In Japan, it's practically an annual tradition for publishing houses to host manga awards, all vying to discover the next big talent to join the ranks of professional manga artists. For many aspiring creators, these competitions are the ultimate stepping stone to fame.
But hold up! Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine editorial department just dropped a bombshell, announcing an incredibly peculiar manga award: the "Cumulonimbus Manga Award." The catch? The only creative theme allowed is "cumulonimbus clouds." This bizarre premise instantly set the internet ablaze, leaving everyone wondering, "What in the world is this?"
Yep, you heard that right. As long as your masterpiece features cumulonimbus clouds, you're golden. Romance, sports, horror, adventure—you name it, any genre is fair game. The creative freedom is yours!
Summer inevitably conjures images of endless blue skies punctuated by majestic, towering cumulonimbus clouds. From chance encounters and poignant goodbyes to the vibrant energy of youth and thrilling adventures, these iconic clouds have graced countless memorable summer scenes across manga and anime. It's this very symbolism—that feeling of a story about to unfold just by gazing skyward—that inspired the editorial team to make it the singular theme for this award.
The editor behind this wild idea confessed that when he first pitched the theme to the Editor-in-Chief, the immediate response was, "Uh, are we actually going to do this...?" Given the sheer unconventionality of the theme, even the editorial department admits they have absolutely no clue what kind of submissions they'll end up receiving.
The editorial team declared, "We're eager to see creators take the singular theme of 'cumulonimbus clouds' and conjure up entirely new, unprecedented stories." The editor in charge also chuckled, adding:
"This is such an incredibly bold manga award that we're even prepared for the possibility of zero submissions! But precisely because of that, we're genuinely excited to unearth new talents we've never discovered before! If the sight of 'cumulonimbus clouds' sparks your imagination, we wholeheartedly encourage you to submit your work!"
▼ And yes, there are prizes! The Bronze Award nets you 100,000 JPY, while the Gold Award comes with a sweet 300,000 JPY, plus publication rights and a contract.
■ Eligibility
Open to both professional and amateur creators. No page limit. Submissions must be original, unpublished works.
■ Submission Conditions
There's only one rule: "cumulonimbus clouds" must appear in your work. As long as your manga features these clouds, all other content is completely unrestricted. Romance manga, sports manga, horror manga—it's all good! We can't wait to see the incredible stories you create, adorned with cumulonimbus clouds.
■ How to Submit
Online submissions only. For hand-drawn manuscripts, please scan them into digital files before submitting via the website.
■ Deadline
October 31, 2026 (Sunday) at 23:59 JST.