Anime NYC and Japan Society (JS, based in NY) held the first-ever American Manga Awards ceremony in the United States on August 22, 2024, at JS, announcing the winners. The purpose of this event was to honor outstanding achievements in the Japanese manga industry and recognize excellent manga works published in North America over the past year. The winners, including manga authors, translators, letterers, and publication designers who contributed to the promotion of manga in North America, were determined by votes from professionals in the American manga publishing industry.
The ceremony took place on the stage of Japan Society, where past U.S. presidents, Japanese prime ministers, and Nobel Prize winners have also appeared. It served as the prelude to this year’s Anime NYC convention, the largest Japanese cultural event on the East Coast, set to take place from August 23 to 25, 2024, at the Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan, with an expected attendance of 100,000 participants.
The event was hosted by author Matt Alt, with opening remarks by Japanese illustrator Akky Bright. Renowned translator and author of „Manga! Manga! The World of Japanese Comics,“ Frederick L. Schodt, was presented with the Manga Publishing Hall of Fame Award for his significant contributions to introducing manga to the English-speaking world and spreading manga culture in North America.
The winners of the 2024 American Manga Awards were as follows:
Best New Manga Award
#DRCL midnight children
by Shinichi Sakamoto (based on Bram Stoker’s „Dracula“)
Published by Viz Media
Editor: Andrew Cool Bartosh
Translator: Caleb Cook
Lettering: Brendan Hall
Best Ongoing Manga Series Award
Dungeon Meshi
by Ryoko Kui
Published by EN Press
Editors: Abigail Blackman, Thomas McCarrister
Translator: Taylor Engel
Lettering: Abigail Blackman
Best Classic Manga Reissue Award
Neighborhood Story
by Ai Yazawa
Published by Viz Media
Editor: Carla Clark
Translator: Andrea McNight
Lettering: Michelle Pang
Best Translation Award
Steven Corliss
Translation of „Atelier of Witch Hat“
by Kamome Shirahama
Published by Kodansha
Editor: Atsuko Hashimoto
Best Lettering Award
Liz Brakesley
Lettering of „Atelier of Witch Hat“
by Kamome Shirahama
Published by Kodansha
Editor: Atsuko Hashimoto
Best Publication Design Award
Adam Grano
Design of „I Am Shingo“
by Kazuo Umezu
Published by Viz Media
Editor: Joel Enos
Lettering: Evan Waldinger
MK Goodwin, the Event Director of Anime NYC, expressed pride in honoring excellence and creativity in the manga industry, looking forward to continuing this tradition.
The winners were selected by distinguished experts in the Japanese manga field, including journalists, librarians, translators, letterers, and design professionals. The recipients were chosen through votes from hundreds of professionals involved in editing at manga publishing companies in North America (United States and Canada).
The ceremony will be available for on-demand viewing on the American Manga Awards website in the coming weeks.
The event was sponsored by Scholastic Graphics, Viz Media, Hoopla, and Saturday AM. Sapporo and Brooklyn Kura generously donated beverages for the event.
About Anime NYC:
Anime NYC is the largest anime convention on the East Coast, featuring Japanese pop culture, manga, and animation. As an event that provides an entry point to Japanese culture, it has received the Consul General Award from the Consulate General of Japan in New York. Anime NYC is a three-day event where fans and publishers come together with unique exhibits, exclusive screenings, large panels, and appearances by prominent Japanese creators. The next event will be held on August 23-25, 2024, at the Javits Center in New York, celebrating Japanese anime, manga, cosplay, fashion, food, games, toys, and more. For more information, visit www.AnimeNYC.com.
Official Social Media Accounts:
Facebook: facebook.com/animenyc
Instagram: @animenyc and #animenyc
Twitter: @animenyc
Website: https://animenyc.com/
About Japan Society:
Japan Society is a leading American nonprofit organization founded in 1907 in New York. With support and cooperation from individuals, corporations, and foundations, it offers innovative programs in various fields such as Japanese arts and culture, public policy, business, and education to provide Americans with a wide range of experiences. The JS headquarters building, designed by Junzo Yoshimura and designated as a historic landmark in New York City, houses a 260-seat theater, art gallery, language center, library, and meeting rooms, hosting over 350 programs annually. Committed to promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the United States and supporting outstanding next-generation creators, Japan Society aims to be a reliable guide for people around the world who seek to deeply understand Japan’s diversity. For more information, visit www.japansociety.org.
Official Social Media Accounts:
Facebook: facebook.com/japansociety
Instagram: @japansociety and #japansociety
Twitter: @japansociety
For more information, visit our website http://www.japansociety.org.
Japan Society programs are made possible by leadership support from the 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.