Manga Taishō winners 2017–2026: Frieren, Blue Period, Beastars and more
Blue Period
ブルーピリオド
A high school student discovers the joy of painting and sets out to get into art school. It won the 13th Manga Taishō in 2020.
AuthorTsubasa Yamaguchi
PublisherKodansha
MagazineMonthly Afternoon
Serialized2017–present
Volumes19 (as of May 2026)
AwardManga Taishō 2020 grand prize (73 points)
What is it about?
The story follows a teenager who falls for art, through cram school for art-university entrance exams, the exams themselves, and life as a student at the Tokyo University of the Arts.
Beyond the page
An anime by Seven Arcs aired from October to December 2021, and a live-action film opened in Japan in August 2024. By November 2021 the manga had over 4.5 million copies in circulation, and Kodansha USA publishes it in English.
Who will like it
Anyone curious about art, and anyone wrestling with what to do after school.