by Samwanhertz has reached a major milestone after taking first place in the Comics Category of the Next Manga Awards 2026. Following the announcement, the manga’s official X account shared a newly drawn commemorative illustration by creator Ei Yamano, thanking readers for their continued support.
The victory has generated a strong response from readers, with fans celebrating the result and expressing their hopes for the series’ future. Among the reactions were comments such as, “I want all of humanity to read Samwanhertz,” while another fan joked that “the only thing left is an anime adaptation.”
However, it is important to note that there is currently no confirmed anime adaptation announcement for Samwanhertz. The anime comments are fan reactions rather than an official production announcement.
Samwanhertz Takes First Place at the Next Manga Awards 2026
The Next Manga Awards 2026 announced its winners on September 16, with Samwanhertz by Ei Yamano taking the No. 1 position in the Comics Category.
The manga received 51,868 points, finishing ahead of Futari Bus by Sakane Toyobayashi, which placed second with 37,882 points, and Regista! by Fujimaru, which took third place with 22,621 points.
The 2026 awards attracted 7,952 entries across the Comics and Web Manga categories, making the achievement particularly significant for a relatively new series. The awards are decided through a user-participation system in which readers nominate and vote for manga they believe are likely to become major hits.
Next Manga Awards 2026 — Comics Category
- 1st: Samwanhertz — Ei Yamano — 51,868 points
- 2nd: Futari Bus — Sakane Toyobayashi — 37,882 points
- 3rd: Regista! — Fujimaru — 22,621 points
The Web Manga Category was won by Okaeri Suheisen by Daiyo Watanabe.
What Is Samwanhertz About?
For newcomers, Samwanhertz is a radio-themed youth romantic comedy written and illustrated by Ei Yamano. The series follows two high school students, Mimei Fukuramori and Kurage Mizuo, who share a love of late-night radio.
Mimei is a serious and hardworking student council president who wants to become someone capable of making other people laugh. Kurage, meanwhile, is a mysterious and easygoing classmate.
Their connection becomes much more interesting when Mimei discovers that Kurage is actually a talented radio listener and postcard contributor, known for submitting material to the same program.
Instead of simply being classmates who happen to enjoy the same hobby, the two become rivals within the world of late-night radio.
The official Weekly Shonen Jump description calls the series a “youth radio love comedy”, centered on the relationship between two listeners whose rivalry develops through their shared passion for radio.
This unusual combination of school life, radio culture, comedy, friendship and romance is one of the elements that makes the manga stand out.
A New Illustration From Ei Yamano
To celebrate the No. 1 ranking, the official Samwanhertz X account shared a newly drawn illustration by Ei Yamano.
The artwork features Mimei holding a yellow radio, while Kurage appears in her sailor-style school uniform and gives a peace sign. The illustration uses a bright yellow background and includes a handwritten-style message thanking readers for their support, along with Yamano’s signature.
The illustration quickly became a celebration point for fans who have followed the manga since its early days.
The award also gave longtime readers another reason to talk about how far the series has come since its serialization began.
Fans Celebrate the Win — and Ask for an Anime
The response from readers has been enthusiastic.
Fans congratulated Ei Yamano and the series, while others said they were already looking forward to the next volume. Some readers also used the occasion to express their desire to see the manga receive an anime adaptation.
Comments highlighted by Japanese media included sentiments such as:
- “Congratulations!”
- “I’m already looking forward to Volume 5!”
- “I want all of humanity to read Samwanhertz!”
- “It feels like the only thing left is an anime adaptation.”
- “I’m so happy that a manga I’ve been supporting was selected!”
These comments demonstrate the excitement surrounding the award, but they should not be confused with an official anime announcement. As of the latest available information, no anime adaptation has been announced for Samwanhertz.
The Manga Is Still Relatively New
One reason the Next Manga Awards victory is notable is that Samwanhertz is still a young series.
The manga began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2025, with its serialization beginning in issue No. 42. Despite its relatively recent debut, it has already developed a dedicated readership around its distinctive radio-centered story.
The series has also continued to receive new opportunities to reach readers. Following its award victory, one full volume was made available to read for free on Shonen Jump+ until September 27, 2026, giving new readers an easy way to discover the story.
That campaign could introduce the series to readers who may have heard about its award but have not yet started the manga.
Volume 5 Is Coming in October
There is also new publication news for fans.
Volume 5 of Samwanhertz is scheduled to be released in Japan on October 2, 2026, in both print and digital formats. The print edition is listed at 572 yen, with 192 pages.
The release follows Volume 4, which arrived in August 2026. According to Shueisha’s official series listings, the previous volumes were released throughout 2026, with Volume 1 launching in January, Volume 2 in March, Volume 3 in May, and Volume 4 in August.
For readers who discovered the series because of the Next Manga Awards, the timing of Volume 5 gives the manga another opportunity to attract new attention.
Samwanhertz Had Already Reached 500,000 Copies
The Next Manga Awards victory comes shortly after another important milestone.
In August 2026, Samwanhertz was reported to have surpassed 500,000 copies in cumulative circulation with the release of Volume 4. The milestone was accompanied by a special recommendation from Osamu Akimoto, creator of the long-running manga Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen-mae Hashutsujo (KochiKame), along with an illustration featuring its famous character Ryotsu.
That achievement showed that the series had already begun building a substantial audience before winning the Next Manga Awards.
The award victory now gives the manga another major promotional boost.
What Makes the Series Different?
At first glance, a manga about students who listen to late-night radio might sound simple. However, Samwanhertz uses radio as a way to explore how people connect with one another even when they do not know each other personally.
The characters communicate through voices, radio programs, jokes,s and submitted messages. This creates a different kind of romantic-comedy setting from the more familiar school festival, club,ub or sports-focused stories often seen in manga.
For beginners, the basic appeal can be understood through three elements:
Radio: The characters share a passion for late-night broadcasts and the creative world surrounding them.
Rivalry: Mimei and Kurage are connected not only as classmates but also as competing contributors.
Youth and romance: Their radio activities gradually affect their everyday relationship, creating humorous and emotional moments.
That combination gives the manga a strong identity while keeping its story accessible to readers who may have little knowledge of Japanese radio culture.
The Creator’s Reaction to the Award
Ei Yamano also shared an emotional message after Samwanhertz won first place.
The creator explained that the idea of making a manga about radio had existed for five years, and expressed surprise and gratitude at receiving such a major award after so much support from readers.
Yamano thanked everyone who had supported the series and said they hoped readers would continue watching over the “radio days” of Kurage and Mimei.
The comment gives additional context to the series: Samwanhertz was not simply a story built around a currently popular trend. The creator had wanted to make a radio manga for years before the project eventually became the series now attracting attention from readers across Japan.
Next Manga Awards Could Bring More Readers to the Series
The Next Manga Awards were established in 2014 as a user-participation manga award, with readers helping determine which titles deserve attention as potential future hits.
The system begins with manga being entered by users. Selected titles become nominees, and readers then vote for the works they believe are the next major manga to watch.
For Samwanhertz, winning the Comics Category therefore represents more than simply receiving an industry honor. It means the manga was directly supported by readers participating in the award process.
The victory also places the series alongside previous Next Manga Awards winners that later gained significant recognition.
Special Award Campaigns Are Also Underway
Following the announcement, participating bookstores began holding a Next Manga Awards 2026 fair from September 17.
Readers purchasing the first-place works,rks Samwanhertz and Okaeri Suheisen, at participating bookstores can receive a special illustration card while supplies last. The exact distribution period and method vary by store.
This gives fans another opportunity to celebrate the award while also supporting the winning manga.
Is a Samwanhertz Anime Adaptation Happening?
For now, there is no official confirmation of a Samwanhertz anime adaptation.
The idea has naturally become a topic among fans following the manga’s recent success. With the series winning the Comics Category of the Next Manga Awards, passing 500,000 copies in circulation, and receiving continued promotional attention, readers are increasingly discussing what could come next.
However, an anime project requires an official announcement from the relevant production committee, publisher, studio,o or other authorized source. Until such an announcement is made, comments about an adaptation remain fan hopes and speculation rather than confirmed news.
For now, the confirmed developments are already substantial: Samwanhertz has won the 2026 Next Manga Awards Comics Category, a commemorative illustration has been released, Volume 5 is scheduled for October 2, and a free-reading campaign is giving new readers a chance to catch up.
Samwanhertz has gone from being a distinctive radio-themed series in Weekly Shonen Jump to becoming the No. 1 winner of the Next Manga Awards 2026 Comics Category.
Its story of Mimei and Kurage combines late-night radio, school life, rivalry, friendship, and romance in a way that has connected strongly with readers. The latest award is likely to bring even more attention to the series, particularly among manga fans who have not yet discovered it.
With Volume 5 arriving on October 2 and a special free-reading campaign currently available, this is an ideal time for newcomers to explore the manga.
As for an anime adaptation, fans will have to wait for an official announcement. For now, the message from readers is clear: many are eager to see Samwanhertz reach an even larger audience.
