What is the Kyoto International Creators Award
“Comic Contest”?
The Kyoto International Creators Award is an international contest designed for aspiring creators of manga, anime, etc. to debut their works at Kyoto, Japan.
There are two "Open Theme" contests, the Comic Contest and the Animation Contest.
Please submit your best work!
Past winners have successfully joined the manga and anime industry!
2023｜Ryuhnosuke Gojoh
2022｜Nalu
2021｜Nigou
2020｜Gene
Gene's manga, "wei guang de zhao huan shi" (Summoner of Faint Light) currently in a serialization deal with a Taiwanese publishing company, Ever Glory Publishing.
2019｜YingFu
YingFu's "Ouryo Kishi" is being serialized in "Monthly Shonen" by Tongli Publishing (Taiwan).
© Natsu Tenshima studio / Shueisha
2018｜Hsun
Hsun's 2018 Grand Prize work "She and He" has been serialized on Jump + (Shueisha / Japan)
©隱藏關卡THL/Jōshō/Tongli Publishing Co., Ltd.
2017｜Jōshō
©2018 nyaroro/SQUARE ENIX
2016｜nyaroro
©ANTENNA牛魚／Shogakukan
2015｜ANTENNA牛魚
Kyoto International Creators Award is now accepting submissions!
Story Manga
Draw and create a manga about any theme.
Please submit the complete rough sketch if the complete manga drawings cannot be finished by the deadline.
Prize
Grand Prize(1 winner)
100,000 JPY + invitation to the award ceremony
Second Prize(1 winner)
50,000 JPY + invitation to the award ceremony
Finalist(3 winners)
10,000 JPY
- - The author is originally from Kyoto City
- - The author currently resides in Kyoto City
- - The story is set in Kyoto City
- - The character settings are related to Kyoto, etc.
*1 Please also provide your reason in the form.
*2 Awarded only if there is an eligible entry.
Apply in 4 easy steps!
Overseas submissions will be translated by MediBang!
*Submissions must be in English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, or Traditional Chinese.
Judging
All submissions will go through an initial screening by the secretariat.
The final judging will be conducted by professional manga editors!
(For submissions from overseas, MediBang will handle translation before judging.)
Judge
Manga Editor, Shonen Jump+ Editorial Department
Shihei Rin（Rin Shihei）
Joined Shueisha in 2006.
Currently CEO of Mix Green Inc. and editor at Shonen Jump+.
Currently in charge of “SPY×FAMILY”, “Chainsaw Man”, “Dandadan”, “Kindergarten WARS”, “Centuria”, etc.
Previously launched works include “Blue Exorcist”, “Kono Oto Tomare!”, “Fire Punch”, “Kemono Jihen”, “Kakko Kawaii Sengen!”, “Look Back”, and many others.
Judge
Head of Content Production Department, LINE Digital Frontier Corporation
Hiroshi Haruki
Worked for 8 years managing the online game portal “Hangame”.
Later spent 10 years in the Comico division, discovering new authors and editing their work. Best-known work: “ReLIFE”.
Joined LINE Digital Frontier Corporation in 2024.
Judge
Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Kansai Division, MAG Garden
Ryosuke Goto（Goto Ryosuke）
Since joining the company in 2014, he has worked on the relaunch of “Monthly Comic Garden” and the launch of the collaborative label “MAGBOX” with Manga Box.
Currently works mainly on discovering and mentoring regional creators via “MAGKAN”, the web comic magazine run by MAG Garden’s Kansai division (Umeda, Osaka).
Also serves as a guest associate professor at Osaka University of Arts, Department of Character Creative Arts.
Judge
Head of Kodansha Creators' Lab, Kodansha Ltd.
Ryoichi Suzuki（Suzuki Ryoichi）
Head of Kodansha Creators' Lab.
Former editor of “Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei”, “As the Gods Will”, “Bokutachi ga Yarimashita”, “My Roomie Is a Dino” at Weekly Shonen Magazine and Young Magazine.
Founded “DAYS NEO” in 2018 and “Kodansha Game Creators Lab” in 2020. In current position since 2021.
Digital Animation Contest Now Open!
The entry deadline for the Digital Animation Contest is Monday, August 31, 2026
Your Shortcut to a Professional Debut!
【For Award Winners】
The Kyoto International Creators Award Secretariat will recommend the winning works to all editorial departments participating in the Manga Editorial Department Gathering @ KYO-MAF, scheduled from late November to early December.
Your work may attract attention from top editors!
【For Non-Winners Too!?】Scouting System Introduced!
About 50 participating editorial departments at the Manga Editorial Department Gathering @ KYO-MAF will review submissions. Even if you don’t win, you may receive a direct offer!
MediBang will handle communication with interested editors.
Winners Will Be Invited to Kyoto!
The results will be announced on this page in October. Winners of the Grand Prize and Second Prize will be invited to the award ceremony held in Kyoto around November.
Round-trip transportation and accommodation (for one person per prize) will be covered by the organizer.
For winners residing overseas, part of the travel expenses will be covered, or we will arrange online participation.
Discover KMA: Kodansha’s Global Community for Manga Creators
Kyoto International Creators Award
Comic Contest Submission Guidelines
- Entry Period
- Thursday, June 4, 2026 - Monday, August 31, 2026 5:00PM JST
- Entry Format
-
・MDP, JPG, PNG (File size: less than 30MB)
・No specified page order (right-to-left, left-to-right, top-to-bottom, all accepted)
・Languages accepted: Japanese, English, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified/Traditional)
・No page limit (Recommended: 16 to 45 pages)
・Must be original manga work
・Free theme
・No genre restrictions
- Qualification Requirements
-
Aspiring manga creators aiming to debut professionally in Japan, or professionals who are not currently published in any commercial magazines (regardless of nationality)
Applicants must be willing to attend or accept the award.
- Please Note
-
・Even if AI technology is used, the submitted work must be the author's own original creation. Works where the main parts (such as the story, composition, and artwork or direction) are automatically generated by AI are not eligible for judging. However, using AI-generated images as supplementary materials for parts like backgrounds or textures is acceptable.
・If you use AI technology (including but not limited to image generation, translation, and audio), you must clearly state "which parts were used and how" on the application form.
・If the use of AI technology is discovered without prior declaration, or if the declaration contains false information, the work may be disqualified from judging. The award may also be revoked even after it has been announced.
・Submissions must be original works with copyrights owned by the applicant. Works that have already been published in commercial magazines or apps (in Japan or abroad), that have won awards in contests held in Japan, or are currently being submitted to other contests are not eligible. Works posted on personal websites or social media are acceptable.
・Do not include content that infringes upon third-party rights (copyright, portrait rights, etc).
・Entries are welcome regardless of professional or amateur status.
・No derivative works allowed.
・Winning entries may be used by the organizer (title, pen name, part of the work) in announcements, printed material, or official websites for publicity without compensation.
・Keep your original file until results are announced.
・Copyright remains with the creator, but editorial departments may contact the creator through the organizer for publication opportunities.
・If any eligibility violations are discovered after selection, the award may be revoked.
・Digital or analog works are accepted. Submissions created with any drawing tool (not limited to MediBang Paint) are welcome.
・After the entry period, we may contact you from info-contests@medibang.com to the email address registered in your MediBang account. If you do not respond within the specified time, your submission may be excluded. Please check your inbox and confirm your email here.
*Not all entrants will receive an email.
*Please do not send inquiries to info-contests@medibang.com. We will not respond.
・Personal information provided upon entry to this contest will also be used for the "Questionnaire on Future Policy Development," which Kyoto City plans to conduct in the future.
・Submitted works may be used without compensation for promotional purposes by Kyoto City and MediBang Inc. across websites and social media.
・Award ceremony photos may be posted on the websites and social media of Kyoto City and MediBang Inc.
- How to Enter
-
【From this Contest Page】
1. Register or log in to ART street.
2. Click the “Enter” button at the bottom of the page.
3. Choose file format and upload your manga.
4. Edit "Age Restriction," "Details," "Cover and Pages," etc.
5. Check the “Kyoto International Creators Award 2026 Comic Contest” banner under “Participate in the contest.”
6. Fill in the displayed entry form.
7. Click “Publish to ART street.”
【From Previously Submitted Manga】
1. Select "Manga" from “Your Submissions.”
2. Click “Details” on the desired submission.
3. Select the “Kyoto International Creators Award 2026 Comic Contest” banner from “Apply for a Contest.”
4. Fill in the displayed entry form.
5. Click “Publish to ART street.”
【From MediBang Paint】
1. From “Contest” or “Apply for a Contest,” select “Kyoto International Creators Award 2026 Comic Contest” and click “Apply.”
2. When prompted “Open in web browser?”, click “Yes.”
3. Choose file format and upload your manga.
4. Edit "Age Restriction," "Details," "Cover and Pages," etc.
5. Check the “Kyoto International Creators Award 2026 Comic Contest” banner under “Participate in the contest.”
6. Fill in the displayed entry form.
7. Click “Publish to ART street.”
*Entries cannot be submitted from MediBang Pro. Please save your work locally and follow the above steps.
- Prize
-
Story Manga
Grand Prize (1 winner): 100,000 JPY + invitation to the award ceremony
Second Prize (1 winner): 50,000 JPY + invitation to the award ceremony
Finalist (3 winners): 10,000 JPY
Kyoto Award (1 winner): 10,000 JPY
*To be selected only if a qualified candidate is found.
*All winning works will be introduced to all participating editorial departments at the “Manga Editorial Department Gathering” scheduled in November.
*Prize money may be paid after the deduction of withholding tax.
- How to Claim your Prize
-
Prize money will be credited to your MediBang account. You must register a PayPal account or provide your bank account information to receive the prize money.
(Transaction fees will be borne by the recipient.)
- Attention!
-
By submitting your work, you agree to the Contest Terms. Please read them carefully.
Once the contest entry period has ended, your work cannot be edited or deleted, except for adding tags.
This will redirect you to the submission page.
You will not be able to edit your work after the contest entry period has ended.
Turn the contest deadline notification ON to receive a reminder of an upcoming deadline!
Contest deadline notification