Anime NYC and Japan Society Announce American Manga Awards to Celebrate Excellence in Manga

New York City, NY - July 16, 2024 - Anime NYC and Japan Society announced today the 30 nominees for the inaugural American Manga Awards, set to take place on August 22, 2024, at the historic Japan Society in New York City. This event will precede this year's Anime NYC convention, the largest Japanese pop culture event on the East Coast, which expects to draw over 100,000 fans of anime and manga from all over the world to the Jacob K. Javits Center in midtown Manhattan from August 23 - 25, 2024.

The American Manga Awards celebrates outstanding achievements in the world of Japanese comics, honoring professionals who have significantly contributed to manga's popularity in both North America and Japan. These awards aim to elevate outstanding manga creators, great manga stories, and the publishing professionals who make these stories accessible to readers in the US and Canada.

The American Manga Awards Hall of Fame will honor Japanese manga creators and publishing professionals who have made significant contributions to the growth and popularity of manga in America. The first recipient of the Manga Publishing Hall of Fame award will be Frederik L. Schodt, translator and author of Manga! Manga! The World of Japanese Comics (Kodansha), one of the first English-language books that introduced readers to manga's history, creativity, and legendary creators.

In addition to the Hall of Fame honorees, who are selected by the American Manga Awards committee, the nominees for the other awards were selected by subject matter experts in manga, Japanese-to-English translation, lettering, and publication design. Five nominees were selected in each of these six categories: Best New Manga, Best Continuing Manga Series, Best New Edition of Classic Manga, Best Translation, Best Lettering, and Best Publication Design.

In this inaugural year, the American Manga Awards received over 200 entries from 29 different publishers. Publishers were allowed to submit up to 3 titles per category for consideration, and judges were also able to nominate individual titles that they felt were noteworthy.

“I'm so proud of our judges for the care and thought they put into selecting the nominees for the manga, translation, lettering, and publication design categories,” said American Manga Awards committee chair Deb Aoki. “The judges picked titles that they felt were great examples of storytelling and design from publishers big and small. These nominations include a mix of familiar, best-selling titles alongside new or under-appreciated gems that will surprise and delight almost every manga reader.”

The nominees, plus cover art and credits are listed on the American Manga Awards website.

The winners will be determined by votes from professionals working in an editorial capacity with North American (US/Canada) manga publishers, who have either registered to vote via the American Manga Awards website or have been invited by the American Manga Awards Planning Committee. Voting will not be open to the general public.

Voter registration for the American Manga Awards is open now until July 27. All who are involved in manga publishing in Japan, the US or Canada are welcome to register to vote, with detailed guidelines for eligibility and voting procedures available on Anime NYC's website. Approved voters will receive an email with voting instructions shortly after registering.

The nominees for the 2024 American Manga Awards are:

Best New Manga

• The Darwin Incident
  by Shun Umezawa
  Kodansha
  Editor: Daniel Joseph
  Translator: Cat Anderson
  
• #DRCL midnight children
  by Shin'ichi Sakamoto, based on Bram Stoker's Dracula
  VIZ Media
  Editor: Andrew Kuhre Bartosh
  Translator: Caleb Cook
  
• Just Like Mona Lisa
  by Tsumuji Yoshimura
  Square Enix Manga & Books
  Editor: Jennifer Sherman
  Translator: Leo McDonagh
  
• Mothers
  by Kusahara Umi
  Glacier Bay Books
  Editor: emuh ruh
  Translator: Jocelyne Allen
  Lettering: Tim Sun
  
• Soara and the House of Monsters
  by Hidenori Yamaji
  Seven Seas Entertainment
  Editor: Shanti Whitesides
  Translator: Ben Trethewey
  Lettering: Mercedes McGarry

Best Continuing Manga Series

• Blood on the Tracks
  by Shuzo Oshimi
  Kodansha / Vertical
  Editor: Daniel Joseph
  Translator: Daniel Komen
  
• Delicious in Dungeon
  by Ryoko Kui
  Yen Press
  Editors: Abigail Blackman, Thomas McAlister
  Translator: Taylor Engel
  
• Dinosaur Sanctuary
  by Itaru Kinoshita
  Seven Seas Entertainment
  Editor: Linda Lombardi
  Translation: John Neal
  Lettering: JM Iitomi Crandall
  
• She Loves to Cook, She Loves to Eat
  by Sakomi Yuzaki
  Yen Press
  Editors: Won Young Seo, Carl Li
  Translator: Caleb Cook
  
• The Summer Hikaru Died
  by mokumokuren
  Yen Press
  Editors: Fortune Soleil, JuYoun Lee, Abigail Blackman
  Translator: Ajani Oloye

Best New Edition of Classic Manga Series

• Minami's Lover
  by Shungiku Uchida
  Fantagraphics
  Editor: Kristy Valenti
  Translator: H. Paige
  
• My Name is Shingo
  by Kazuo Umezz
  VIZ Media
  Editor: Joel Enos
  Translator: Jocelyne Allen
  Adaptation: Molly Tanzer
  
• Neighborhood Story
  by Ai Yazawa
  VIZ Media
  Editor: Karla Clark
  Translator: Andria McKnight
  
• Okinawa
  by Susumu Higa
  Fantagraphics
  Editor: Andrew Woodrow-Butcher
  Translator: Jocelyne Allen
  
• UFO Mushroom Invasion
  by Marina Shirakawa
  Living the Line / Smudge
  Editor: Ryan Holmberg
  Translator: Ryan Holmberg

Best Translation

• Stephen Paul
  translation for Akane-banashi
  by Yuki Suenaga and Takamasa Moue
  VIZ Media
  Editor: Rae First
  
• John Neal
  translation for Bocchi the Rock!
  by Aki Hamaji
  Yen Press
  Editor: Thomas McAlister
  
• David Evelyn
  translation for Doll-Kara
  by Kazuyoshi Ishii, Hanamura, and Kei Ryuzoji
  J-Novel Club
  Editor: Zubonjin
  
• Kevin Steinbach
  translation for Issak
  by Shinji Makari and DOUBLE–S and Shinji Makari
  Kodansha
  Editor: Sage Einarsen
  
• Stephen Kohler
  translation for Witch Hat Atelier
  by Kamome Shirahama
  Kodansha
  Editor: Haruko Hashimoto

Best Lettering

• Tomoko Saito
  lettering and retouch for Blade of the Immortal Deluxe Edition Volume 10
  by Hiroaki Samura
  Dark Horse
  Editor: Philip R. Simon Deluxe Edition Associate Editor: Judy Khuu
  
• Phil Christie
  lettering and retouch for Search & Destroy Vol. 1
  by Atsushi Kaneko, based on Dororo by Osamu Tezuka
  Fantagraphics
  Editors: Christopher Woodrow-Butcher, Eric Reynolds
  
• Vadim K.
  lettering for They'll Make a Man Out of You [18+ adult content]
  by Shiwasu no Okina
  J18 Publishing
  Editors: Dave Adams, David Goldberg
  
• Lys Blakeslee
  lettering for Witch Hat Atelier
  by Kamome Shirahama
  Kodansha
  Editor: Haruko Hashimoto
  
• Rebecca S.
  lettering for Tokyo Interstellar Immigration vol. 3
  by Mado Guchimoto
  VAST Visual
  Editors: Dave Adams, David Goldberg

Best Publication Design

• Phil Balsman
  design for Initial D Omnibus
  by Shuichi Shigeno
  Kodansha
  Editor: Maggie Le
  
• Nicky Lim, cover design and Karis Page, lettering and interior design
  My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness: Special Edition
  by Nagata Kabi
  Seven Seas Entertainment
  Editor: Jenn Grunigen
  Translation: Jocelyn Allen
  
• Adam Grano
  design for My Name Is Shingo
  by Kazuo Umezz
  VIZ Media
  Editor: Joel Enos
  
• Nicky Lim and Sandy Grayson
  box set design for Orange Complete Box Set
  by Ichigo Takano
  Seven Seas Entertainment
  Editor: Shannon Fay
  Lettering: Lys Blakeslee
  
• Andrea Miller
  cover design for Tokyo Aliens
  by NAOE
  Square Enix Manga & Books
  Editor: Sarah Tangney
  Lettering: Bianca Pistillo
  

Nominees have been selected by a distinguished panel of experts in the world of Japanese comics, including journalists, librarians, translators, lettering and design professionals.

Best New Manga, Best Continuing Manga and Best New Edition of Classic Manga nominees were picked by comics journalists Brigid Alverson (ICv2, School Library Journal), Lynzee Loveridge (Anime News Network), Shaennon Garrity (Otaku USA, Publishers Weekly), Minovsky (@MinovskyArticle on X/Twitter), and New York Public Library Senior Librarian - Young Adult Services, Renee Scott.

Best Translation nominees were selected by translators and authors Matt Alt (author of Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Influenced the World) and Hiroko Yoda (co-author of Yokai Attack! and author of the upcoming Eight Million Ways to Happiness).

Best Lettering nominees were chosen by comics lettering pros Tom Orzechowski (Uncanny X-Men, Marvel Comics) and Nate Piekos (Blambot font foundry, and author of The Essential Guide to Comics Lettering). Piekos also co-designed the American Manga Awards logo.

Best Publication Design nominees were selected by Kinokuniya Bookstores East Coast Regional Manager Shigekazu Watanabe and publication designer Sasha Head.

The ceremony will be hosted by accomplished author, translator, and presenter Matt Alt, and will take place at Japan Society's landmarked headquarters located at 333 East 47th Street. This event is invite-only, exclusively for manga industry professionals and press.

The American Manga Awards will coincide with Anime NYC's annual convention (August 23-25 at the Jacob K. Javits Center), which will feature major manga publishers and retailers including Kinokuniya, Kodansha USA Publishing, Penguin Random House, Seven Seas Entertainment, VIZ Media, and Yen Press.

For more information about the American Manga Awards and to stay updated on the latest announcements, please visit www.animenyc.com/americanmangaawards and follow Anime NYC, the American Manga Awards, and Japan Society on social media.

About Anime NYC:
Anime NYC is the East Coast's largest anime convention, dedicated to celebrating Japanese pop culture, manga, and animation. The event has received the award of Consul General from the Japanese Ambassador for providing a gateway to Japanese culture. Anime NYC brings fans and publishers together for three days of unique exhibits, exclusive screenings, extensive panels, and appearances by some of the biggest creators in Japan. The next event takes place August 23-25, 2024 in New York's Javits Center. For more, visit www.AnimeNYC.com.

About Japan Society:
Japan Society is the premier organization connecting Japanese arts, culture, business, and society with audiences in New York and around the world. At Japan Society, we are inspired by the Japanese concept of kizuna (絆) – forging deep connections to bind people together. We are committed to telling the story of Japan while strengthening connections within New York City and building new bridges beyond. For over 100 years, Japan Society has played a key role in US-Japan business, policy, art, culture, and education. Our programs are made possible by leadership support from Booth Ferris Foundation, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.