KOMODO Announces NIUHI Indie Manga Contest with 200,000 JPY Prize and Global Publishing Opportunities

April 24, 2026 — KOMODO is pleased to announce the "NIUHI Indie Manga Contest" (https://medibang.com/contest/niuhi2026/) on "ARTStreet" (operated by MediBang Inc.). This contest is open to manga and comic artists worldwide, providing not only cash prizes but also feedback from professional manga artists and editors, as well as opportunities for distribution on the NIUHI platform.

■ About the Prizes:
Multiple awards have been established to support creators:
- Grand Prix (1 winner): 200,000 JPY prize, translation support (one language such as English, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, or French), professional feedback from industry leaders, and publication on NIUHI.
- Semi-Grand Prix (1 winner): 50,000 JPY prize, professional feedback, and publication on NIUHI.
- Participation Award (30 winners): 2,000 JPY prize and publication on NIUHI.

■ Global Participation:
The contest targets artists worldwide. Entries are accepted in English, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese.

■ Duration:
Application Period: April 24, 2026, to May 31, 2026 (JST).

■ Advisors:
Grand Prix and Semi-Grand Prix winners will receive feedback from three professional manga artists and editors:
- Ryoichi Suzuki: Head of Kodansha Creators' Lab. Known for his work on "Weekly Shonen Magazine" and projects like "DAYS NEO."
- Ryosuke Goto: Deputy Editor-in-Chief at Mag Garden Kansai. Involved in "MAGBOX" and "MAGKAN," focusing on discovering regional talent.
- Asanaya: Manga artist and illustrator, known for the manga adaptation of "The Alchemist of the Outskirts" and character designs for "Mimicry Girls."

NIUHI features a community-driven translation function where readers who purchase a work can participate in its translation, allowing manga to reach new fans across multiple languages. It also offers an industry-leading revenue-sharing model focused on returning value to creators.

Take your story beyond language barriers to new manga lovers. Join the NIUHI Indie Manga Contest now and turn your ideas into opportunities!

About NIUHI (https://newmanganow.com):
A next-generation manga platform from KOMODO, delivering fresh indie manga and comics from Japan to the world. A single place to discover, buy, sell, and translate high-quality indie content.

About KOMODO (https://komodo.jp/):
Based in Tokyo and Honolulu, KOMODO works on products that shape the future of gaming and manga. KOMODO HAWAI'I developed NIUHI and has published over 100 popular titles for PC and consoles, including "OneShot" and the "A-Train" series.