50th Kodansha Manga Award: These 13 Works Are in the Final

The finalists for the 50th Kodansha Manga Award have been determined. The award, presented by the Japanese publisher Kodansha, is celebrating its anniversary edition this year. A total of 13 works have been nominated as the final candidates in the three categories: Shonen, Shojo, and General. The announcement of the winners is scheduled for May 11, 2026.

An overview of the nominated works (in alphabetical order):

Shonen Category:
- "Utsuranaindesu" by Ruka Konoshima (Shogakukan)
- "Kaoru Hana wa Rin to Saku" (The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity) by Saka Mikami (Kodansha)
- "Gachiakuta" by Kei Urana, Graffiti Design: Hideyoshi Ando (Kodansha)
- "Maou no Ichi" (Ichi the Witch): Original story by Osamu Nishi, drawn by Shiro Usazaki (Shueisha)

Shojo Category:
- "Uruwashi no Yoi no Tsuki" (In the Clear Moonlit Dusk) by Mika Yamamori (Kodansha)
- "Shinimodori no Mahou Gakkou Seikatsu wo, Moto Koibito to Prologue kara (※ Tadashi Koukaido wa Zero)": Manga by Gin Shirakawa, Original story by Eiko Mutsuhana, Character Design by Yugiri Aika (KADOKAWA)
- "Taiyou yori mo Mabushii Hoshi" (A Star Brighter Than the Sun) by Kazune Kawahara (Shueisha)
- "Tonari no Stella" (Gazing at the Star Next Door) by Ammitsu (Kodansha)

General Category:
- "Kimi to Uchuu wo Aruku Tame ni" (Spacewalking With You) by Inuhiko Doronoda (Kodansha)
- "Darwin Jihen" (The Darwin Incident) by Shun Umezawa (Kodansha)
- "Nezumi no Hatsukoi" (Nezumi's First Love) by Riku Oseto (Kodansha)
- "Heisei Haizanhei Sumire-chan" by Satomi U (Kodansha)
- "Mii-chan to Yamada-san" by Nene Azuki (Kodansha)

Last year, at the 49th awards, the prizes went to "Versus" (Original: ONE, Art: Kyotaro Azuma, Concept: bose) in the Shonen category, "Koi seyo Mayakashi Tenshi-domo" (Fall in Love, You False Angels) by Coco Uzuki in the Shojo category, and "Historie" by Hitoshi Iwaaki in the General category. The Kodansha Manga Award has been presented since 1977 and is considered one of the most prestigious awards in the Japanese comic industry.