- Kadokawa’s new contest is open worldwide with only one binding rule.
- It offers two entry tracks, including the returning Wordless Manga category.
- Winners can earn cash prizes along with editorial support and publication opportunities.
Kadokawa Corporation announced the Kadokawa World Manga Contest on Nov 28, 2025. This new global manga competition is focused on discovering international talent and new hit IPs.The competition is accessible to everyone worldwide, regardless of nationality, age, or experience. The only constraint is that their work should not have been serialized by Kadokawa between January 1, 2022, and March 31, 2026.
Kadokawa World Manga Contest 2025: Tracks, Prizes, and More
The contest has two tracks, one being a standard manga contest with dialogue (in Japanese, English, Spanish, French, or traditional Chinese) and another being a "Wordless Manga" track. This wordless track is a carryover from Kadokawa's 2024 contest, which attracted 1,126 entries from 104 countries, a number that was deemed as three times the expected outcome.
Prizes range from $10,000 for the top prize to $5,000 for second and $3,000 for third, with additional honorable mentions of $300. Winners will also receive editorial mentorship from Kadokawa's newly formed Overseas Manga Editorial Section and prospective publication opportunity on the company's official portal, Kadocomi.
Judging Timeline and Kadokawa’s Global Vision
Editorial teams from Kadokawa and the Contest Secretariat will judge the contest, and the submission window will remain open until March 31, 2026. However, as per industry reports, results can be expected by May 2026.
According to Kadokawa, the effort aims to create a "bridge between global talent and the Japanese manga industry." Additionally, it will also help mitigate Japan's present workforce crisis by providing other international creators a unique opportunity to have their ideas serialized in Japan without having to move.
