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Daijiro Morohoshi's Manga Book Wins Japan Cartoonists Association Award
posted on by Jennifer Sherman
The Japan Cartoonists Association (JCA) announced the winners of the 47th Japan Cartoonists Association Awards on Monday. Daijiro Morohoshi's manga compilation Morohoshi Daijirō Gekijō (Dijiro Morohoshi Theater) won the grand prize in the Comic division, and Yukio Shinohara's self-published art book Hitokomart won the grand prize in the Cartoon division. Each grand prize includes a gold plaque, medal, and 500,000 yen (about US$4,600) in prize money.
Morohoshi Daijirō Gekijō focuses on one-shot manga from Morohoshi's series of the same name that runs in Shueisha's Big Comic Zōkan magazine, and also includes short series and "masterpiece one-shots." Shueisha released the book on December 27. The JCA's judges praised the work's illustrations, content, and feeling of "fresh surprise and fear" that it conveys.
Shinohara's "Hitokomart" art exhibits have been running in Japan since at least 2014. The award judges praised Shinohara's taste and stroke power in the new one-panel manga art collection book.
In addition, Gengoroh Tagame's My Brother’s Husband manga received an excellence award, which includes a silver plaque, medal, and 200,000 yen (about US$1,800) in prize money. The manga centers on the relationship between Yaichi, whose twin brother Ryōji passed away, and Ryōji's widowed husband Mike. The series is also nominated for the Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia award in this year's 2018 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards. The American Library Association's (ALA's) Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) included the manga on its Great Graphic Novels for Teens list for 2018.
Nihon Manga no Kai's Nihon Manga-ten one-panel manga collection won the special award, which includes the same prizes as the excellence award. Nihon Manga no Kai representative Toshiko Nishida compiled the book of work from more than 50 artists.
The JCA has presented the Japan Cartoonists Association Awards every year since 1972. Tetsuya Chiba, who is also head of the JCA, heads the selection committee. This year's judges included Ken Akamatsu, Tsutomu Harako, Makoto Amano, Kunihiko Hisa, Tomoko Ogawara, Kenshi Hirokane, Shima Kadokura, Goro Yamada, Riki Kusaka, Tomoko Yamada, Shinji Noya, Kōji Yoshimoto, and Ryūji Hazama.
Source: Comic Natalie
