Application Rules on Format

Page Count

Between 16 and 60 pages

Page Size

Recommended size: B5
（H257mm x W182mm / H3541pixel x W2508pixel）
If you are creating your work in Clip Studio Paint, you may use templates such as the “KADOKAWA Manga Magazine” template.
* The above is only a guideline. Submissions with different page sizes will not be disqualified.

If you are creating your work in Clip Studio Paint, you may use templates such as the “KADOKAWA Manga Magazine” template.
* The above is only a guideline. Submissions with different page sizes will not be disqualified.

Resolution

350dpi or higher

● Both black-and-white and color works are acceptable.

● There are no restrictions on reading direction.
You may create your manga to be read right to left (as in Japanese manga) or left to right (as in Western comics). Vertical scroll format is also acceptable.

● Please merge all layers in each page and export as JPG or PNG files.
Then, compress all pages into a single ZIP file before uploading.

● Name your ZIP file as (work title in lowercase alphanumeric characters).zip
Example: kadokawaworldmanga.zip
* Please number your page files so that the correct page order is clear.

● The maximum upload size per submission is 100 MB (one ZIP file).

Eligibility for Application

Anyone may apply regardless of their experience, nationality, or age. We accept team and corporate applicants as well.

(Individuals, teams, or corporations whose works are currently serialized in magazines or websites from KADOKAWA Group companies, as well as applicants whose works were serialized in KADOKAWA Group magazines or websites and published between January 1, 2022 and March 31, 2026, may not apply.)

* Minors may apply; provided, however, that their parent or guardian (legal representative) will have read these application guidelines and have consented before submitting their entry. Upon completion of the application, the applicant will be deemed to have obtained the consent of their parent or guardian to the terms and conditions.

* Teams and corporations may only enter if they have legitimate legal rights to the submitted work.

What Comes after Winning
this Contest

● Manga editors will support winners on their manga creation at KADOKAWA, either as a comicalized work or an original work. (There is no plan to serialize winning works themselves.)

● Communication with editors is generally expected to be done in any one of the following languages: English, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish or French. We do not expect high level of language proficiency. (It is acceptable to use translation tools for communication.)

How to Apply

Please apply from the button on this website.

* By completing the application form, you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the contract as stated on the website.

Entry Period

Friday, November 28, 2025 ~
Tuesday, March 31, 2026 11:59 pm

*In your time zone

Winners Announced

The results will be announced on this website in May 2026.

*Schedule is subject to change.

Selection Process

The results will be announced following the selection process, which begins after the application deadline.

Handling of Award-Winning Entries

The prize winners agree in advance to grant KADOKAWA an exclusive license to the prize-winning work. This agreement is valid either when KADOKAWA contacts them about their placement, or on the date of the official results announcement, whichever comes first. The license may be used for the translation, adaptation, distribution, or other use of the work in book, e-book, novel, animation, live-action film, game, merchandise, digital product, and other forms, and includes the right to sublicense the work to third parties (same applies hereafter).
The prize winners rescind all rights to use their work themselves without the prior written consent of KADOKAWA or to allow any third party besides KADOKAWA to use the entry without the prior written consent of KADOKAWA.

* The winners shall retain the copyright to their works.
However, the publisher shall hold the rights to secondary use of the winning works. If an award-winning work is to be published as a book or otherwise used for commercial purposes, a separate agreement shall be concluded between our company and the award recipient to determine the applicable terms and conditions.

FAQ

• About Entry
• About Manuscript Format
• About Works

*You can select a FAQ category from the options above.

• Q. Can I submit multiple works? Or apply to both categories at the same time?

  A. Yes, you may submit multiple works.
  You’re also welcome to enter both categories, or submit multiple entries within the same category.

• Q. Will my entry be disqualified if it doesn’t perfectly follow the submission format?

  A. No, not at all. The manuscript guidelines are provided as a reference, so your work will not be disqualified even if there are minor differences in page size, color format, or other specifications. Our goal is to evaluate your artistic skill and expressive ability, not strict technical compliance.

• Q. Should I create my manuscript in color or black and white?

  A. Both black-and-white and color manuscripts are accepted.

• Q. Which reading direction should I use — right to left (like Japanese manga) or left to right (like Western comics)?

  A. Either direction is fine — right to left (as in Japanese manga) or left to right (as in Western comics). Vertical scroll manga are also accepted.

• Q. Do I need to include a title page?

  A. A title page is optional. It’s perfectly acceptable to submit a black-and-white manuscript with a color title page, for example.

• Q. For a two-page spread, should I split it into two separate pages or submit it as a single spread page?

  A. Either format is acceptable.

• Q. Do I need to include margins or blank space around the pages?

  A. Margins or blank space are optional — either with or without them is fine.

• Q. I’d like to submit a hand-drawn (analog) manuscript instead of a digital one. Is that possible?

  A. Yes. We accept both digital and hand-drawn (analog) manuscripts.
  If you’re submitting a hand-drawn work, please scan your pages and upload the digital files.

• Q. The guidelines mention that excessive violence or cruelty is not allowed. How much is considered acceptable?

  A. Not all depictions of violence are prohibited.
  As long as such expressions are necessary for the story, they are acceptable.

Notes

• ●We accept submissions available on non-profit websites, personal websites, and fan works.
• ●We accept submissions available on for-profit websites as long as the rights to the work belong to the applicant.
• ●Please refrain from submitting your work to other contests at the same time. If you're found to have submitted your work to another contest, you will be disqualified.
• ●Applicants may submit more than one work; however, they must be submitted independent from one another.
• ●Any and all personal information provided upon application will be used in accordance with KADOKAWA's privacy policy.
• ●By completing the application form, you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the contract as stated on the website.
• ●The applicant shall enter this Contest at his/her own responsibility and at his/her own expense.
• ●Upon submitting their application, the applicant agrees that their work does not infringe upon the copyrights, other rights, or interests of any third party of any kind.
• ●Generative AI works are not eligible for application.
• ●Works that include excessive sexual or cruel descriptions or depictions, infringe or are likely to infringe upon the copyright or other rights or interest (including parodies and imitations), slander specific individuals or groups, are offensive to public morals, violate the application guidelines, or are deemed unsuitable by the judges will be disqualified from this Contest.
• ●In the event that any facts are discovered after the results are selected that would disqualify a prize winner from this Contest (including cases in which a minor has failed to obtain parental consent), the award will be revoked and the prize money, along with any and all other prizes must be returned.
• ●We will not be able to respond to inquiries regarding the selection process.
• ●In the event that there are no entries that reach our standards, some prizes may remain unclaimed.
• ●The prizes are based in USD and will be deposited into your account with KADOKAWA, if your entry is chosen for an award. In the case that you wish to receive the prize money in a currency other than USD, the money will be transferred to the currency of your choosing according to the exchange rate in the month that you are awarded the prize. Exchange fees and other banking fees may be deducted from your prize money. KADOKAWA shall bear all remittance fees and other costs incurred by Japanese financial institutions. The recipient shall be responsible for any fees or other costs incurred by the financial institution designated by the recipient in receiving the prize money. If a transaction under this application constitutes a foreign transaction, it is a non-taxable transaction. In such case, KADOKAWA will pay to the winner the amount remaining after paying the Japanese withholding tax to the relevant Japanese authorities on the prize money paid to the winner.
• ●In the event that the applicant causes damage to KADOKAWA or any other third party as a result of violating these guidelines (including breach of representations and warranties), the applicant will be required to compensate for the damages.
• ●KADOKAWA may change the contents of the application guidelines without prior consent from the applicants. In the event of any changes to the application guidelines, KADOKAWA will post the timing and the details of the change to this website and notify the applicants.
• ●KADOKAWA shall not be responsible for any loss or damages incurred by the applicant, except in cases where willful misconduct or gross negligence is attributable to KADOKAWA. In no event shall KADOKAWA be liable for any indirect damages, loss of profits, attorney fees or similar damages to the applicant, and shall only be compensated for damages incurred in direct connection with the competition, unless in the case of gross negligence on KADOKAWA's part.
• ●These Application Guidelines shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of Japan. The Tokyo District Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction of the first instance over all disputes arising out of or in connection with this agreement.
• ●These application guidelines are prepared in multiple languages; however, the Japanese version shall be the governing text. In the event of any inconsistency or conflict between the Japanese version and any other language version, the provisions of the Japanese version shall prevail.