Yuri Sonoda’s heartwarming manga, Cat Companions Maruru and Hachi (Tsureneko Maruru to Hachi), has been awarded the grand prize in the Comic division of the 54th Japan Cartoonists Association Awards. The Japan Cartoonists Association (JCA) made the announcement on Monday, celebrating Sonoda’s work for its excellence in the comic category.
A Paw-some Tale of Feline Friendship
Cat Companions Maruru and Hachi is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yuri Sonoda. The slice-of-life series, which began serialization on Kodansha’s Comic Days manga website on December 24, 2021, tells the story of the everyday adventures of two adorable cats, Maruru and Hachi. As of December 2024, the chapters have been collected into six tankōbon volumes. Seven Seas Entertainment licenses the series in English.
Other Winners of the 54th Japan Cartoonists Association Awards
Besides Yuri Sonoda, other winners of the 54th Japan Cartoonists Association Awards include:
- Masaru Yamaguchi: Won in the Cartoon division for 10-nin no Hakase no Hiruyasumi (The 10 Doctors’ Lunch Break).
- Sakana Sakatsuki: Won in the Manga division for Star Tripper – Planetarium Ghost Travel –, a work deemed worthy of the name “manga” but not belonging to any specific genre.
- Arako Toaru: Won the Manga Kingdom Tottori award for Never Say Ugly (Busu Nante Iwanaide).
- Kei Honjō: Won the Manga Kingdom Tosa award for Kumauchi no Samurai (Samurai Bear Hunter).
- Kazuo Umezu: The late manga creator Kazuo Umezu was honored with the MEXT award for his entire body of work.
A Prestigious Recognition
The Japan Cartoonists Association Awards have been presented annually since 1972. Each grand prize winner receives 500,000 yen (approximately US$3,491) and a certificate handwritten by manga creator Tetsuya Chiba. Arako Toaru and Kei Honjō also received prize money and local specialties from Tottori and Kōchi Prefectures, respectively. Kazuo Umezu’s award included a 200,000 yen prize and a commendation certificate from MEXT.
The selection committee for this year’s awards was headed by Machiko Satonaka and included notable figures such as Yutaka Abe, Naomi Kimura, and Norifusa Mita.
This award highlights the growing popularity and recognition of slice-of-life manga, particularly those featuring adorable animal companions. Cat Companions Maruru and Hachi is a delightful series that is sure to warm the hearts of readers of all ages.
