2026 Manga Award: "The More Books Sell"

Saurav Kumar Mar 26, 2026 100

Ao Kojima's "The More Books Sell" Wins Big at Manga Awards 2026

There is some really great news for manga fans today. Ao Kojima's popular work, "The more I sell books", has officially been selected as the grand prize winner for the prestigious Manga Awards 2026. As we speak, the grand award ceremony is being held in Tokyo today, March 26th, to celebrate this massive achievement. It is a very proud moment for the creator and the readers who have supported this series from the start.

The story of "The more books sell" is basically a beautiful series of short stories that dive into the subtle lives of different bibliophiles. Everything is set in a charming second-hand bookstore called Togatsudo. The shop is run by a listless young man who is known for his curly hair. If you are looking for everything you need to know about stories that celebrate the love for reading, this manga is a perfect choice. It is currently being serialized in KADOKAWA, and fans are eagerly waiting for the third volume, which is set to release on April 15th.

A Series of Major Successes

This grand prize isn't the only feather in Ao Kojima's cap. So far, the series has been performing exceptionally well in various rankings. It secured the 1st place in the "This Manga is Amazing! 2026" men's edition and also grabbed the top spot in the "BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025" comic ranking. Such a track record makes it clear why it is considered one of the must-read manga for book lovers and enthusiasts alike.

Nominees and the Selection Process

The competition was actually quite tough this year with many brilliant works being nominated. The list of other entries included:

Mari Kangi's "My Little Sister Knows"
Daihi Watabe's "Welcome Home Horizon"
Madou Saito's "Dissecting the Monster"
Kyu Sumiyoshi's "Thank You Pitch"
Ishiko's "The Evil God's Bento Shop"
Tooru Seino's "Dan Mitsu"
Miya Kinuta's "The One Who Was My Friend"
Akima's "The Man-Eating Mansion and the Landlord's Maison" (based on Sora Tanaka's original work)
Shiro Usazaki's "Mao no Ichi" (based on Osamu Nishi's original work)
Yuta Tsukada's "RIOT"
Kurao Nabe's "Roadside Fujii"

The "Manga Award" is quite special because the selection committee is made up of bookstore staff and dedicated manga enthusiasts. To be eligible, a work must have a maximum of eight volumes published in the previous year. The judges first pick five works they would recommend to anyone. Then, the top 10 works move to a second round where the committee reads every single one of them to decide the final winners. It’s a very thorough process, which is why winning the grand prize is such a huge deal for any manga artist.