The recently held Shogakukan Newcomer Comic Awards, witnessed a young talent blooming as the young 14 year old artist bagged the Rookie Comic Prize for her debut manga Idol Ky?k? (Idol Bustle). Ran Tokiwa who’s in her third year middle school in Aichi Prefecture is the new sh?jo (young girl) in the manga world.
The debut manga Idol Ky?k? is manga about 4 girls struggling to become the stars in an idol group. As a result of winning, Idol Ky?k? will debut in Shogakukan’s Ciao sh?jo manga anthology.
One of the judges from the panel, Setona Mizushiro (Shitsuren Chocolatier) loved the cute illustrations and characters’ personalities were easy to understand. Another judge, Keiko Notoyama (Owaru Sekai de Kimi ni Koi Suru), added, ” I zipped right through it thanks to the easy-to-understand story structure! The exciting scenes also uplift the reader.”
The young overwhelmed winner in the Sh?jo and Josei category, Tokiwa who got into manga due to her admiration of Fujiko F. Fujio (Doraemon), expressed “I want to thank my family and friends, and most of all my mother, for supporting me. I will keep trying to make something that will remain in the hearts of my readers and myself.”
In the past as well, we have seen few manga artists debuting in this industry at a young age like Anko Mochitsuki who was also 14 when she made her debut with Doraneko Theater in 1991, Chinami Tsuyama was 15 at her debut (High Score in 1995) and Megumi Mizusawa (Hime-chan’s Ribbon) made her debut at age 16 with Kokoro ni Sotto Sasayaite (Whisper Gently in My Heart) in 1979.