Japan's bookstore staff vote. Eligible titles are manga released in 2025 with eight volumes or fewer (so the award stays focused on relatively new series). For 2026, 94 staff voters selected 12 nominees from a longlist of 249 titles. Grand Prize winner announced March 26, 2026: Ao Kojima's "Hon Nara Uru Hodo" (Kadokawa Harta), with 77 points.
Rules
Eligibility
- Released in 2025.
- Eight or fewer published volumes.
Selection
- 94 bookstore staff voters.
- 12 nominees chosen from a 249-title longlist.
- Multi-round point voting.
Winner
- 2026 Grand Prize: Ao Kojima — Hon Nara Uru Hodo (Kadokawa Harta).