Kodansha Launches a Manga Academy for Global Creators

Kodansha has opened a new website called the Kodansha Manga Academy, announced this week. It is designed as a guide to help aspiring manga creators around the world understand how the publishing process works in Japan.

To inspire newcomers, the site gathers advice and comments from some major names in the industry, including Makoto Yukimura of Vinland Saga, Peach-Pit of Shugo Chara, Hajime Isayama of Attack on Titan, and the Blue Lock team of Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yūsuke Nomura.

Alongside a clear introduction to becoming a manga creator in Japan, the academy spotlights a case study of Spanish creator Juan Albarrán, who is currently drawing a manga about his own journey toward getting published there.

Kodansha also used the launch to tease a global manga award planned for early 2026. Details are still scarce, but the publisher describes it as an open call for the next generation of storytellers.

My take: This is a genuinely encouraging move. The path into Japanese manga publishing has always felt out of reach for creators abroad, so a friendly, official guide could open the door for a lot of hopeful artists.