The 49th annual Kodansha Manga Awards have recently been announced, celebrating outstanding achievements in the manga world. This year’s winners showcase the diversity and artistic excellence within the medium, with accolades given across three main categories: Shōnen, Shōjo, and General. Let’s dive into the winning titles and explore what makes them stand out.
Shōnen Manga Winner: ‘Versus’
‘Versus,’ a manga written by One, illustrated by Kyotaro Azuma, and featuring story composition by bose, has clinched the award for Shōnen manga. Serialized in Monthly Shōnen Sirius since November 2022, ‘Versus’ plunges readers into a world teetering on the brink of destruction.
Storyline: Humanity faces extinction as demons rule the world. Hope flickers as 47 of humanity’s strongest heroes unite in a desperate bid to reclaim their world.
Kodansha USA describes it as: “The compelling and long-awaited new action epic from ONE, the author of One-Punch Man and Mob Psycho 100!”.
Shōjo Manga Winner: ‘Fall in Love, You False Angels’
Coco Uzuki’s ‘Fall in Love, You False Angels’ has captured the Shōjo Manga Award. This romantic comedy manga began serialization in Kodansha’s Dessert magazine in April 2023.
Storyline: The manga revolves around the “perfect” student council duo who conceal cunning and manipulative personalities beneath their sweet smiles. These “two-faced angels” engage in schemes, leading to an unexpected attraction.
Kodansha USA teases: “The Japanese hit manga rom-com comes to print! The sweet smiles across the faces of the ‘perfect’ student council duo hide secret, tough-as-nails personalities… but how long will it take for contention to give way to attraction?”.
Reception
‘Fall in Love, You False Angels’ has garnered significant recognition.
- Ranked eighteenth in Takarajimasha’s Kono Manga ga Sugoi! guidebook in 2024.
- Rose to fifth place in the 2025 edition of the same guidebook.
- Secured fourth place in the Nationwide Publishers Recommended Comics list of 2024.
- Ranked ninth in the print category and won the U-Next Prize at the tenth Next Manga Awards in 2024.
- Ranked fourth in the Nationwide Bookstore Employees’ Recommended Comics list of 2025.
General Manga Winner: ‘Historie’
Hitoshi Iwaaki’s ‘Historie’ has won the General Manga Award. This historical epic has been running since 2003 in Monthly Afternoon.
Storyline: ‘Historie’ tells the story of Eumenes, who becomes a famed army commander and personal secretary to Alexander the Great.
K Manga describes it: “After shocking the world with Parasyte, Hitoshi Iwaaki is back with a series he’s been aching to tackle since even before his pro manga debut! A historical epic set in ancient times”.
Awards and Recognition
‘Historie’ has received high praise and several awards.
- 2010: Grand Prize at the 14th Japan Media Arts Festival.
- 2012: Grand Prize at the 16th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize.
- 2025: Kodansha Manga Award in the General category.
Critical Acclaim
‘Historie’ has been lauded for its unique vision and ambitious storytelling.
- The Mainichi Shimbun praised Iwaaki’s “bold and unique” vision of Eumenes’ past.
- Manga critic Jason Thompson hailed ‘Historie’ as Iwaaki’s masterpiece in terms of scale, ambition, and plotting.
About the Kodansha Manga Awards
The Kodansha Manga Awards are annual awards that recognize outstanding manga series. These awards, sponsored by Kodansha, one of Japan’s largest publishing companies, began in 1977 and have become a prestigious honor in the manga industry.
History and Categories
Initially, the awards featured categories for Shōnen (aimed at young men) and Shōjo (aimed at young women) manga. Over the years, the awards have expanded to include a General category and, for a time, a Children’s Manga category. The Children’s Manga category was later integrated into the Shōnen and Shōjo categories.
Significance
The Kodansha Manga Awards play a vital role in highlighting influential manga titles and recognizing both new talents and established creators. Winning this award can significantly boost a manga’s popularity and readership. The awards reflect the evolving landscape of manga storytelling and celebrate the medium’s artistic and cultural impact.
Nominees
The nominees for the 49th annual Kodansha Manga Awards were announced earlier this year, showcasing a diverse range of titles in each category.
Shōnen Manga Nominees
- ‘WIND BREAKER’ by Satoru Nii (Kodansha).
- ‘Fragrant Flowers Bloom with Bravery’ by Saka Mikami (Kodansha).
- ‘Kagurabachi’ by Takeru Hokazono (Shueisha).
- ‘Versus’ by ONE (original story), Kyotaro Azuma (manga), Bose (composition) (Kodansha).
- ‘Orion on the Board’ by Naoshi Arakawa (Kodansha).
- ‘Fermat’s Cooking’ by Yugo Kobayashi (Kodansha).
Shōjo Manga Nominees
- ‘A Story About Meeting Your Soulmate’ by Anashin (Kodansha).
- ‘The Scarred Bride’ by Aoi Tomo (original story), Mamenosuke Fujimaru (manga) (Kodansha).
- ‘Fall in Love, You False Angels’ by Coco Uzuki (Kodansha).
- ‘Return to Magic School Life After Death, Starting from the Prologue with My Ex-Lover (However, My Liking Rating is Zero)’ by Ari Shirakawa (manga), Eiko Mutsuhana (original story), Yugiri Akika (character design) (KADOKAWA).
- ‘Stella Next Door’ by Anmitsu (Kodansha).
General Manga Nominees
- ‘Under Ninja’ by Kengo Hanazawa (Kodansha).
- ‘Stars in the Garden of Women’ by Yama Yama (Shodensha).
- ‘To Walk in Space with You’ by Inuhiko Doronota (Kodansha).
- ‘The Mouse’s First Love’ by Riku Oseto (Kodansha).
- ‘Historie’ by Hitoshi Iwaaki (Kodansha).
Previous Winners
Many notable manga have won the Kodansha Manga Award in previous years. Some past winners include:
- ‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe (48th Annual Kodansha Manga Awards).
- ‘Medalist’ by Tsurumaikada.
- ‘Blue Lock’ by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yūsuke Nomura (46th Annual Kodansha Manga Awards).
- ‘Vinland Saga’.
- ‘Your Lie in April’.
- ‘Attack on Titan’.
The 49th Kodansha Manga Awards celebrate the creativity and storytelling prowess of manga artists. From the action-packed world of ‘Versus’ to the romantic schemes in ‘Fall in Love, You False Angels,’ and the historical depths of ‘Historie,’ this year’s winners offer something for every manga enthusiast. These awards highlight the importance of manga as a vibrant and influential art form in Japan and beyond.
