KADOKAWA CORPORATION has announced the winning works of its global manga competition, the Wordless World Manga Contest, on April 30, 2025.

This was the very first edition of the contest, and it received an overwhelming response from around the globe—a total of 1,126 entries from creators across 104 countries and regions. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who submitted their passionate and inspiring works.

After careful judging, eight outstanding works were selected as winners: In the Original Manga Award, 1 Gold Prize, 2 Silver Prizes, and 4 Bronze Prizes were awarded. In the Themed Manga Award, 1 Bronze Prize was selected.

All of the winning works are now available via our website. Please take a moment to enjoy these gems of visual storytelling from across the world—tales that transcend the boundaries of language.

Original Manga Award: Gold Prize

Hope in My Bloom

by cocosm / Canada

Comment from cocosm:

We feel so fortunate to have been able to participate in this contest alongside so many talented creators. Working on our entry was such a joyful experience for us and we are beyond honoured to receive this award. The KADOKAWA Wordless World Manga Contest allowed us to truly challenge ourselves and we are so grateful to have been a part of it.

We’re an artist-writer duo who grew up reading manga and we’ve been drawn to it ever since. Our connection was built on a love for storytelling and art, and nothing fulfills us more than creating together. We’re excited to continue learning as we explore our next story.

Thank you so much for reading My Hope In Bloom.

Read Here: https://comic-walker.com/detail/KC_006576_S?episodeType=first

Original Manga Award: Silver Prize

Heartsteel

by masterlynx / India

Comment from masterlynx

I am truly honored to receive the Silver Prize for my work Heartsteel.

I discovered the contest in February and began working on it the very next day. It was a challenging but rewarding experience!! I poured my heart into every page. The first few days were intense, and though I struggled in the beginning, I found great joy especially in creating the action scenes.

I genuinely didn’t expect to win, so receiving the email was both overwhelming and unforgettable. I deeply admire the judges and their work, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have my manga read and recognized by them.

This award means a great deal to me, and I look forward to continuing to grow as an artist and storyteller.

Read Here: https://comic-walker.com/detail/KC_006577_S?episodeType=first

Original Manga Award: Silver Prize

Dungeon Duo

by REKU / United States

Comments from REKU:

I would like to thank Kadokawa for having this contest and other manga publishers for contests like it, they provide so much potential for artists all over the world to participate in an industry they cherish. I for one, cherish manga dearly and cannot begin to express how much this award means to me.

I was initially worried about the length of my entry because I unfortunately only discovered the contest 3 weeks before the deadline, which forced me to cut some ideas that I’d hoped to include. But sometimes creativity thrives under pressure and ultimately, I am very proud of this work.

I hope to do more with Kadokawa and thank them for this opportunity!

Read Here: https://comic-walker.com/detail/KC_006578_S?episodeType=first

Original Manga Award: Bronze Prize

Mother

by Lizard B. Rain / Taiwan

Comments from Lizard B. Rain:

“Mother” is the story of a big, jellyfish-like machine and how it was affected by a gruesome tragedy. I came up with this short story a few years ago when I had neither the writing ability nor the drawing skills to tell it well. The Wordless World Manga Contest offered the perfect opportunity to brush off the dust from this idea and give it another go.

It was a fun challenge trying to convey the emotions of something that cannot emote as a human can, and the restriction on exposition and dialogue really suited the tone of the story.

In these deathly quiet halls, actions of the past and present echo endlessly on.

I am grateful that “Mother” was picked as a winner in this contest, and I hope it brings some enjoyment to whoever chances upon it.

Read Here: https://comic-walker.com/detail/KC_006579_S?episodeType=first

Original Manga Award: Bronze Prize

Pierrot inside me

by Marika Mangaka DZ / Algeria

Comments from Marika Mangaka DZ:

This is something I created a while ago, when manga was my main focus. At its center is a joyful, colourful presence—but beneath the smile is Pierrot, the sorrowful reflection in the mirror. Sometimes, those who offer joy are the ones who quietly lack it most.

Revisiting it, I found that some moments still lingered—like petals drifting from where he had left his heart, as if waiting for him to return. Looking at this piece again felt much the same; I didn’t enter with expectations, just a wish to bring it back into the light. I wasn’t sure how it would be received, but I’m grateful it was recognised. Thank you for giving it a quiet place to return to.

Read Here: https://comic-walker.com/detail/KC_006580_S?episodeType=first

Original Manga Award: Bronze Prize

Hear no Evil

by Sodafungi / Indonesia

Comments from Sodafungi:

Hi everyone, Sodafungi here! To begin with, I would like to thank Kadokawa for organising this competition and I am honored to have received this award.

What had initially stemmed from curiosity and fun turned into a 3-month race against time, with many sleepless nights and hectic working days. Nonetheless, I hope readers would enjoy reading “Hear no Evil” as much as I did enjoy producing it.
Finally, I would like to thank my friends and colleagues for their unwavering support, as well as my 5 year old ipad for withstanding this arduous project.

I await with ultimate excitement the outcome and growth my art journey promises, and I look forward to collaborating with Kadokawa in the future!

Read Here: https://comic-walker.com/detail/KC_006581_S?episodeType=first

Original Manga Award: Bronze Prize

No Rain, No Rainbow

by Shizu (静) / Taiwan

Comments from Shizu (静):

I’m so happy that my work has been recognized!

I put a lot of care into drawing the rain scenes, aiming to create visuals that would let the characters laugh and dance even in the rain.

Rain often makes us feel down or irritated, but if, in those moments, someone happens to recall a rainy scene from this manga and it helps ease their mood even just a little, that would mean the world to me.

Read Here: https://comic-walker.com/detail/KC_006582_S?episodeType=first

Themed Manga Award: Bronze Prize

The Don’s Final Quest

by Mari Kosaki

Comments from Mari Kosaki:

In the early stages of brainstorming this manga, I wasn’t sure what it might express, but it slowly took shape: two lives, generations apart, connecting through a tale they both loved. Unintentionally, they created a version of it together—a journey they had always longed for. I wanted to explore how stories connect people beyond words, across time, age, and distance.

After years of collaborative work across different art mediums, this was a quiet return to solo manga creation. It reminded me how demanding it is to handle everything alone, though looking back, it makes me smile. I’m truly grateful for this recognition—for noticing this piece, and what its silence holds.

Read Here: https://comic-walker.com/detail/KC_006583_S?episodeType=first

Source: Press Release