Celebrating Rising Manga Talent

The Next Manga Awards, organized annually by Da Vinci magazine and digital content site niconico, highlight manga series that began serialization after January 1 of the previous year or have five or fewer volumes published. These awards give global readers the chance to vote for emerging titles, offering a unique spotlight for creators early in their journeys.

In this year’s competition, Osamu Nishi and Shiro Usazaki’s Ichi the Witch triumphed in the Print category with an impressive 64,992 points, while Kyu Sumiyoshi’s Strikeout Pitch dominated the Web category with 118,162 points. Both victories underscore the growing influence of new creators whose works are already making waves in the community.

Recognizing Acclaimed Authors

Neither of these winning authors are strangers to acclaim. Shiro Usazaki previously captured attention with Act-Age, which placed fifth at the awards in 2018, while Sumiyoshi’s Hyperinflation ranked sixth in 2021 and topped AnimeJapan’s “Manga We Want to See Animated” poll in 2023. Their consistent recognition across different years highlights both their talent and their ability to resonate with fans worldwide.

Other Standout Titles

The awards also showcased a wide variety of standout series. Ryuhei Tamura’s COSMOS and Shun Numa’s Super Psychic Policeman Chojo joined Ichi the Witch on the Print category podium, while Toru Kuramori’s Centuria and Tenichi’s I Will Fall With the Emperor (produced with STRAIGHT EDGE and SORAJIMA) earned top Web rankings.

Additional special awards went to titles with unique fan appeal. Mai Matsuda’s Hokago Kitaku Biyori, which already has an anime adaptation in the works, received the “Reito Shokuhin wa Nichirei” Award. Meanwhile, Makoto Miyagi’s manga adaptation of Witch and Mercenary and Yuto Sano’s Gokurakugai won the U-NEXT Awards.

A Global Celebration of Manga

The Next Manga Awards continue to serve as a bridge between up-and-coming manga creators and global audiences hungry for fresh stories. With Ichi the Witch and Strikeout Pitch at the top, 2025 marks another year of innovation, fan engagement, and proof that the manga industry thrives on the passion of its community.

 

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