The application for the 20th Japan International Manga Award is open. Artists from around the world can apply for this outstanding award.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan established the Japan International Manga Award in 2007 to spread Manga culture overseas, recognize the best artists from around the world, encourage their skill development, and exchange their experiences with Manga creators.

Submit your work if you are an artist interested in receiving this award. There is one Gold Award and three Silver Awards for the best cartoons, along with several Bronze Awards for other outstanding works. Selected participants will be invited to a 7-day trip to Japan to attend the award ceremony, exchange ideas, and visit the organizing company.

Award details:

Organizer: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Application period: April 15th, 2026 – June 30, 2026

Award Ceremony: February or March 2027 in Tokyo

Award Purpose

Spreading MANGA culture overseas and promoting international cultural exchanges through MANGA.

MANGA Award Details

The Japan International MANGA Award recognizes outstanding achievements in the art of manga with the following distinctions:

• Gold Award: Presented to the most exceptional manga work.

  VisualArt & Design

• Silver Award: Awarded to three outstanding works of high merit.

• Bronze Award: Granted to approximately eleven works demonstrating notable excellence.

• Special Encouragement Award: May be conferred upon a work that does not qualify for a Silver Award but is evaluated more highly than other Bronze Award candidates. This distinction is awarded at the discretion of the selection committee.

Prizes

• Gold and Silver Award winners will receive A certificate, a trophy, and an invitation to Japan (approximately 7 days) to attend the official award ceremony, offered as an additional prize.

• Bronze Award and Special Encouragement Award winners will receive A certificate

Please note: Bronze Award and Special Encouragement Award recipients are not eligible for the travel invitation to Japan.

Apply Also: 

• Webster Vienna Private University Scholarship 2026 for Bachelor and Master Degree
• UNESCO 2026 Prize for Girls and Women Education (Nominate Champions- 50,000USD Prize)
• BIF PhD Fellowships 2027 for International Junior Scientists in Germany
• SAH IDEAS Research Fellowship 2027
• 2026 International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship Bachelor’s Degree (Fully-funded)

Who can apply for the Manga Award?

• The works should:
  • Be composed of more than 16 pages, no matter whether it is a published work or an unpublished work, except those works that have previously won the Japan International Manga Awards.
  • Have produced in the last three years (2023-2026 )
  • must submit in pdf form. (Those work drawn on paper must be scanned and submitted as a PDF data.)
  • The work must be original and not copied or generated by AI.
• Overseas publishing companies can apply to the Japan International MANGA Award, upon confirmation from the MANGA artists of submitting their work.
• Either the comic artist or story writer of the submitted work has to be a foreign national. Also, the representative who will participate in the invitation program given to the Gold / Silver Award winners must be a foreign national.

Conditions

• Only one work may be submitted per applicant.
• Only one work may be accepted under one title (or series).
• In case a collection of short stories is being submitted, only one story will be accepted for examination.
• Duplicate entries will be invalid.

For the purpose of publicity, the MANGA Award Executive Committee may upload the winner’s MANGA works (partially)

Application Procedure

To apply for the 20th Japan International Manga Award, please submit the following two items:

1. Completed Application Form
   Submit the online form using the link below:

• Application Form
• https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/4JutVgvh5Y

1. Manga Work (PDF Format)
   Submit one electronic copy of your manga work in PDF format.

Submission Instructions

For Applicants Residing Outside Japan

• Once you have submitted the Application Form, the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country or region will provide an upload URL for your manga PDF.
• Refer to the list of Japanese embassies and consulates for contact details.

For Applicants Residing in Japan

• After you submit the Application Form, the Cultural Affairs and Overseas Public Relations Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, will provide an upload URL for your manga PDF.

Important Notes

Handling of Personal Information

The Japan International MANGA Award Executive Committee will use your personal information solely for purposes related to the award process, including contacting winners and managing the selection procedure.
Your information may be shared with third parties only under specific legal provisions, such as administrative requirements, local government tasks, or as stipulated by Article 69, Paragraph 2, Item 4 of the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (Japan).
By submitting the application form, you agree to these terms.

Cancellation of Award

The award may be revoked post-announcement if credible concerns arise—such as plagiarism claims. In such cases, the applicant shall not dispute the revocation.
Should a third party raise a legal claim against the applicant due to a violation (e.g., infringement), the applicant must address the matter independently and bear all associated costs, including legal fees.

Note:

• The Application Form must be completed in English or Japanese.
• Ensure the email address is entered correctly. A confirmation email will be sent upon successful form submission.
• If you do not receive confirmation within one day, please check your email entry and resubmit the form.

Manga Work File Guidelines

• File name should follow this format: [FirstName][LastName].pdf
  Example: TaroGaimu.pdf
• The work must be formatted for A4-size paper printing.
  • For vertically scrolling works (e.g., webtoons), separate the frames appropriately to ensure proper A4 formatting.
  • Page numbers must be indicated on every page.
• For works not presented in book format, clearly label any two-page spreads.
• Additional printed copies may be requested for entries under award consideration.
• Manga works are accepted in any language.

Please ensure that all submission materials meet the above criteria. Incomplete or improperly formatted submissions may be disqualified.

Note:

The submitted application and work will not be returned to the applicants. Please submit a copy of your work, keeping the original one if you have not published your WORK yet.

Selection Process

The International Manga Award Selection Committee will select the works to be awarded.

Check the official announcement, here.

Similar Opportunities: 

• 2026 International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship Bachelor’s Degree (Fully-funded)
• CICOPS Scholarships 2027 at University of Pavia in Italy
• Schwarzman Scholarship at Top Chinese University for Master Degree (Fully funded)
• BIF PhD Fellowships 2027 for International Junior Scientists in Germany
• SAH IDEAS Research Fellowship 2027