The final Top 5 results have been announced for the SUGOI JAPAN Award 2017 competition - an industry award that seeks to recognize excellence in manga, anime, light novels, and entertaining novels - and Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- won big this year by taking the top spots in both the anime and light novel categories.

Voting took place from November 16, 2016 - January 03, 2017, with the final results announced at a special event in Tokyo on March 16, 2017. In total, 68,411 votes were cast, winnowing down 20 short-listed titles in each category to the Top Five results below. The Top 5 titles for the SUGOI JAPAN Award 2017 competition include:

MANGA

01.) My Hero Academia, by Kohei Horikoshi, published by Shueisha.

02.) Golden Kamuy, by Satoru Noda, published by Shueisha.

03.) 10 Count, by Rihito Takarai, published by Shinshokan.

04.) Dagashi Kashi, by Kotoyama, published by Shogakukan.

05.) The Ancient Magus' Bride, by Kore Yamazaki, published by MAG Garden.

ANIME

LIGHT NOVELS

01.) Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-, written by Tappei Nagatsuki, illustrated by Shinichirou Otsuka, and published by Kadokawa.

02.) KONOSUBA: God's Bless on This Wonderful World!, written by Natsume Akatsuki, illustrated by Kurone Mishinma, and published by Kadokawa.

03.) Half or yes or no, written by Michi Ichiho, illustrated by Lala Takemiya, and published by Shinshokan.

04.) The Qualidea Code series, written and illustrated by various authors and artists and published by Shueisha, Kadokawa, and Shogakukan.

05.) GODS' WISHGRANTER, written by Natsu Asaba and published by Kadokawa.

ENTERTAINING NOVELS

01.) your name.: A Novel, by Makoto Shinkai, published by Kadokawa.

02.) Danganronpa Kirigiri, written by Takekuni Kitayama, illustrated by Rui Komatsuzaki, and published by Star Seas Company.

03.) CONVENIENCE STORE WOMAN AND OTHER STORIES, by Sayaka Murata, published by Bungeishunju.

04.) How Many Miles to the Truth, by Honobu Yonezawa, published by Tokyo Sogensha.

05.) THE FOREST OF WOOL AND STEEL, by Natsu Miyashita, published by Bungeishunju.

The SUGOI JAPAN Award2017 project is organized by the SUGOI JAPAN Committee and The Yomiuri Shimbun, supported by Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; the Association of Manga Publishers; and Tokyo Otaku Mode; and sponsored by McDonald’s Japan.

Source: Official SUGOI JAPAN 2017 Award home page (English version)

Paul Chapman is the host of The Greatest Movie EVER! Podcast and GME! Anime Fun Time.