LINE Manga, a leading digital comic service in Japan, announced on November 21 that it has launched the “LINE Manga Webtoon Grand Prix 2025.” This unprecedented competition, marking the largest manga award in LINE Manga’s history, offers a grand prize of 10 million yen and guarantees a debut opportunity for all award winners.
A Landmark Initiative for Webtoon Creators in Japan
The “LINE Manga Webtoon Grand Prix 2025” signifies a major push to discover and nurture new talent within Japan’s booming digital comics landscape. LINE Digital Frontier Co., Ltd., the operator of LINE Manga, is spearheading this initiative through its “LINE Manga WEBTOON STUDIO,” a division dedicated to planning, production, and editing original webtoon and horizontal-scroll manga. The company aims to cultivate a wider range of webtoon genres and deliver more compelling content to its substantial readership.
Prize Details and Unprecedented Debut Opportunities
The standout feature of the Grand Prix is its top prize: a substantial 10 million yen, the highest award money in LINE Manga‘s history for a manga competition. Beyond the monetary reward, the grand prize winner will also secure serialization rights on LINE Manga and guaranteed distribution across the company’s global services. This ensures broad exposure for the winning work to an international audience. Furthermore, all winners will receive dedicated editorial support from the LINE Manga WEBTOON STUDIO, aimed at facilitating their professional debut.
Enhancements and Special Recognition
In a move to further support creators, the Grand Prix is sponsored by Celsys, providing the versatile painting app “CLIP STUDIO PAINT” as a supplementary prize for winners. Additionally, the first 100 entrants in the completed manuscript division will receive a special gift.
The judging panel features prominent creators behind successful LINE Manga original works, including T.Jun (story for Lookism), Yaongyi (True Beauty), Chinami Akio (The Fourth Husband), Yuji Iwahara (Clevatess – The King of the Beast, the Baby, and the Corpse Hero-), and Yachiyo Okumura (art for My Round Girlfriend and His Disappointing Boyfriend).
LINE Manga’s Growing Influence in the Digital Comics Market
LINE Manga has been a significant player in the digital comics market, both globally and in Japan. As part of the “WEBTOON Worldwide Service” platform, it boasts approximately 150 million monthly users worldwide as of September 2025. Since its launch in Japan in 2013, the app has consistently ranked as the most downloaded manga application in the country, offering a diverse collection of original, exclusive, and early-release titles. The platform has also actively promoted webtoons, the full-color, vertical-scrolling digital comics optimized for smart devices.
The success of LINE Manga originals is evident, with titles like “Senpai Is an Otokonoko” and “The Fourth Husband” being nominated for main prizes at the 2025 WORLD WEBTOON AWARDS, a prestigious event hosted by Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Chinami Akio’s “The Fourth Husband” even marked a historic win, becoming the first Japanese creation to receive a main award at the 2025 WORLD WEBTOON AWARDS. This demonstrates the platform’s ability to produce globally recognized content.
Fostering the Next Generation of Comic Artists
The launch of the “LINE Manga Webtoon Grand Prix 2025” reinforces LINE Manga’s commitment to discovering and supporting local creators, as articulated by Sinbae Kim, Chief Growth Officer of LINE Digital Frontier. Their goal is not only to provide engaging webcomics to readers but also to empower Japanese artists who are crucial to the expansion of the digital comics market. This initiative aims to serve as a launchpad for aspiring artists, providing them with the financial incentives and professional guidance needed to break into the industry.
Looking Ahead
The “LINE Manga Webtoon Grand Prix 2025” is poised to unearth fresh talent and invigorate the webtoon creation scene in Japan. By offering substantial prizes, guaranteed publishing opportunities, and expert mentorship, LINE Manga is actively shaping the future of digital storytelling and solidifying its position as a global leader in the evolving world of webcomics.
