Celsys's "CLIP STUDIO PAINT" Sponsors "Manga Essay Contest 2026" for Elementary, Junior High, and High School Students Nationwide, Fostering the Joy of Expression Through Manga

Celsys's illustration, manga, Webtoon, and animation production app "CLIP STUDIO PAINT" will sponsor the "Manga Essay Contest 2026," organized by the Foundation for the Promotion of the Cultural Industries (JPIC), starting July 1 (Wed). This marks the second year of sponsorship, demonstrating a continued commitment to supporting the development of next-generation creators. In fiscal year 2025, the contest received 14,270 entries from across the country.

This contest invites essays on manga from elementary, junior high, and high school students nationwide. Through the experience of expressing their thoughts on manga in writing, Celsys aims to help participants discover the joy of expressing their own ideas through art and stories, and will present "CLIP STUDIO PAINT" to the award recipients.

"Manga Essay Contest 2026" Official Website https://www.manga-kansoubun.jp/

The "Manga Essay Contest" aims to provide elementary, junior high, and high school students with an opportunity to freely express their experiences and emotions evoked by reading manga in the form of an essay. In addition to individual entries, this year, group entries (by school, grade, or class) will also be accepted via a web form to facilitate smoother submissions. As a special benefit for web applicants, all who wish to receive it will be presented with "CLIP STUDIO PAINT." Winners will be notified around February 2027, with notifications sent to the individual, their guardians, or their school. An awards ceremony is scheduled to be held in Tokyo in March 2027.

Through its sponsorship of this contest, Celsys aims to pass on manga culture to the next generation of children and support a world where they can immerse themselves in creation.

[Manga Essay Contest 2026 Overview]

Eligible Manga

Manga with an ISBN number starting with digits on the back cover or colophon, and officially distributed versions for e-books, are eligible. Educational manga (manga versions of subjects like history or science) are eligible only for the elementary school division. Manga with multiple volumes can be submitted as a complete series or as a single volume.

Eligibility and Word Count

1 Lower Elementary School Division (Grades 1-3): 400 to 800 characters 2 Upper Elementary School Division (Grades 4-6): Up to 800 characters 3 Junior High School Division (Grades 1-3): Up to 1200 characters 4 High School Division (Grades 1-3): Up to 1600 characters

* Special needs schools should apply to the corresponding divisions. Junior high divisions of secondary education schools and integrated junior-senior high schools, and senior high divisions of the latter part of integrated schools, should apply to the junior high school division. Compulsory education schools should apply to the respective elementary school divisions and junior high school division corresponding to their grades. * Applications are accepted not only from schools but also from various educational and activity groups such as cram schools and free schools.

Submitted Works

- Works must be written in Japanese. - Individuals may submit multiple entries. - Submissions must be original and unpublished works (award may be revoked in cases of AI-generated essays or inappropriate citations). - Duplicate submissions to other contests or competitions are not permitted. - Submitted works will not be returned. Please keep a copy if necessary.

Application Period

Mail-in applications: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 – Friday, September 11, 2026 (Postmark valid) Web applications: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 – Monday, September 14, 2026, until 9:00 AM

Prizes

Grand Prize (1 winner per division) - Certificate of Merit, Original Book Card (¥30,000) - Networking event with manga editors (visit to KADOKAWA) - CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO 1 device 12-month version (package) (*1)

Special Award (Several winners per division) - Certificate of Merit, Original Book Card (¥10,000) - Networking event with manga editors (visit to KADOKAWA) - CLIP STUDIO PAINT DEBUT 1 device 12-month version (activation code) (*1)

▼ Other Prizes Planned

Web Applicant Bonus (for web applicants) - CLIP STUDIO PAINT DEBUT 1 device 6-month version (activation code) (*1) Applications can be made via the application form sent from the contest secretariat (JPIC) after completing the web application.

For other details, please check the contest's official website. https://www.manga-kansoubun.jp/

About "CLIP STUDIO PAINT" "CLIP STUDIO PAINT" is a painting app that provides a seamless production environment for illustrations, manga, and animation. Built around Celsys's core graphics technology, it has been developed and refined in-house for over 30 years. It is used by over 60 million people worldwide (*2), with over 80% being overseas users. Supporting 11 languages, it is globally favored by a wide range of creators, from entry-level users to professional manga artists and animators.

CLIP STUDIO PAINT Official Website: https://www.clipstudio.net/ X: https://x.com/clip_celsys YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/CLIPSTUDIOchannel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clipstudioofficial_jp/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@clipstudioofficial_jp

*1 The 1 device plan allows use on one selected device from iPad / Android / Windows / macOS / iPhone. *2 Includes trial users and installation counts for iPad, iPhone, Galaxy, Android, and Chromebook versions.

About Celsys, Inc. In the expanding creator economy market driven by digital content creation and utilization, Celsys provides tools that support creators' work, including "CLIP STUDIO PAINT," as well as new service platforms that serve as new spaces for creators' activities. The company operates businesses that comprehensively support various activities in the "CREATOR JOURNEY" undertaken by creators worldwide, aiming for a more colorful world connected by individual passions.

Celsys Corporate Site: https://www.celsys.com/

Contact Information Celsys, Inc. Public Relations: Furuno / Takahashi / Narasaki Pacific Marks Shinjuku Park Side 2F, 4-15-7 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023 e-mail: press@celsys.com

For Corporate Customers https://www.celsys.com/clipsolution/