The 19th Manga Taisho (Cartoon Grand Prize) has announced its winner and full points breakdown — and this year’s top honor went to Hon Nara Uru Hodo by Ao Kojima. A quietly affecting anthology centered on a second-hand bookstore called Jūgatsudō, its laid-back young owner, and the variety of people who visit, the series captured the nominating committee’s attention with its gentle storytelling and human-centered vignettes.
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What is the Manga Taisho (Cartoon Grand Prize)?
The Manga Taisho is a unique Japanese manga award whose nominations are driven primarily by bookstore staff and other front-line manga professionals rather than critics or industry insiders alone. The prize purposely focuses on relatively new series — eligibility is limited to titles released in the award year with eight volumes or fewer — so it highlights emerging works that show promise rather than long-running commercial blockbusters. That focus often makes the Manga Taisho an early indicator of standout creators and breakthrough titles.
2025 Winner: Hon Nara Uru Hodo — a bookstore anthology that speaks softly
Hon Nara Uru Hodo, by Ao Kojima, won the Manga Taisho with 77 points. The anthology follows Jūgatsudō, a second-hand bookstore, its easygoing young owner, and the many customers who cross its threshold. Instead of relying on loud drama or high-stakes plots, the series finds its power in small human moments, character sketches, and the quiet intimacy of books changing hands — a format that resonates especially well in anthology form.
Publication background
Kojima first published a one-shot titled “Hon o Okuru” in Harta magazine’s 98th issue (October 2022), and later launched the serialized version in Harta’s 107th issue (September 2023). The second compiled volume was published in April 2025, and a third volume is scheduled for release on April 15. The story’s origins as a one-shot and its subsequent serialization show how a focused concept can expand into an ongoing anthology while retaining its original tone.
Full results — Manga Taisho 2025 final standings
Below are the final results as announced at the award ceremony, with point totals for each title. Images and captions are provided for reference.
Other notable finalists included Kaijū o Kaibō Suru (50 points), Robō no Fujii (48 points), Strikeout Pitch (39 points), RIOT (36 points), Ichi the Witch (33 points), Maison and the Man-Eating Apartment (30 points), and Imōto wa Shitteiru (27 points).
Why this year’s results matter
Hon Nara Uru Hodo’s win highlights a continuing appetite among readers and bookstore nominators for introspective, human-centered manga. Anthologies and slice-of-life works often rely on tonal consistency and a strong sense of place — both of which are on display in the bookstore setting of Jūgatsudō. The award also signals that quieter, character-driven storytelling can stand out in a field that includes more conventional genre fare.
What nominators look for
The Manga Taisho nominating committee is primarily composed of bookstore staffers who evaluate a long list of eligible titles; this year 94 nominating members selected from 249 titles. Because committee members are active in retail and reader-facing roles, their selections tend to favor works that create strong reader engagement at the point of sale — books that make customers pick them up, read the flap copy, and take a chance. That dynamic helps explain why a relatable, tactile setting like a second-hand bookstore can make a powerful impression.
Past winners — a quick look at recent champions
- 2025 — Alice, Dokomademo by Kiko Urino
- 2024 — Kimi to Uchū o Aruku Tame ni by Inuhiko Doronoda
- 2023 — Kore Kaite Shine by Minoru Toyoda
- 2022 — Darwin Jihen by Shun Umezawa
- 2021 — Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe
- 2020 — The Blue Period by Tsubasa Yamaguchi
- 2019 — Astra Lost in Space by Kenta Shinohara
- 2018 — BEASTARS by Paru Itagaki
- 2017 — Hibiki: Shōsetsuka ni Naru Hōhō by Mitsuharu Yanamoto
- 2016 — Golden Kamuy by Satoru Noda
Where to read more (official source)
For the official announcement and full press materials, see the Manga Taisho press release. Manga Taisho official press release.
Final thoughts
Hon Nara Uru Hodo’s win at the 19th Manga Taisho is a reminder that manga’s emotional range extends far beyond spectacle. Stories set in quiet places — like a second-hand bookstore — can reveal surprising depths about the people who inhabit them. For readers who appreciate observational storytelling, anthology structure, and character-driven vignettes, Ao Kojima’s work is a standout recommendation. As the Manga Taisho continues to spotlight promising series, expect more understated gems to gain attention and find wider readerships in the months ahead.
