The Invitation: KODANSHA MANGA ACADEMY
WHO’S NEXT? IT COULD BE YOU.
The door to the Japanese manga world is now open.
KODANSHA MANGA ACADEMY (KMA) is our official global platform for aspiring creators.
We provide the creative insights, industry news, and the community you need to connect with a Kodansha HENSHUSHA (editor).
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🏆 KODANSHA MANGA ACADEMY AWARD: MANGAKA DISCOVERY
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Kodansha's largest-ever global initiative to discover new talent.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR PERFECTION. WE'RE LOOKING FOR POTENTIAL.
We welcome creators of all nationalities and experience levels.
Every submission will be reviewed by HENSHUSHA from
all seven of Kodansha’s manga editorial departments.
【AWARD BENEFITS】
🥇 Grand Prize
(Up to 7 winners—one potential selection per editorial department)
Cash Prize: ¥300,000 JPY
Professional Partnership: Assignment of a dedicated Kodansha HENSHUSHA
Invitation to Tokyo: Award ceremony travel and accommodation fully covered
Global Debut: Publication on K MANGA and COMIC DAYS
🏅 Encouragement Prize
Professional Partnership: Assignment of a dedicated Kodansha HENSHUSHA
📝 Top 100 Finalists (First-Round Qualifiers)
Direct feedback from a Kodansha HENSHUSHA
Note: Grand Prize selections are made at the discretion of each department.
Up to 7 awards may be granted, or none if professional standards are not met.
【HOW TO APPLY】
Eligibility: All creators worldwide (No prior experience required)
Submission: Original manga (8–60 pages) in English or Japanese
Entry Fee: Free
Application Period: April 20, 2026 – July 22, 2026 (11:59 PM JST)
👉 Apply here: https://manga-academy.kodansha.com/aw...
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💬 KMA DISCORD COMMUNITY — NOW OPEN
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A global hub for creators to learn, share, and connect.
Stay updated with the latest KMA news while finding inspiration from fellow artists.
Free to join!
👉 Join the community: / discord
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🔗 LINKS
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🌐 Official Website:
https://manga-academy.kodansha.com/
🏆 KMA Award:
https://manga-academy.kodansha.com/aw...
📸 Instagram:
/ kodansha_kma
🐦 X (Twitter):
https://x.com/KODANSHA_KMA
💬 Discord:
/ discord
Video by Takeru Shibuya
#KodanshaMangaAcademy #MangakaDiscovery #KMA #KMA award
#HowToMakeManga #MangaAward #Kodansha #comics #manga