KADOKAWA’s Wordless Manga Contest

KADOKAWA’s Wordless Manga Contest has spotlighted a significant shift in the global manga landscape. Receiving 1,126 submissions from 104 countries, the contest transcends language barriers by judging purely on artistic skill, revealing an international hunger to debut in manga. With Japan facing a shrinking population and rising production costs, KADOKAWA sees global creators as vital for sustaining the industry. Editors Noboru Segawa and Risa Tomizaki emphasized that while talent is abundant, Japan lacks artists skilled in adaptations, prompting the search abroad. Winning works, such as Indian sci-fi Heartsteel and Taiwanese fantasy I Want You to Love Rainy Days Too, showcase cultural diversity while retaining the essence of manga. KADOKAWA now plans to expand overseas editorial bases, fostering a borderless system to nurture the next generation of global manga talent.

ORICON NEWS, Kodama Sumiko – The manga industry is struggling with a talent shortage…KADOKAWA aims to become a global manga hub: “The flashpoint doesn’t necessarily have to be Japan” – 8th August 2025