Da Vinci and niconico have jointly announced the winners of the “Next Manga Awards 2021” on 24th August 2021! The first in the Print Manga Category is Akasaka Aka and Yokoyari Mengo’s “OSHINOKO” while the winner of the Web Manga Category is Naoya Matsumoyo’s “Kaiju No. 8”.

“OSHINOKO” is written by Aka Akasaka and illustrated by Mengo Yokoyari, and is being serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Young Jump. It tells the story of a doctor and his former patient who are reincarnated as their favourite idol’s new children, and they since work their way into the entertainment industry.

“Kaiju No. 8” is written and illustrated by Naoya Matsumoto, and is being serialized for free on Shueisha’s Shounen Jump+ app. In “Kaiju No. 8”, monsters regularly attacked Japan and the Defense Force are tasked with killing them. Kafka Hibino is a member of the clean-up squad when he gains the ability to transform into a kaiju — tagged “Kaiju No. 8” by JDF.

The “NEXT MANGA AWARDS“ was created in 2014 by DAVINCI and niconico as a Japanese manga award based on fan votes and nominations. Previous winners include such hits as “SPY X FAMILY”, “Dr.STONE”, “Way of the Househusband”, “Kaguya-sama: Love Is War”, “The Promised Neverland”, “My Hero Academia”, “Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku” and many others.