The NEXT MANGA AWARDS 2024 established by Japanese publishing conglomerate KADOKAWA have just concluded with winners being announced today after a lengthy nomination and voting period that ended in early July.
This year’s competition was fierce, with over 8,212 eligible titles vying for the top spots while fans and critics alike eagerly anticipated the results.
Taking the number one spot in the Print Manga category is Kagurabachi by Takeru Hokazono, a series that has quickly become a fan favorite in Shonen Jump after an initially slow start. The intense action and gripping storyline have earned it a staggering 101,836 points, making it the clear winner this year.
In second place, Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun: if Episode of Mafia by Hiroja and Nishi Osamu secured its spot with 33,033 points. This spin-off expands the universe of the original Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun.
Third place was awarded to Tsumiki Ogami & the Strange Everyday Life by Miyu Morishita, charming readers with its unique tale of a werewolf girl and a human boy navigating a new-normal high school life.
Special recognition was also given to My Girlfriend’s Not Here Today by Kiyoko Iwami, which received the Global Special Prize.
For the list of winners and more details, you can view the list below.
Print Manga Category
1st place
Title: Kagurabachi Publisher: Shueisha Author: TAKERU HOKAZONO
Synopsis: Young Chihiro spends his days training under his famous swordsmith father. One day he hopes to become a great sword-maker himself. The goofy father and the serious son– they thought these days would last forever. But suddenly, tragedy strikes. A dark day soaked in blood. Chihiro and his blade now live only for revenge. Epic sword battle action!
2nd place
Title: Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun if Episode of Mafia
Publisher:Akita Publishing Author: hiroja/Nishi Osamu
Synopsis: The official “Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun” spin-off!
Iruma, a kind-hearted boy who grew up in a slum where violence and crime are commonplace, saves Don Sullivan of the mafia organization “Babel” from dying, and the wheels of his destiny begin to move!
A mafia action comedy revolving around the mafia organization “Babel”!
3rd place
Title: Tsumiki Ogami & the Strange Everyday Life.
Publisher: Shogakukan Author: MIiyu Morishita
Synopsis: Today, we live in an age of diversity. “Non-Humans” is a word of the past. As “Genjin” they live their lives interacting with human beings. One human boy, Yutaka Shinsou, is troubled. He is so used to being in tune with his surroundings that he no longer understands his own feelings. At Keiki High School, where many “Genjin” attend, he meets Tsumiki Ogami, a werewolf.
She is cute, powerful, a little bit absent-minded, and kind…When he spends time with her, Yutaka’s heart is somehow noisier than usual. Spinning an “unusual” everyday life with Tsumiki the werewolf. The new normal graph of youth is about to begin.
Web Manga Category
1st place
Title: Girl meets Rock! Publisher: Shueisha
Author: KUWAHALI / TETSUO IDEUCHI
Synopsis: Chihiro Hatono is a new high school freshman who loves Japanese rock music of the former generation. With a brand-new guitar on her back, she knocks on the door of the Light Music Club, but…? This is the start of a super realistic and energetic drama of youth and music struggles!
2nd place
Title: RuriDragon
Publisher: Shueisha
Author: MASAOKI SHINDO
Synopsis: The story of a young dragon girl being lazy, doing her best…and being lazy again.
A new series begins!
3rd place
Title: Vtuber Kusamura Shigemi
Publisher:UGC Author:sakamegane
Synopsis: “Shigemi Kusamura”, the current top corporate Vtuber with 1.3 million channel subscribers, can’t contain her overflowing love for her long-time listener “Nanashino” while streaming…!
This series is currently available on X (formerly Twitter).
Global Special Prize (English Edition)
Winner
Title: My Girlfriend’s Not Here Today
Publisher: Ichijinsha Author: Kiyoko Iwami
Synopsis: With every new lie, the web of secrets and erotic desire grows ever-tighter! Yuni and Nanase are dating, but keeping their relationship a secret is not exactly what Yuni wants.
Smitten but unsatisfied, she turns to an anonymous SNS account to let it all out. It’s just another day of doomscrolling after class when Yuni gets swept away in conversation with the beautiful, mysterious Fuuko.
“I know your secret account.”
Fuuko’s charmful whisper was enough for Yuni to fall into her endless pit of love and lust…
Global Special Prize (Traditional Chinese Edition)
Winner
Title: Samurai in Another World
Publisher: KADOKAWA Author: Keigo Saito
Synopsis: The time is the Warring States period. The strongest samurai in history wanders the land, in search of a good place to die — until suddenly she is transported to another world!? An invincible samurai cuts her way through another world!!! An isekai samurai fantasy spun by Keigo Saito, in his brilliant, overwhelming style!
U-Next Prize (Print Manga Category)
Winner
Title: FALL IN LOVE, YOU FALSE ANGELS
Publisher: Kodansha Author: Coco Uzuki
Synopsis: “Why am I being shot!!?”
Otogi Katsura has always played the role of the perfect beautiful girl in order to keep up with the image of herself that is expected of her by someone other than herself. Her nickname at school is the “heart-shooting angel”.
However, her secret face, which she was supposed to keep a secret from everyone, is seen by the perfect boy Toki Ninomae, who she has been attracted to….But even Toki, whom she thought was kind and perfect, has a secret side to him! When Otogi discovers this side of him, he takes a liking to her as his “accomplice”. Otogi’s heart is swept away by this unexpected turn of events…!
The gap between these two is irresistible! The deceitful (?) love between two people pretending to be perfect begins!
U-Next Prize (Web Manga Category)
Winner
Title: Gals casually say incredible things. ～The daily life of Paranormal Highschool～Publisher: Shueisha Author: Taichi Matsuura (Plott／Otsuji)
Synopsis: Youth = friendship, effort, and future prediction!? An intense youth comedy on a totally different level, brought to you by the invincible and supernatural gals.
This is the first manga adaptation of the popular Youtube channel “Paranormal Highschool” with more than 700,000 subscribers and over 520 million views in total! In a world where everyone has different superpowers, the gals do not engage in heated battles, but rather spend ordinary days, casually saying incredible things.
Nichirei Prize
Winner
Title: I LOVE DOKAGUI! MOCHIZUKI-SAN
Publisher: HAKUSENSHA Author: Kamome Maruyono
Synopsis: This manga was X (formerly Twitter) Japan’s No. 1 trending topic! Mikoto Mochizuki, 21 years old, is a calm and gentle girl, but her happiness is “DOKAGUI”! She indulges in heavy binge-eating. An overdose of calories and a “forbidden gourmet record★”
