Alice, Dokomademo:"Manga Taisho 2025" Grand Prize: Kiko Ueno wins her dream prize 16 years after debut; her passion for studying inspired her to create this work

The Manga Taisho 2025 (sponsored by the Executive Committee), in which manga-savvy bookstore employees choose "the manga they most want to recommend to friends right now," was announced on March 27th, and Kiko Ueno's manga "Alice, Dokomademo," currently serialized in "Weekly Big Comic Spirits" (Shogakukan), was selected as the grand prize winner. Ueno, who is celebrating her 16th year since her debut this year, said she started drawing "Alice, Uchuu Made Mo" with the goal of winning the Manga Taisho Grand Prize, and expressed her joy at winning, saying, "I told the editorial department, 'I'm going to get first place,' so I'm happy I was able to keep my word."

"Alice, Dokomademo" is a manga that has been serialized in "Weekly Big Comic Spirits" since June 2024. It depicts the story of a girl who becomes the first Japanese female astronaut captain. The story is about a beautiful and popular junior high school girl, Arisu Asahida, who is shy and unable to keep up with her daily classes, but whose destiny unfolds when she meets a classmate.

Regarding the work, Ureno said, "It was originally a project I created for a boys' magazine." He continued, "For the past six or seven years, I had been drawing up storyboards for a story about setting a big goal and working hard towards it, but when I submitted it to the serialization meeting, it was rejected. The editorial department told me, 'Let's draw a manga that's a little gentler, a manga that's relaxing,' so I made it into a manga about a boy and a girl studying together and building a bond."

The plan at the time was evaluated as "interesting" and he attended the meeting, but he revealed, "They said, 'Bring it to us in three months.' I've been working here for 16 years, so I can fix it in about three days, so I thought, 'Three months?' It was very rude of me, but I asked, 'Can I take this somewhere else?' and they said, 'Yes,' so I showed it to the person in charge at 'Spirits.'" That's where the project began.

One of the main themes of the work is "studying." Ureno explained the circumstances, saying, "I have a daughter in her third year of junior high school, and I was thinking of planning a work after she had finished her junior high school entrance exams, so I was in study mode. I also went to a combined junior and senior high school, and worked hard to get into my first choice school, but I couldn't go halfway through. I loved studying, but my academic path was cut short, and I think that's what I regret. My debut work, "Even Roses Can Be Written," is about that kind of thing. My editor told me, "It's about time you start selling," but it's often said that authors have everything they want to say in their debut work, so I thought the answer might be in the debut work. I thought that was what I regret, so I decided to write it."

When asked why he thinks studying is important, Ueno replied, "You don't have to do it, but I guess it means you can go anywhere. It's not just about studying, though. I think the reason I like studying is because it allows me to go far away."

When asked what he wants to portray as a manga artist, he shared his thoughts, "In this work, there are many lines that say, 'Children's power can change the future,' but this is not the mainstream approach. What Inuhoshi-kun is trying to do is an invitation to take a devious route, a side path, but the idea of ​​doing it on our own is also a way of encouraging my childhood self. I think that's been consistent since my debut work. Maybe I want to encourage my younger self, and tell him, 'You can do it on your own.'"

The Manga Taisho is a manga award established in 2008, and is characterized by the fact that those with a direct vested interest in the sales of manga, such as manga artists, editors, and book designers, are not involved in the judging. Works that receive the Grand Prize attract attention and see a sudden increase in sales, and sometimes lead to media development such as anime and movies. This year marks the 18th time the award has been given, and it is open to manga (past Grand Prize winners excluded) that have been released in comics or e-books between January 1 and December 31, 2024, and have 8 volumes or less in total.

Previous grand prize winners include Yuki Suetsugu's "Chihayafuru," Chika Umino's "March Comes in Like a Lion," Mitsuharu Yanagimoto's "Hibiki: How to Become a Novelist," and " Frieren: Beyond Journey's End ," written by Kanehito Yamada and illustrated by Tsukasa Abe Abe. In 2024, the award went to Inuhiko Doronota's "To Walk in Space with You."

◇ "Manga Taisho 2025" nominated works (titles omitted)

"Alice, Dokomademo" by Ueno Kiko Ueno▽"Star in the women's garden" by Kazuyama Yama▽"COSMOS" by Tamura Ryuhei▽"This world is worth fighting for" by Kodama Hatsumi▽"Return to the world of magic school life after death, starting from the prologue with an ex-lover (※but with zero likeability rating)" by Shirakawa Ariin, Mutsuhana Eiko, Akishika Yugiri▽"The great magician of the library" by Izumi Hikaru▽"I love eating binge-eating! Mochizuki-san" by Maruyo no Kamome▽"When the Dokudami flowers bloom" by Kido Shiho▽"An Girl Meets Rock!" by Deuchi Tetsuo and Kuwahari▽"Wisteria by the roadside" by Nabekura Fu

◇Past Grand Prize winning works (titles omitted)

"Gake" by Ishizuka Shinichi▽"Chihayafuru" by Suetsugu Yuki▽"Thermae Romae" by Yamazaki Mari▽"March Comes in Like a Lion" by Umino Chika▽"Silver Spoon" by Arakawa Hiromu▽"Our Little Sister" by Yoshida Akimi▽"Otoyomegatari" by Mori Kaoru▽"Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey" by Higashimura Akiko▽"Golden Kamuy" by Noda Satoru▽"Hibiki: How to Become a Novelist" by Yanagimoto Mitsuharu▽"BEASTARS" by Itagaki Paru▽"Astra Lost in Space" by Shinohara Kenta▽"Blue Period" by Yamaguchi Tsubasa▽"Frieren: Beyond Journey's End"by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe ▽"The Darwin Incident" by Umezawa Shun▽"Kore Kaite Shine" by Toyoda Minoru▽"To Walk in Space with You" by Doronota Inuhiko