Aiming for Japan Debut! KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA ATELIER Project to Support Overseas Manga Creators Launched
KADOKAWA launches "KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA ATELIER (KWMA)" on April 30, 2026, a project to support overseas manga creators. It aims to provide continuous creation opportunities, foster international IPs, and expand global content. The project features online portfolio reviews, on-site workshops starting at Anime Expo 2026 in LA, and the KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA CONTEST, offering integrated opportunities for creation, feedback, and challenge.
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- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 22:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 13:31
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KADOKAWA Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President, and CEO: Tsuyoshi Natsuno; hereinafter "KADOKAWA") will launch "KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA ATELIER (KWMA)," a support project for overseas manga creators, starting on April 30, 2026 (Thursday). This project aims to provide continuous creative opportunities for creators worldwide and promote the creation of IPs originating from overseas and their global expansion.
The project will open "Online Portfolio Review MOCHIKOMI," a website that accepts manga submissions online at any time, and will also develop "OnSITE Portfolio Review" workshops to provide critiques of manga works in various locations around the world. Furthermore, by combining these with the ongoing international manga contest "KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA CONTEST," these three pillars will collectively offer opportunities for "creation, feedback, and challenge."
The first "OnSITE Portfolio Review" will be held from July 2 to 5, 2026, at "Anime Expo 2026" in Los Angeles, USA. Pre-registration (first-come, first-served) will be accepted on the KWMA website starting April 30 (Friday).
**Background of the Project**
As manga and anime spread globally, the number of creators challenging manga production overseas is increasing. However, opportunities for presenting works and environments for receiving professional feedback are limited, and many talented writers are unable to take the next step. In addition, KADOKAWA's "Wordless Manga Contest" (※1), an international manga contest held last year, received 1,126 entries from 104 countries and regions worldwide despite being held for the first time, revealing the strong creative drive and significant latent demand among overseas creators. Many voices also expressed a desire to "aim for a debut in Japan" and "receive editor support."
"KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA ATELIER (KWMA)" aims to address these challenges and needs by combining the provision of creative opportunities and practical feedback for overseas creators working on their creations, thereby creating an environment where creators can continuously grow and pave their way to becoming professionals.
**Overview of Creative Support**
"Online Portfolio Review MOCHIKOMI," which accepts online submissions, will serve as a gateway for creators worldwide to submit their works to editors at any time, overcoming geographical and time differences, and expanding opportunities for them to appeal to publishing companies.
The "OnSITE Portfolio Review" will involve KADOKAWA's overseas manga editorial department (※2) editors traveling to various locations multiple times a year to provide direct critiques and advice on the works of aspiring manga artists, offering opportunities for practical feedback. Starting with Los Angeles, future implementations are planned for other regions such as Taiwan. In all cases, if a work is evaluated positively by the editorial department, participants will be assigned an editor and receive support for their manga artist debut in Japan and various countries worldwide.
And the "KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA CONTEST" will provide a venue for creators worldwide to gather and test their skills. In addition to prize money, winners will receive production support for commercialization in Japan.
Under its corporate mission of "Connecting global talent with感動 (Kando - deep emotion), to become a Creative Platformer," KADOKAWA will promote the creation of new IPs through collaboration with talented creators worldwide and accelerate content development that transcends countries and languages.
**OnLINE Portfolio Review MOCHIKOMI**
- Service start date: April 30, 2026 (Thursday)
- Site URL: https://kadokawaworldmanga.com/online/
- Supported languages: English
- Eligibility: Those who can communicate in English or Japanese
**OnSITE Portfolio Review**
- Location: "Anime Expo 2026" booth: SH-2720
- Date and time: First round: July 2 (Thursday) - 5 (Sunday), 2026
- Application method: Pre-registration required on the official website (first-come, first-served)
- Application start date: April 30 (Thursday) - June 25 (Thursday)
- *Applications will close once capacity is reached.
- Eligibility: Those who can communicate in English or Japanese
- Application URL: ht
The project will open "Online Portfolio Review MOCHIKOMI," a website that accepts manga submissions online at any time, and will also develop "OnSITE Portfolio Review" workshops to provide critiques of manga works in various locations around the world. Furthermore, by combining these with the ongoing international manga contest "KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA CONTEST," these three pillars will collectively offer opportunities for "creation, feedback, and challenge."
The first "OnSITE Portfolio Review" will be held from July 2 to 5, 2026, at "Anime Expo 2026" in Los Angeles, USA. Pre-registration (first-come, first-served) will be accepted on the KWMA website starting April 30 (Friday).
**Background of the Project**
As manga and anime spread globally, the number of creators challenging manga production overseas is increasing. However, opportunities for presenting works and environments for receiving professional feedback are limited, and many talented writers are unable to take the next step. In addition, KADOKAWA's "Wordless Manga Contest" (※1), an international manga contest held last year, received 1,126 entries from 104 countries and regions worldwide despite being held for the first time, revealing the strong creative drive and significant latent demand among overseas creators. Many voices also expressed a desire to "aim for a debut in Japan" and "receive editor support."
"KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA ATELIER (KWMA)" aims to address these challenges and needs by combining the provision of creative opportunities and practical feedback for overseas creators working on their creations, thereby creating an environment where creators can continuously grow and pave their way to becoming professionals.
**Overview of Creative Support**
"Online Portfolio Review MOCHIKOMI," which accepts online submissions, will serve as a gateway for creators worldwide to submit their works to editors at any time, overcoming geographical and time differences, and expanding opportunities for them to appeal to publishing companies.
The "OnSITE Portfolio Review" will involve KADOKAWA's overseas manga editorial department (※2) editors traveling to various locations multiple times a year to provide direct critiques and advice on the works of aspiring manga artists, offering opportunities for practical feedback. Starting with Los Angeles, future implementations are planned for other regions such as Taiwan. In all cases, if a work is evaluated positively by the editorial department, participants will be assigned an editor and receive support for their manga artist debut in Japan and various countries worldwide.
And the "KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA CONTEST" will provide a venue for creators worldwide to gather and test their skills. In addition to prize money, winners will receive production support for commercialization in Japan.
Under its corporate mission of "Connecting global talent with感動 (Kando - deep emotion), to become a Creative Platformer," KADOKAWA will promote the creation of new IPs through collaboration with talented creators worldwide and accelerate content development that transcends countries and languages.
**OnLINE Portfolio Review MOCHIKOMI**
- Service start date: April 30, 2026 (Thursday)
- Site URL: https://kadokawaworldmanga.com/online/
- Supported languages: English
- Eligibility: Those who can communicate in English or Japanese
**OnSITE Portfolio Review**
- Location: "Anime Expo 2026" booth: SH-2720
- Date and time: First round: July 2 (Thursday) - 5 (Sunday), 2026
- Application method: Pre-registration required on the official website (first-come, first-served)
- Application start date: April 30 (Thursday) - June 25 (Thursday)
- *Applications will close once capacity is reached.
- Eligibility: Those who can communicate in English or Japanese
- Application URL: ht