American Manga Awards 2025: Celebrating the Best in Manga

The American Manga Awards celebrated its second edition on Thursday, honoring the creativity and influence of manga creators and publishers in both North America and Japan. Among the highlights, "The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't a Guy at All," by Sumiko Arai, was awarded Best New Manga. This thought-provoking narrative, published by Yen Press, stood out for its innovative storytelling and strong character development, earning accolades from a panel of industry professionals.

The award for Best Continuing Manga Series went to "The Apothecary Diaries," authored by Natsu Hyūga, which has captivated readers with its rich narrative and engaging characters. Published by Square Enix Manga & Books, it reflects the high standards of contemporary manga.

Additionally, "Tamaki & Amane" by Fumi Yoshinaga received recognition as Best One-Shot Manga Series, while the Best New Edition of Classic Manga Series was awarded to "Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow" by Asao Takamori and Tetsuya Chiba. The awards also acknowledged excellence in translation and publication design, underscoring the collaborative efforts involved in bringing manga to North American audiences.

The Manga Publishing Hall of Fame award was presented to notable figures from Studio Proteus, celebrating their significant legacy in manga translation and publishing. Noteworthy recipients included Toren Smith and translators like Dana Lewis, whose contributions have shaped the industry.

Led by Deb Aoki of Publishers Weekly, the planning committee for the American Manga Awards aims to continue recognizing the talent and innovation within the manga community, following the inaugural ceremony in August 2024.

Source: The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't a Guy At All, The Apothecary Diaries Win 2nd American Manga Awards