What Makes a Manga Stand Out? | KODANSHA MANGAKA DISCOVERY Q&A: Afternoon Magazine Edition

We had editors from Afternoon Magazine answer your questions about the KODANSHA MANGA ACADEMY AWARD. More Q&A sessions from other editors to follow. Stay tuned! --- 🏆 KODANSHA MANGA ACADEMY AWARD: MANGAKA DISCOVERY Kodansha's largest-ever global initiative to discover new talent. WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR PERFECTION. WE'RE LOOKING FOR POTENTIAL. We welcome creators of all nationalities and experience levels. Every submission will be reviewed by HENSHUSHA from all seven of Kodansha’s manga editorial departments. 【AWARD BENEFITS】 🥇 Grand Prize (Up to 7 winners—one potential selection per editorial department) Cash Prize: ¥300,000 JPY Professional Partnership: Assignment of a dedicated Kodansha HENSHUSHA Invitation to Tokyo: Award ceremony travel and accommodation fully covered Global Debut: Publication on K MANGA and COMIC DAYS 🏅 Encouragement Prize Professional Partnership: Assignment of a dedicated Kodansha HENSHUSHA 📝 Top 100 Finalists (First-Round Qualifiers) Direct feedback from a Kodansha HENSHUSHA Note: Grand Prize selections are made at the discretion of each department. Up to 7 awards may be granted, or none if professional standards are not met. 【HOW TO APPLY】 Eligibility: All creators worldwide (No prior experience required) Submission: Original manga (8–60 pages) in English or Japanese Entry Fee: Free Application Period: April 20, 2026 – July 22, 2026 (11:59 PM JST) 👉 Apply here: https://manga-academy.kodansha.com/award — Afternoon Magazine: Where profound storytelling and experimental vision push the boundaries of manga. Afternoon champions seinen works that explore diverse themes and unexpected perspectives. We embrace stories that don't just chase trends, but ask difficult questions and challenge conventions to engage readers deeply. It is a home for creators who craft narratives with nuance, artistic boldness, and a soul.