaka in collaboration with the Association of Manga Publishers, offers a credible barometer for scouting translatable IP.
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This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.
