ALL
Announcement of the Results of the ISS Manga Story Competition
ISS Program held a Manga Story Competition in June for students from University of Tsukuba and The Ohio State University, inviting story submissions under the theme of “An Inclusive Smart Society for Elderly People Living Alone in Rural Areas.”
The application and review process have been completed, and we are pleased to announce the winners!
Grand Prize
Adrijana Miladinovic（The Ohio State University）
Judge’s Comments：
The worldview and gadget settings are excellently crafted. The character design of Kōbi-chan, owned by Takahashi, also stands out among the mass-produced robots. The story is compactly organized into three acts, with a climax that captures the excitement. This is a good story suited for adaptation into a manga.
Story Award
Kevin Zhang（The Ohio State University）
Judge’s Comments：
The story is excellent in raising issues in a society where support for the elderly is perfect. It is wonderful that Naomi’s changes and growth are depicted throughout the story, encouraging readers to sympathise with her. On the other hand, the protagonist Makoto’s personality is not strongly expressed and does not seem to be fully utilized in the story. For example, it would be good to add a small episode at the beginning of the story to give readers an impression of Makoto’s personality.
SF Worldview Award
Sarra Negassi（The Ohio State University）
Judge’s Comments：
The setting of the science fiction world is excellent. The characters are well developed, but exaggerating their personalities in the story would make the story and characters stand out even more. The story feels like the prologue to a larger tale, making me want to read more, but inserting a major incident would draw the reader in even more.
Congratulations to all the award winners!
And thank you to all the students who submitted their entries!
Adrijana-san, a student from The Ohio State University who won the Grand Prize, will present her award-winning story during the ISS Program Session titled “IMAGINE AND CREATE YOUR INCLUSIVE SMART SOCIETY” at the Tsukuba Conference scheduled for October 2, 2025.
We warmly invite you to join us at the venue or online and enjoy Adrijana-san’s inspiring vision of the future.
Details about the conference will be updated regularly on the following page.