Comment from KADOKAWA Editorial Team

The richly layered worldbuilding and the intricate linework that brings it to life are truly impressive. We were drawn into the intense yet heartrending progression of the story. The dynamic paneling, strong visual direction, and detailed rendering all reflect a solid foundation of artistic skill. Moving forward, incorporating shading that follows the contours of the forms, as well as more strategic use of tones, will help create greater depth and make the visuals even more dramatic.

As you move toward a professional debut, crafting compelling characters is also essential. Are the designs distinctive? Can readers empathize with them? Do they have qualities that make fans want to root for them? With your exceptional drawing ability, we encourage you to take on the challenge of creating manga at an even higher level.
(from Comic FLAPPER Section)

Comment from Supporter

A moving piece with a well-developed world.
Scenes where characters are simply standing or shown in close-up are a little too many, and the transitions between scenes or time jumps also come across a bit abruptly, so using larger panels that focus on eyes, hands, or feet to convey emotion—similar to cinematic techniques—could help improve this.

The beginning to the middle part is a little difficult to understand the protagonist's feelings, so adding a brief, powerful scene at the beginning (such as a flashback) that shows the moment when the world became desolate might make the latter half more meaningful.
I love the final scene that leaves you wanting more!

(from Ranmaru Kotone)

Comment from the Winner

“Mother” is the story of a big, jellyfish-like machine and how it was affected by a gruesome tragedy. I came up with this short story a few years ago when I had neither the writing ability nor the drawing skills to tell it well. The Wordless World Manga Contest offered the perfect opportunity to brush off the dust from this idea and give it another go.

It was a fun challenge trying to convey the emotions of something that cannot emote as a human can, and the restriction on exposition and dialogue really suited the tone of the story.

In these deathly quiet halls, actions of the past and present echo endlessly on.

I am grateful that “Mother” was picked as a winner in this contest, and I hope it brings some enjoyment to whoever chances upon it.

Comment from KADOKAWA Editorial Team

The emotional dilemma embodied in the figure of the pierrot was portrayed with great care, and we were captivated by the expressive power of the artwork that skillfully carried the story. The characters’ facial expressions were exceptional —especially the children’s radiant smiles, which were absolutely charming, and the sense of composition truly stood out. The story development felt slightly predictable, so adding a twist at the end might bring greater depth. We would be delighted to help shape your future works together!
(from Comic ALIVE Section)

Comment from Supporter

The expressions of the characters, from the main characters to the background characters, are carefully and vividly depicted, and their movements are dynamic and captivating.

The transition from the bright, cheerful atmosphere at the beginning to the darker, lonelier mood after the pierrot is left alone is handled smoothly. You can feel the warmth under the sun and the chill of a shaded room.

Although the young man playing the pierrot doesn't show dramatic facial changes like the audience does, his subtle expressions of sadness and surprise are conveyed effectively.

Overall, the work has a very cinematic quality.
(from Minoji Kurata)

Comment from the Winner

This is something I created a while ago, when manga was my main focus. At its center is a joyful, colourful presence—but beneath the smile is Pierrot, the sorrowful reflection in the mirror. Sometimes, those who offer joy are the ones who quietly lack it most.

Revisiting it, I found that some moments still lingered—like petals drifting from where he had left his heart, as if waiting for him to return. Looking at this piece again felt much the same; I didn’t enter with expectations, just a wish to bring it back into the light. I wasn’t sure how it would be received, but I’m grateful it was recognised. Thank you for giving it a quiet place to return to.

Comment from KADOKAWA Editorial Team

Within the restrained framework unique to wordless storytelling, the action sequences stood out as exceptionally detailed, skillful, and impressive. The fight scene in the middle of the story was more than just an exchange of blows—it effectively conveyed strategy and narrative, adding real depth to the moment.

While the characters still feel somewhat like they're moving according to their initial settings rather than fully coming to life, we’re looking forward to working together to create an even more powerful piece!
(from Tatesc-comic Section)

Comment from Supporter

The high level of drawing skill is striking and draws the reader in. The action scenes are dynamic and satisfying to read.

At the beginning, it's a bit unclear who the protagonist is and what their goal is, so perhaps the supporting character at the beginning could be made a little more unpleasant to make it easier to understand. It might be more interesting to hint at why the protagonist ended up this way and who the enemies are in the prologue, and then reveal it all in the climax.

The action scenes are really wonderful, so please keep up the good work!
(from Ranmaru Kotone)

Comment from the Winner

Hi everyone, Sodafungi here! To begin with, I would like to thank Kadokawa for organising this competition and I am honored to have received this award.

What had initially stemmed from curiosity and fun turned into a 3-month race against time, with many sleepless nights and hectic working days. Nonetheless, I hope readers would enjoy reading “Hear no Evil” as much as I did enjoy producing it.
Finally, I would like to thank my friends and colleagues for their unwavering support, as well as my 5 year old ipad for withstanding this arduous project.

I await with ultimate excitement the outcome and growth my art journey promises, and I look forward to collaborating with Kadokawa in the future!

Comment from KADOKAWA Editorial Team

We were captivated by the fantastical sequence of events—racing through the sky with a spirit-like girl in the rain. The unique and aesthetic expression of emotions through the “transformative forms of water”—such as rain, puddles, ice, and rainbows—was particularly impressive.

As the scenes shifted from the rooftop to the sky and then to a hospital room, the layout and paneling conveyed a strong cinematic sense, evoking a feeling of floating through the air. The artist’s ability to depict the motion of water with such precision also demonstrates a high level of technical skill.

Both male and female characters were portrayed in a compelling way, and the sensual quality of the linework matched the tone of the piece beautifully.

We look forward to seeing how this artist’s refined aesthetic sense, directorial talent, and drawing skills continue to expand the scope of work in the future.
(from Strategy Books Section)

Comment from Supporter

The depiction of water throughout the story is particularly well done. Not only the expression of rain, but also the texture and transparency of the cube, and the transformation of water into an umbrella, a wide range of forms is illustrated with care and detail.

The spread on pages 10-11 is especially striking. The frequent shifts in camera angles—from bird’s-eye views to low angles—keep the visual pacing engaging and dynamic.

The expressions of the girl who guides the boy are also very effective, helping the reader understand why the boy is drawn to her. The transition from the dim light of the hospital room to the clearing sky at the end creates a refreshing impression that stays with the reader.
(from Minoji Kurata)

Comment from the Winner

I'm so happy that my work has been recognized!

I put a lot of care into drawing the rain scenes, aiming to create visuals that would let the characters laugh and dance even in the rain.
Rain often makes us feel down or irritated, but if, in those moments, someone happens to recall a rainy scene from this manga and it helps ease their mood even just a little, that would mean the world to me.

*(English text prepared by the administration office. The original Japanese version is available on the Japanese website.)

Comment from KADOKAWA Editorial Team

First, even with a difficult theme such as depicting the characters of Don Quixote, the artist's ability to express them richly in the artist's own style is wonderful.

At first glance, the drawings may appear casual, but it takes solid foundational skill to achieve such a wide visual range on the page. It’s clear the artist have strong underlying ability.

With that kind of strength, they can likely take on any subject matter—not just fantasy, and not limited to either male- or female-oriented genres. We’re excited to see what kind of manga adaptations they’ll bring to life in the future.
(from Global Comic Section)

Comment from Supporter

Don Quixote sets off on a journey believing himself to be a knight, but I was happy that in this story, there’s a proper heroine and a happy ending. I especially liked their intersecting imaginations.

In the manga, the battle scenes are depicted as the fantasies of Don Quixote and the heroine, but imagining how things must have looked in the real world makes you realize just how much chaos the two of them must have caused—which I found quite amusing.
(from Isuna Hasekura)

Comment from the Winner

In the early stages of brainstorming this manga, I wasn’t sure what it might express, but it slowly took shape: two lives, generations apart, connecting through a tale they both loved. Unintentionally, they created a version of it together—a journey they had always longed for. I wanted to explore how stories connect people beyond words, across time, age, and distance.

After years of collaborative work across different art mediums, this was a quiet return to solo manga creation. It reminded me how demanding it is to handle everything alone, though looking back, it makes me smile. I’m truly grateful for this recognition—for noticing this piece, and what its silence holds.