Satoru Noda’s historical manga Golden Kamuy won the grand prize in the comic division at the 51st Japanese Cartoonists Association Awards that were announced on May 20, 2022.

The manga was chosen by the selection committee which was headed by Machiko Satonaka. The other committee members included Shōji Igo, Kōji Tsujishita, Kamakiri Uno, Moto Hagio, Hiroshi Odagiri, Mitsuru Miura, Ikuya Kōmori, and George Morikawa.

Golden Kamuy won the grand prize as it had managed to sincerely incorporate the Ainu culture, which was only rarely depicted in comics and entertainment world, and earn widespread recognition.

Meanwhile, the grand prize in the cartoon division went to Koji Chiriakuta’s Teinei na Kurashi wo Suru Gaki manga. It was selected because the selection committee found the drawings and gestures of the main character, who is a brat, cute.

The grand prize winner will receive a gold plaque, medal, certificate, and 500,000 yen (about US$3,900) in prize money.

Additionally, the Manga Kingdom Tottori award went to Taizan 5’s Takopi no Genzai and the Manga Kingdom Tosa award went to Seigō Sakai’s Wataru Sekai wa Omoshiroi one-panel manga.

Takao Saito, the author of Golgo 13, and his production studio (Saito Production) were bestowed the MEXT award for the role they played in popularizing the “gekiga” style of manga.

The winners of Manga Kingdom Tottori award, the Manga Kindom Tosa award and the MEXT award received a silver plaque, medal, certificate and 200,000 yen (about US$1,600) in prize money.

The Japanese Cartoonists Association award is an annual manga award, sponsored by the Japanese Cartoonists Association. It was first handed out in 1972 to Yasuo Yoshitomi’s Doubutsu Manga Hyakka. Koyoharu Gotouge’s Demon Slayer manga won the grand prize in the comic division last year.

Source: Comic Natalie, JCA website