Four finalists for the 9th Saito Takao Award announced! Manga Night General Incorporated Association Press Release: October 14, 2025 Four finalists for the 9th Saito Takao Award have been decided! The 9th Comics Award, which aims to preserve the division of labor production system by bringing together diverse talents, has selected four works as finalists.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/84403/20/84403-20-0933df6b08eadcce67bec5febc11350a-2477×1180.jpg
recognizing outstanding comic works created through a division of labor between “scriptwriting” and “illustration.” The “Saito Takao Award” was established in 2017 by the Saito Takao Gekiga Cultural Foundation to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the start of the “Golgo 13” serialization. It honors outstanding comic works created through a division of labor between scriptwriting and illustration. Carrying on the aspirations of Saito Takao, who passed away in 2021, the award aims to shed light on the division of labor comic production system that Saito Takao employed for many years to create full-scale story comics aimed at adult readers. The screenwriter, illustrator, and editor (or editorial department) responsible for the winning work as producer will each receive a “Golgo 13 statue” designed by Takao Saito as the main prize, and the screenwriter and illustrator will each receive a cash prize of 500,000 yen as a secondary prize. https://img.youtube.com/vi/5Tqi5eQB5EU/sddefault.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tqi5eQB5EU Four finalists for the 9th Saito Takao Award have been announced! Following the first round of selection, the four finalists for the 9th Saito Takao Award have been selected. ▼Nominated works (work titles in alphabetical order, title omitted)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/84403/20/84403-20-035d29935b79c34bcc918e16f0b88664-1000×1422.jpg “Onmara Ponpoko” [Bibliographic Information] Original Story: Hiroya Ito Illustrations: Kaoru Hachigatsu Published in LEED Publishing’s Comic Ran
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/84403/20/84403-20-9cae77d5fd4cea8b89c067c2bdb5d288-1763×2510.jpg “Gaslight Stray Dog Detectives” [Bibliographic Information] Original Story: Yugo Aozaki Illustrations: Toshimitsu Matsubara Published in Shueisha’s Weekly Young Jump
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/84403/20/84403-20-210768987e9cde20e3d0fed083a39002-1943×2700.jpg “Burning my father” [Bibliographic information] Original Story: Miyabe Yoshimitsu Illustrations: Yamamoto Osamu Published in Shogakukan’s Big Comic Original
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/84403/20/84403-20-36b46dd2602756b043dc6c66ba75b3ed-1764×2508.jpg “Ordinary light music club” [Bibliographic Information] Original Story: Kuwahari Illustrations: Deuchi Tetsuo Published in Shueisha’s Shonen Jump After the final selection, the results will be announced on the Saito Takao Award website and in the pages of Big Comic on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. The final selection committee will consist of four people: Osamu Akimoto, Yu Koyama, Masaru Sato, and Takashi Nagasaki (in alphabetical order).
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/84403/20/84403-20-75785a0f9f51d06c9422d28dfb74dac3-533×800.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/84403/20/84403-20-7f95d5f5af51f323a91900ab268f800d-800×535.jpg ■ 9th Saito Takao Award Overview Comic works that are produced by a scenario writer (scriptwriter) and an illustrator, and whose first volume was published between September 1, 2022 and August 31, 2025. Comics released during the same period are also eligible for selection. After the first round of selection is conducted by the Saito Takao Gekiga Cultural Foundation, one winning work will be selected in the final round by the selection committee. *Member names in alphabetical order/Honorifics omitted Osamu Akimoto, Yu Koyama, Yu Sato, Takashi Nagasaki The award will be given to the three people involved: the scenario writer, illustrator, and editor (or editorial staff) of the work in question. [Main Prize] Golgo 13 Statue Trophy (Scenario Writer, Artist, Editor) [Second Prize] 500,000 yen (Scenario Writer, Artist) Past Awards ■2017 1st Saito Takao Award Winning Works Abracadabra: Special Pathological Crimes Unit Original work: Richard Wu Illustrations: Seimu Yoshizaki Published in Shogakukan’s “Big Comic Original Special Edition” A series of bizarre murders continues in relay fashion, passed from perpetrator to perpetrator. A full-scale “brain” psycho-suspense story in which young detective Kanemaki from the First Investigative Division and legendary retired detective Aburanokoji team up to pursue the killers, who are said to have been “created” by a certain person! ■2018 2nd Saito Takao Award Winner “Isaac” Original work: Shinji Makari Manga: DOUBLE-S Published in Kodansha’s “Monthly Afternoon” In the 17th century, the Holy Roman Empire was divided into two factions and in the midst of a fierce battle that would later be called the Thirty Years’ War. A Japanese man named “Isaac” appears as a mercenary! His fierce battle begins! ■2019 3rd Saito Takao Award Winner “Reiri” Original work: Hitoshi Iwaaki Manga: Daisuke Muroi Published in Akita Shoten’s “Bessatsu Shonen Champion” A Sengoku period drama depicting the life of a young girl named Reiri, a peasant’s daughter who ends up living as a body double for the Sengoku warlord Takeda Nobukatsu. ■2020 4th Saito Takao Award In 2020, even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to preserve the culture of a production system based on division of labor while avoiding crowded environments, a special award will be presented to those who have long been committed to manga production using the division of labor and production method. Buronson His real name is Yoshiyuki Okamura. Born in Saku City, Nagano Prefecture in 1947. He enlisted in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force at the age of 15, and became interested in writing original stories through his connection with manga artist Hiroshi Motomiya, a classmate of his. He made his debut in Shonen Jump in 1972. He is the original author of “Doberman Deka” and “Fist of the North Star.” He is also the author of “Sanctuary” under the pen name Sho Fumimura. ■2021 5th Saito Takao Award Winner “Shrink: A Weak Psychiatrist” Original work: Nanami Jin Manga: Tsukiko Published in Shueisha’s “Grand Jump” In Japan, known as a hidden mental illness superpower, psychiatrist Yowai faces people in an effort to save as many hearts as possible. ■2022 6th Saito Takao Award Winner “Delinquent Boys Who Can’t Cut the Cake” Original Story: Koji Miyaguchi Manga: Masakazu Suzuki Published in Shinchosha’s “Kurage Bunch” Katsuhiko Mutsumugi works in psychiatric care at a juvenile detention center. Mutsumugi works alongside these men, who have committed crimes due to issues with their intellectual abilities or cognitive functions and who “cannot divide a cake into thirds…” This new manga is based on a best-selling paperback book. ■2023 7th Saito Takao Award Winners “ABURA” Original work: NUMBER 8
Illustration: Kuzo Kusakuchi Shogakukan Published on Manga One Set in Kyoto at the end of the Edo period, this story depicts the
“Aburanokoji Incident,” a battle over members who split off from the Shinsengumi. This action-packed period drama combines fierce swordplay with feelings for comrades. ■2024 8th Saito Takao Award Winner “To Shimazaki, the Land of Peace” Original Story: Hamada Gouten
Illustrations: Seshita Takeshi Published in Kodansha’s Morning Shimazaki Shingo was abducted by an international terrorist
organization as a child and became a combat agent. After 30 years, he returns to his hometown of Japan. Will he be able to find peace in his new home? An action-packed tale of a man living between everyday life and the battlefield! ーーーー [Organizer] Saito Takao Graphic Novel Foundation [Sponsor] Shogakukan Saito Takao Award Website
https://www.saito-pro.co.jp/saitotakaoaward For more information about this release