Kodansha Names Six Grand Prize Winners in Mangaka Discovery
The global award, run from April 20 to July 22, gives each grand prize winner 300,000 yen and an editor to work with toward a debut.
Kodansha announced on November 6, 2026 the winners of its Mangaka Discovery global manga award, naming six grand prize winners, one for each of its magazines, according to Anime News Network.
The grand prize works are GOOSI AND THE LIST for Monthly Shonen Magazine, Penitent Crown by Ichi for Sirius, A Heart of Lead by goroweko for Women's Comics, FLY by Heitor Amatsu for Young Magazine, MOVIEAFTERLIFE by 8OttoVan for Morning and Pitcher in the trench by Susumu Romu for Afternoon.
Each grand prize winner receives 300,000 yen, a two-year Clip Studio EX plan and an invitation to an awards ceremony in Tokyo in February 2027, and will work with a Kodansha editor toward a debut. The winning works will be published on K manga and Comic Days starting in December.
A further 21 titles took the Encouragement Prize, and each of those winners will also have an editor assigned.
The contest ran worldwide from April 20 to July 22 and accepted submissions in English or Japanese.
Earlier global push
Kodansha launched the Kodansha Manga Academy in October 2025 to help creators outside Japan learn the process of publishing manga in Japan.
Quick answers
When did Kodansha announce the Mangaka Discovery winners?
The winners were announced on November 6, 2026.
What do the Mangaka Discovery grand prize winners receive?
Each receives 300,000 yen, a two-year Clip Studio EX plan, an invitation to a Tokyo awards ceremony in February 2027, and an editor to work with toward a debut.
Where can the winning works be read?
They will be published on K manga and Comic Days starting in December.