The results for Kadokawa's annual Next Manga Award (Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Taishou) have officially been revealed, marking another major milestone for emerging comic creators. Broadcasting live via Niconico, the ceremony celebrated the standout titles capturing reader attention across both traditional print serialization and digital web platforms. Out of a staggering 7,952 submissions, a special committee narrowed the field to 100 nominees, culminating in 382,581 votes cast by passionate fans worldwide.
Print and Web Victors
Taking the crown in the Print Manga category was Someone Hertz, closely followed by Futari Bus in second and Register! in third place. Meanwhile, the Web Manga division saw Okaeri Suiheisen claim the top spot, beating out strong contenders like Hitoner and Haimiya-senpai wa Kowakute Kawaii. Special honors were also distributed, including the U-Next Award going to Dig It and WITCHRIV, while Kyoukai no Melody secured the Nichirei Foods Award.
A Decade of Discovery
Established in 2014 by Kadokawa's Da Vinci magazine alongside Niconico, the Next Manga Award has cultivated a reputation as a reliable incubator for future industry hits. Eligible works must have begun serialization recently or have five or fewer collected volumes published. With top-performing titles permanently entering the Hall of Fame, the competition remains a crucial bellwether for upcoming manga set to dominate bookstore shelves and digital platforms in the coming years.
