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Publisher Kodansha has revealed a list of 13 nominees for its 50th annual manga awards across three categories.
The nominations include the recent breakout hit Gachiakuta and also Weekly Shonen Jump’s latest magic manga Ichi The Witch. While Gachiakuta was nominated twice before, this is the first time that Ichi the Witch is being considered for the awards.
In addition to these two, Nezumi’s First Love manga, which gained more attention recently after The Weeknd was revealed to be a huge fan of the series. The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity, In the Clear Moonlit Dusk and Spacewalking with You were also among the titles that were included.
The winners of the 50th Kodansha Manga Awards will be selected from these nominees and revealed on May 11, 2026. Check out the complete list below:
Best Shonen Manga:
- Utsuranain Desu by Ruka Konoshima (serialized in Shogakukan’s Weekly Shonen Sunday)
- The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity by Saka Mikami (serialized in Kodansha’s Magazine Pocket app)
- Gachiakuta by Kei Urana with graffiti art by Hideyoshi Andou (serialized in Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen Magazine)
- Ichi the Witch written by Osamu Nishi and illustrated by Shiro Usazaki (serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump)
Best Shojo Manga:
- In the Clear Moonlit Dusk by Mika Yamamori (serialized in Kodansha’s Dessert )
- Return from Death by Eiko Mutsuhana, Yugiri Aika, Gin Shirakawa (serialized in Kadokawa’s Comicwalker)
- A Star Brighter than the Sun by Kazune Kawahara (serialized in Shueisha’s Bessatsu Margaret)
- Gazing at the Star Next Door by Ammitsu (serialized in Kodansha’s Bessatsu Friend)
Best General Manga:
- Spacewalking with You by Inuhiko Doronoda (serialized in Kodansha’s &Sofa website)
- The Darwin Incident by Shun Umezawa (serialized in Kodansha’s Monthly Afternoon)
- Nezumi’s First Love by Riku Oseto (serialized in Kodansha’s Weekly Young Magazine)
- Heisei Haizenhei Sumire-chan by Satomi U (serialized in Kodansha’s Weekly Young Magazine)
- Mii-chan and Yamada-san by Nene Azuki (serialized in Kodansha’s Magazine Pocket app)
Source: Oricon
