Japan’s Only Event Honoring Collaborations Between Anime and Other Industries “Kyoto Anime Craft Awards 2026” Sumire Uesaka to Appear as a Guest at the Awards Ceremony! The announcement of the winners and Grand Prize, along with the awards ceremony, will be held on Saturday, September 19, at “Kyomafu”!

This award recognizes collaborative projects between companies and organizations from different industries that utilize anime, manga, and charactersThe awards ceremony for the “Kyoto Ani-Monozukuri Award 2026” (Organized by: Ani-Monozukuri Award) will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, as part of the “Kyoto International Manga and Anime Fair 2026 (Kyomaf).”

Voice actress Sumire Uesaka has been confirmed as a special guest for the awards ceremony, and entertainment sociologist Atsuo Nakayama will also be in attendance as a guest. From the numerous entries received from across the country during the submission period from May 11 to July 16, the Grand Prix and other winning entries will be announced alongside these two guests.

Official Visual for the “Kyoto Anime Craft Award 2026” (Illustration: tomoca)

In recent years, a succession of blockbuster hits in both theatrical and TV anime has propelled the anime market to historic growth, with fan bases expanding across a wide range of age groups. Furthermore, it has become increasingly common for companies in industries such as automotive manufacturing, retail, food and beverage, and IT to utilize anime, manga, and characters in their marketing efforts, including advertisements and collaborative merchandise.

Launched in 2017, the “Anime Monodzukuri Award” serves as a bridge connecting the anime industry with businesses, recognizing outstanding collaborations and tie-up initiatives that utilize anime.To date, numerous companies have submitted entries, and outstanding winning works have been selected at the eight previous “Anime Monozukuri Awards” ceremonies. (Past winners and Grand Prix winners are listed on the official Anime Monozukuri Awards website.)

This year marks the 9th edition of the awards. Nominations for the six categories—Animation Commercial, Content Partnership, Original Content, International, Regional Revitalization, and a Special Award—will be announced in late August. The Grand Prix and other winning entries will be announced on Saturday, September 19,at the Miyako Messe Stage within the Kyoto Mafu venue (starting at 3:50 PM on Saturday, September 19).

Additionally, popular voice actress Sumire Uesaka has been confirmed as a special guest for the event, Tomoko Misaki—who is active in radio and talk shows—will serve as MC, and entertainment sociologist Atsuo Nakayama will join as a guest commentator. They will all help liven up the awards ceremony.

<Schedule for Announcing Category Awards>

Announcement of Nominees: Scheduled for late August (via website and press release)

　↓

Announcement of Winners and Grand Prize Winner

<Announcement of Award-Winning Entries and Awards Ceremony>

Date and Time: September 19, 2026, starting at 3:50 PM

Venue: Inside the “Kyoto International Manga & Anime Fair 2026” venue

Appearances: [Special Guest] Sumire Uesaka (Voice Actress)

　　　　　[Guests] Tomoko Misaki (Announcer), Atsuo Nakayama (Entertainment Sociologist)

*The date, time, and location are subject to change.

For details, please visit the official “Ani Monozukuri Award” website (https://animono.jp).

Animonodzukuri Award Official Website: https://animono.jp

Animo-zukuri Award Official X: https://x.com/animono_jp

[Special Guest: Sumire Uesaka Profile]

She made her voice acting debut in 2011.

Her major roles include Ram in “Urusei Yatsura,” Alisa Mikhailovna Kujo (Alya) in “My Neighbor Alya, Who Sometimes Murmurs Sweetly in Russian,” Towa Kuga in “Mobile Police Patlabor EZY,” and Gunmiya in “ONE PIECE.”

Special Guest: Sumire Uesaka

[Guest: Atsuo Nakayama Profile]

Entertainment sociologist. While serving as an entrepreneur (founder of Re entertainment, a management consulting firm specializing in entertainment) and an executive at venture companies (Plott, Fandom), he also serves as a researcher (research fellow at Keio and Ritsumeikan Universities), a policy committee member (Chief of the Content Division at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; member of the Cabinet Office’s Intellectual Property Strategy Committee), andassociation director (Licensing International Japan, ATP), among other roles, and has made the global expansion of Japanese entertainment his life’s work. His publications include *Japan: The Character Superpower*, *Creator Wonderland*, *The Complete History of the Entertainment Business*, *Masters of Entertainment*, *The ‘Oshi’ Economy*, and *The Genesis of the Otaku Economy*.

Guest: Atsuo Nakayama

[Greetings from the Ani-Monodzukuri Award Executive Committee]

This year marks the 9th edition of the “Anime Manufacturing Awards” since its inception in 2017. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our cooperating and supporting organizations—including Kyoto Mafu and KYOTO CMEX—as well as to the companies and organizations that have submitted entries to date, and to all those involved.

Japanese animation has become firmly established as pop culture among a wide range of generations, not only domestically but also overseas, and is increasingly asserting its presence as one of the growth industries driving the Japanese economy. In recent years, it has been extensively utilized in marketing and promotion for corporate and regional revitalization efforts, yielding significant results.

Through this award, we will promote various initiatives aimed at creating new business opportunities through collaborations between the animation industry and other sectors, and at serving as a bridge connecting the animation industry with the broader business community and local societies.

Additionally, this year we have established a new “Special Award for Collaboration in Promoting Japanese Cuisine Overseas” to honor outstanding initiatives that have utilized IP content to contribute to the global dissemination of Japanese food culture. We hope that through this award and related seminars, more food industry professionals will recognize the potential to strengthen their export capabilities by leveraging IP content.

We hope that this award—as Japan’s only award that brings together outstanding works from both Japan and abroad—will serve as an opportunity for more companies and organizations to submit entries, and ultimately contribute to the growth of your businesses.

[What is the Ani-Monodzukuri Award?]

In recent years, due to the nationwide success of anime works and the growing number of anime fans across a wide range of age groups, opportunities for companies and organizations that previously had no direct connection to anime to collaborate with the anime industry have increased and are attracting significant attention.A wide range of industries—including automotive, food and beverage manufacturers, retail, startups utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as AR and VR, and traditional crafts—are collaborating with anime. Additionally, an increasing number of organizations are actively planning “anime pilgrimage” tours—a form of content tourism centered around anime—giving rise to various new initiatives.The “Anime Manufacturing Awards” were established in 2017 with the aim of recognizing outstanding works from among these initiatives, widely publicizing the efforts of companies and organizations, and increasing the number of high-quality collaborative content projects.From Kyoto City—a hub for manufacturing companies ranging from traditional to cutting-edge industries, with deep ties to anime culture—we will promote “Animo-zukuri” nationwide and around the world.

[Term: Ani-Monozukuri]

A new movement is gaining momentum that utilizes anime-centered content to create “products” and “experiences.” “Animo-zukuri” refers to the new business value, technology, culture, products, and services born from the combination of “anime”—one of Japan’s strengths—with “manufacturing” and “experience creation.”

[What is the “Kyoto International Manga and Anime Fair (Kyomaf) 2026”?]

To promote the content industry in Kyoto City,

(1) The creation and growth of new industries utilizing content

(2) Fostering, training, and retaining creative talent

(3) Enhancing the city’s brand as a global cultural hub

(4) Attracting tourists, particularly young people, and more,

This is the largest comprehensive manga, anime, and game trade fair in Western Japan, held with the aim of promoting the content industry in the Kansai region, centered on Kyoto. The event attracts a large number of visitors, with publishers, television stations, and video production companies exhibiting to promote their latest works, sell merchandise, and host stage events. In addition, various initiatives are carried out, including support for creative professionals and students.

<Selection Committee>

■ Selection Committee Chair

Mr. Tsuyoshi Natsuno (Director and Specially Appointed Professor, Institute of Information Science, Kinki University; Director, Representative Executive Officer, and Chief Executive Officer, KADOKAWA Corporation)

■ Selection Committee Members

Naoshi Kazuto (Journalist)

Mr. Akinori Nakamura (Professor, College of Film and Media Studies, Ritsumeikan University)

Mr. Atsuo Nakayama (Sociologist specializing in entertainment)

Mr. Kazuo Rikukawa (President and CEO, Character Data Bank; Executive Director, Character Brand & Licensing Association)

*Listed in Japanese syllabary order

■Special Selection Committee Members

Mr. Shigeru Saito (Chair of the KYOTO Cross Media Experience Executive Committee; Chairman and CEO of Tose Co., Ltd.)

Mr. Ryutaro Hayashi (Advertising Creator and Producer)

Mr. Taro Maki (Representative Director, Genko)

Ms. Azusa Matsuda (VP of Business Development, SPJA)

*Listed in Japanese alphabetical order

<Organizer & Operator>

Organizer: Ani-Monodzukuri Award Executive Committee

Co-hosted by: Kyoto International Manga & Anime Fair Executive Committee, KYOTO Cross Media Experience Executive Committee

<Supported by>

Anime Expo

<Supported by>

Character Data Bank Co., Ltd.

City of Kyoto

Tokyo Otaku Mode Co., Ltd.

Japan Animation Association (General Incorporated Association)

Peatix Japan Co., Ltd.

*Listed in no particular order

[Contact Information for the General Public Regarding This Matter]

◆Anime Monozukuri Awards Executive Committee (Secretariat: Anime Business Create Co., Ltd.)

Email: award@animono.jp

For application details, visit the official “Anime Monodzukuri Award” website → https://animono.jp