It was revealed this week in the Asahi Shimbun paper the nine nominees for the 19th Annual Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize. The nominees are chosen by the experts of the selection committee and these are the selected manga series that follow the tradition of manga pioneer Osamu Tezuka’s (Astro Boy/Mighty Atom, Kimba the White Lion/Jungle Emperor, Phoenix, Black Jack) contributions to the manga world. One of the requirements is that the manga’s latest compiled volume should have been published at least around 2014.
Here is the list of the nominees:
Aizawa Riku by Yoriko Hoshi
- Genre: Drama
- Number of Volume/s: 1 (published on October 23, 2014)
- Publisher: Bungeishunju
- Summary: Riku is a 14-year-old middle school student who can turn on fake tears like a faucet.
Aoi Honoo by Kazuhiko Shimamoto
- Other titles: Blue Blaze, Blue Flame
- Genre: Drama, Romance, School, Shounen, Slice of Life, Psychological
- Number of Volume/s: 13 (as of January 9, 2015)
- Publisher: Shogakukan
- Summary: In this story set in the early 1980s, a young man dreams of becoming a renowned comic writer in years to come. His name is Honoo Moyuru. He has no money, only a dream. Then, he feels overwhelmed by his lack of ability, and buys some sake, although he has no head or stomach for alcohol. This is a tortured elegy for any dashing young art student who spends his days careening around in burning ambition.
- Notes: Nominated for the 3rd Manga Taisho Award (2010).
Ansatsu Kyoushitsu by Yuusei Matsui
- Other title: Assassination Classroom
- Genre: Action, Comedy, School, Sci-Fi, Shounen, Supernatural, Psychological
- Number of Volume/s: 12 (as of December 27, 2014; Volume 13 will be published on March 4, 2015)
- Publisher: Shueisha
- Summary: The students of class 3-E have a mission: kill their teacher before graduation. He has already destroyed the moon, and has promised to destroy the Earth if he can not be killed within a year. But how can this class of misfits kill a tentacled monster, capable of reaching Mach 20 speed, who may be the best teacher any of them have ever had?
- Notes: Has an anime adaptation; currently airing.
Gin no Saji by Hiromu Arakawa
- Other title: Silver Spoon
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, School, Shounen
- Number of Volume/s: 12 (as of August 8, 2014)
- Publisher: Shogakukan
- Summary: Yugo Hachiken dreams of life separated from his family, so he takes the initiative by enrolling in an agriculture school. He thinks, with his talent in studying, no problems will arise no matter what kind of school he attends. He is proven wrong very quickly. Raised as a city boy, he is forced to uncover the inconvenient truth about agricultural life. Enjoy the story of Hachiken, as he tries to keep up with his new friends, farmers’ heirs, who are already accustomed to the harsh world of farming. With no clear goals or understanding of farming life, how will Hachiken survive this new, cruel reality? The story of a sweat, tear, and mud-stained youth begins!
- Notes: Has 2 anime adaptations.
Koe no Katachi by Yoshitoki Ooima
- Other titles: A Silent Voice, The Shape of Voice
- Genre: Drama, Romance, School, Shounen
- Number of Volume/s: 7 (as of December 17, 2014)
- Publisher: Kodansha
- Summary: Ishida Shouya bullies a deaf girl, Nishimiya Shouko, to the point that she drops out of school. As a result, he is ostracized and bullied himself with no friends to speak of and no plans for the future. This is the story of his path to redemption.
- Notes: Will be having an anime movie adaptation.
Goshiki no Fune by Yasumi Tsuhara and Youkou Kondo
- Other title: Five-color Boat
- Genre: Drama, Historical, Seinen
- Number of Volume/s: 1 (as of March 24, 2014)
- Publisher: Kadokawa
- Summary: Riku is a 14-year-old middle school student who can turn on fake tears like a faucet.
Chaser by Koji Joukura
- Genre: Seinen
- Number of Volume/s: 2 (as of July 30, 2014)
- Publisher: Shogakukan
- Summary: The manga takes place around the 1950’s, when weekly manga magazines still didn’t exist. A manga creator who is somewhat popular with three serializations tells people he thinks Osamu Tezuka’s manga are boring, but secretly collects all of his works. He makes a one-sided rivalry with Tezuka, and seeks to surpass him.
Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Martial Arts, Shounen, Super Power
- Number of Volume/s: 72 (as of February 3, 2015)
- Publisher: Shueisha
- Summary: Before Naruto’s birth, a great demon fox had attacked the Hidden Leaf Village. A man known as the 4th Hokage sealed the demon inside the newly born Naruto, causing him to unknowingly grow up detested by his fellow villagers. Despite his lack of talent in many areas of ninjutsu, Naruto strives for only one goal: to gain the title of Hokage, the strongest ninja in his village. Desiring the respect he never received, Naruto works toward his dream with fellow friends Sasuke and Sakura and mentor Kakashi as they go through many trials and battles that come with being a ninja.
- Notes: Has an anime series and movie adaptation.
Heisei Uro Oboe Zoushi by Hajime Toda
- Genre: Historical
- Number of Volume/s: 1 (as of September 25, 2014)
- Publisher: Asukashinsha
- Summary: A (fictional) account from an Edo-era painter who visited the modern era and returned. The ukiyo-e he drew tell stories of mascot character, A*B48, the Sky Tree, and more.
Nominating committee:
- Atsuko Asano – novelist
- Machiko Satonaka – manga creator
- Shouhei Chuujoou – university professor
- Haruyuki Nakano – manga editor
- Bourbon Kobayashi – columnist
- Shinbo Nobunaga – manga commentator
- Tarou Minamoto – manga creator and researcher
- Tomoko Yamada – manga researcher
The winners for the 19th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize will be decided on March 25 and will be announced in Asahi Shimbun in early April 2015.
Source – ANN, Comic Natalie, Asahi Shuimbun
