What happens when the legendary creator of Inuyasha, Ranma 1/2, and Urusei Yatsura gets her own manga award? Shogakukan just answered that question — and aspiring mangaka across Japan are already losing their minds.
On September 16, 2026, publishing giant Shogakukan officially launched the Rumiko Takahashi Fantasy Manga Awards, a brand-new competition dedicated to fantasy manga in honor of one of the most successful manga creators of all time. If you have ever dreamed of following in the footsteps of Rumiko Takahashi, this is literally your once-in-a-lifetime shot.
What Is the Rumiko Takahashi Fantasy Manga Award?
Shogakukan, the powerhouse behind Weekly Shonen Sunday, Big Comic Spirits, and legendary hits like Detective Conan by Gosho Aoyama and Frieren by Kanehito Yamada, created this award to discover the next generation of fantasy storytellers.
The award is named after Rumiko Takahashi herself — the queen of manga who has sold over 230 million copies worldwide, won the Grand Prix at Angouleme, and was inducted into the Eisner Hall of Fame. Her works defined entire genres:
- Urusei Yatsura (1978-1987) — the chaotic alien rom-com that launched her career and inspired every harem anime after it
- Maison Ikkoku (1980-1987) — the most beloved romance manga ever, starring Yusaku Godai and Kyoko Otonashi
- Ranma 1/2 (1987-1996) — gender-bending martial arts comedy with Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo, currently enjoying a massive MAPPA remake revival
- Inuyasha (1996-2008) — the Sengoku fantasy epic with Inuyasha and Kagome Higurashi that sold 50 million copies and dominated Adult Swim for years
- RIN-NE (2009-2017) and MAO (2019-present) — proving she still owns the supernatural fantasy space at nearly 70 years old
Naming a fantasy manga prize after Takahashi makes perfect sense. Nobody blends folklore, romance, comedy, and heart-pounding action like she does.
Why This Is a Huge Deal for the Manga Industry
Manga awards have launched some of the biggest careers in history. Eiichiro Oda won the Tezuka Award before creating One Piece. Kohei Horikoshi won honorable mention in the same prize before My Hero Academia. Rumiko Takahashi herself won the Shogakukan Manga Award twice — for Urusei Yatsura in 1980 and Inuyasha in 2001.
Now Shogakukan is turning the spotlight around. Instead of Takahashi winning awards, she IS the award. Winners will get published in Shogakukan magazines, receive cash prizes, and — most importantly — get direct recognition associated with the Takahashi name. For editors at Weekly Shonen Sunday, this is a talent pipeline straight into fantasy, isekai, and supernatural genres that currently dominate the market alongside hits like Frieren, Delicious in Dungeon by Ryoko Kui, and Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama.
Shogakukan Is Betting Big on Fantasy Right Now
The timing is no coincidence. Fantasy manga is exploding. Frieren: Beyond Journey is End just swept the Kodansha Manga Awards. Delicious in Dungeon got a Trigger anime that broke Netflix records. Dandadan by Yukinobu Tatsu fuses yokai folklore with sci-fi and sells millions.
Shogakukan wants its own fantasy flagship for the next decade. Weekly Shonen Sunday already hosts MAO, Frieren (in partnership), and Call of the Night by Kotoyama. A dedicated Takahashi-branded award signals they are hunting aggressively for the next Inuyasha-level hit — a series that can run for 10+ years, spawn anime, movies, games, and merchandise empires.
Fans Are Already Hyped — and Nostalgic
Social media in Japan erupted within hours of the announcement. Longtime fans pointed out the beautiful symmetry: Takahashi debuted in 1978 with Katte na Yatsura in Weekly Shonen Sunday, and nearly 50 years later, Shogakukan is using her name to launch new creators in that same magazine.
Overseas fans are equally thrilled. The Ranma 1/2 remake by MAPPA brought Takahashi back into global trending lists in 2024-2025. Inuyasha remains a streaming giant on Hulu, Netflix, and Crunchyroll. Urusei Yatsura got a full David Production reboot in 2022. For Western readers who grew up on Viz Media editions of her work, seeing Takahashi honored with her own award feels like justice.
How to Enter (and Why You Should Care Even If You Cannot Draw)
Full submission guidelines will be published via Shogakukan and Weekly Shonen Sunday channels. Traditionally these contests accept one-shots of 30-50 pages, open to amateurs and pros alike, with deadlines twice a year. Even if you never pick up a pen, you should care — because the winners of prizes like this become the anime you binge three years from now.
Remember: Naoki Urasawa, Rumiko Takahashi, and Gosho Aoyama all came through Shogakukan newcomer systems. The next legend starts here.
What Do You Think?
Is Rumiko Takahashi the greatest manga creator of all time, or does that crown belong to someone like Eiichiro Oda, Naoki Urasawa, or Kentaro Miura? Which Takahashi classic is YOUR favorite — Inuyasha, Ranma 1/2, Urusei Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku, or MAO? And if you could submit a fantasy one-shot to this award, what would YOUR story be about? Drop your hot takes in the comments — we want to hear them!
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Source: Anime News Network, Shogakukan official announcement via Weekly Shonen Sunday, September 16, 2026.
