Danica Davidson
May 29, 2024 
The sports genre is a major part of the manga world, and Weekly Shonen Jump has opened itself up to submissions for its Jump Sports Manga Award. Professionals as well as novices are welcome to enter the contest between now and October 31, with winners being shared in December in the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump.
To enter, you must have between 15 and 55 pages to submit. Weekly Shonen Jump says it’s looking for sports titles that “aim to give birth to life-changing moments for readers.”
There will be one official top winner, and they’ll be awarded 1,000,000 yen (approximately $6,400). Next are the semi-finalists, who get 500,000 yen (approximately $3,200). Then honorable mentions will be given 300,000 yen (approximately $2,000). People who qualify as finalists will obtain 50,000 yen (approximately $320). In the final category, labeled “promising entries,” people are gifted 10,000 yen (approximately $64).
The early information did not say if any of these stories might be considered for publication in Weekly Shonen Jump, or how rights and copyrights might work.
And Weekly Shonen Jump has put together an impressive roster of judges. The first three are all creators of famous sports manga: Takehiko Inoue (mangaka of Slam Dunk, Buzzer Beater, REAL), Riichiro Inagaki (mangaka of Eyeshield 21), and Tadatoshi Fujimaki (mangaka of Kuroko’s Basketball).
The final judge is not a sports manga creator, or even a manga creator. Instead, it’s someone who knows sports firsthand! Weekly Shonen Jump has tapped Shohei Ohtani, who was born in Oshu, Japan and who is currently working as a designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers. A U.S. Major League Baseball athlete has never been involved with Weekly Shonen Jump like this before, so this is an whole new ballgame (no pun intended). According to The Japan News, Ohtani was happy to work with Weekly Shonen Jump on this opportunity.
Good luck to everyone who decides to enter the contest!
Source: ANN
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
