Next Manga Award

The Next Manga Award, known in Japan as Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Taishō, stands as a unique annual celebration of the medium's future stars. Organized by Kadokawa Corporation through its Da Vinci magazine and the Niconico streaming platform, this contest bypasses traditional industry gatekeepers to let readers decide which series deserve recognition. The competition splits into two distinct tracks: one honors print manga while the other highlights web manga, ensuring both formats get their moment in the spotlight.

Recent years have highlighted specific breakout hits that proved the award's predictive power. In 2024, the print category went to Kagurabachi, a dark fantasy action series by Takeru Hokazono, while Yūki Saitō's sports comedy Girl Meets Rock! took the web title. The following year saw Shiro's fantasy series Ichi the Witch win the print track and Kyu Sumiyoshi's baseball story Strikeout Pitch claim the web prize. Most recently, September 2026 reports confirmed Someone Hertz as the comic book winner and Home at the Horizon as the web champion.

Unlike awards decided by panels of critics or editors, this reader-driven contest often identifies titles with strong grassroots appeal before they achieve mainstream fame. Winning frequently leads to increased visibility, higher sales figures, and accelerated adaptation into anime or live-action formats. The dedicated web manga track has also influenced the publishing landscape by validating digital-native creators, encouraging publishers to invest more heavily in online-first content. [edit]