Manga 'Hon nara Uru hodo' Wins the 30th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Manga Grand Prize

The manga 'Hon nara Uru hodo' (by Aoi Kojima), published by KADOKAWA Corporation (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), has been awarded the 'Manga Grand Prize' at the 30th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize.

'Hon nara Uru hodo' is a manga work by Aoi Kojima. Set in a second-hand bookstore called 'Jukkyodo', it portrays stories of books and people woven together in an omnibus format, resonating deeply with book lovers and many readers alike.

About the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize: The award was established by the Asahi Shimbun in 1997 with the cooperation of Tezuka Productions to commemorate the achievements of Osamu Tezuka, who played a major role in the development and improvement of Japanese manga culture. It aims to contribute to the healthy development of manga culture by inheriting Tezuka's spirit. The prize is awarded to works, individuals, or organizations that have achieved excellent results among manga published and announced in Japan. The 'Manga Grand Prize' is awarded to the most outstanding work throughout the year.

Official Website: https://www.asahi.com/corporate/award/tezuka/

Note: In this release, the character for 'Tsuka' in 'Tezuka' is written in its simplified form for compatibility reasons.

Introduction to the Work: 'Hon nara Uru hodo'

Synopsis: This is a place where books and people encounter each other once again. 'Jukkyodo' is a second-hand bookstore run by a listless young man with his hair pulled back. Drawn by the owner's personality and the wonderful selection, various customers visit today as well. A regular book lover, a high school girl at a reaching age, a man coming to throw away unnecessary books, and a widow who came to sell her husband's collection. A single book accidentally picked up connects unexpected bonds. Dedicated to everyone who loves books and whose life has been changed by books, this is a gem of a human drama!

Selected Awards (Partial): - Manga Taisho 2026: Grand Prize - Takarajimasha 'Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2026' (Male Category): #1 - 'Recommended Comics Selected by Bookstore Staff 2026' (Hosted by Nippan): #1 - 'Da Vinci' BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025 (Comic Ranking): #1

Bibliographic Information: Author: Aoi Kojima Price: Vol. 1: 792 yen, Vol. 2: 836 yen, Vol. 3: 858 yen (Tax included) Release Date: Vol. 1: Jan 15, 2025; Vol. 2: April 15, 2025; Vol. 3: April 15, 2026 Format: B6 Size Pages: 194 pages per volume ISBNs: Vol. 1: 9784047381070, Vol. 2: 9784047383746, Vol. 3: 9784045000096

Detailed URLs: Vol. 1: https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322405000881/ Vol. 2: https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322501000879/ Vol. 3: https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322512000156/

Sample of Episode 1 'Sending Off a Book' is now available on KadoComi!