The Asahi Shimbun paper announced the seven nominees for the 20th Annual Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize this week. The awards commemorate the contributions of the manga pioneer Osamu Tezuka (Astroboy/Mighty Atom, Kimba the White Lion/Jungle Emperor, Phoenix, Black Jack) by recognizing the manga that best follow his tradition.

Orange

Ichigo Takano

Futabasha

Naho Takamiya is a timid 16-year-old girl. One day, she receives a letter from her future self detailing actions she must take to prevent Kakeru Naruse, the new transfer student, from sinking into depression and taking his own life.



Golden Kamuy

Satoru Noda

Shueisha

A soldier who was famous for his prowess in the Russo-Japanese War now heads to Hokkaido for the gold rush for a certain purpose. In search of a vast treasure hidden by the Ainu people, he faces criminals and the overwhelming power of mother nature. There, he meets an Ainu girl who saves his life.



Kodoku no Gourmet

Story: Masayuki Kusumi

Art: Jiro Taniguchi

Fusosha

Centered around typical Japanese food, these are short tales of a solitary salesman who keeps traveling through the country for business purposes.



Chihayafuru

Yuki Suetsugu

Kodansha

Chihaya Ayase is a frank and ebullient girl who becomes fascinated by the obscure world of competitive karuta, a card game based on Japanese poetry. Introduced to the aggressive style of the game by a quiet and thoughtful elementary school classmate named Arata Wataya, the two quickly become close friends. They start playing as a group with Taichi Mashima, Chihaya's smart and athletic childhood friend, until they have to part ways during their middle school years due to several circumstances. As their high school life begins, they meet once again.



Cho-no-Michiyuki

Kan Takahama

Leed Publishing

In Nagasaki's Maruyama district, a tale of love and death unfolds for a peerless courtesan and a man with an illness.



Hanagami Sharaku

Kei Ichinoseki

Shogakukan

In the edo period, the second son of a town official works as a flute player under kabuki master Ichikawa Danjūrō V at the Nakamura-za theater. However, when his older brother is killed he must once again learn to become a warrior. At the same time, a serial killer is targeting young girls in Edo. The kabuki- and ukiyo-e- themed manga was serialized irregularly in Big Comic Special from 2003 to 2009.



Yotsuba&!

Kiyohiko Azuma

MediaWorks

The Koiwai family, little Yotsuba and her father, have just moved to a new town. As their new neighbours get to know them, it becomes obvious that Yotsuba is one very weird little girl...



This year's committee selected the nominees from titles recommended by specialists and bookstore employees. To be eligible, the manga had to have had a compiled volume published in 2015. Takano's Orange manga received the most recommendations.

The winners will be announced in Asahi Shimbun in early April. The awards ceremony will be held on May 29.

Last year, nine titles were nominated, and Yoiko Hoshi's Aisawa Riku won the Grand Prize. Yoshitoki Ōima's A Silent Voice won the New Creator prize.

Source: Comic Natalie