Get a mini-Kodansha House experience in the main exhibit hall at Comic-Con in San Diego by visiting booth #5542!

Hot on the heels of a successful Kodansha House event in Los Angeles, Kodansha now sets its sights southward to Comic-Con International San Diego (July 23-26, 2026 at the famed San Diego Convention Center) with a special Kodansha House-inspired booth exhibit, line-up of exciting and informative programming, as well as the unveiling of the Blue Lock: Diamonds in the Rough competition winners.

Couldn’t make it to Kodansha House in Los Angeles? Not to worry! Comic-Con attendees can stop by booth #5542 for mini-Kodansha House experience in the main exhibit hall of Comic-Con International. There you’ll find featured artwork from Kodansha House LA on display, along with Kodansha House exclusive merch not available anywhere else, and of course, plenty of fan-favorite and anime-inspiring Kodansha manga also available to purchase. Visit this unique retail experience brought to you in partnership with our friends at Kinokuinya.

Find out who wins Blue Lock: Diamonds in the Rough

Blue Lock: Diamonds in the Rough, the search for the Best Striker in the U.S. comes to a close at Comic-Con International San Diego where Kodansha will reveal who is taking the grand prize as well as the winners of the Just Like Blue Lock, Best Fan Energy, Most Artistic, and Best Cosplay – Group or Individual categories. All the winners will be unveiled at Kodansha’s industry panel on Saturday, July 26, 2026 at 11am PT in room. 

Kodansha goes to the 2026 Eisner Awards 

This year Kodansha is proud to have volumes 1-5 of the AKIRA Hardcover Collection by Katsuhiro Otomo nominated for the  Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books category of the 2026 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards. Happening Friday, July 24, 2026, starting at 8pm PDT in the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Indigo ballrooms fans and professionals can get the chance to attend the event as long as they have a Comic-Con International badge. 

Catch us at one of our panels:

Plan to catch us at one of three panels happening at Comic-Con International where we’ll not only reveal future print licenses, but also give recommendations perfect for educators and librarians, as well as non-manga readers: 

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Thursday, July 23, 2026

Library Manga for “Eager Readers”
When: 2:00PM – 3:00PM
Where: Room 28DE
What: Gone are the days when manga were just for young “reluctant readers.” Instead, patrons of all ages are coming to the library looking for the next big thing—call them eager readers! Join this panel of manga experts as they share how publishers are maximizing the impact of format, age rating/content guidance, anime and other tie-ins, as well as social media and online communication to help connect individual readers to the manga they will love and possibly send them running to their local library! Moderated by Ivan Salazar (Sr. Marketing Director, Kodansha).

Friday, July 24, 2026

Manga Recommendations for Non-Manga Readers
When: 7:00PM – 8:00PM
Where: Room 4
What: Manga is more popular in the US than ever before, but for some readers the massive world of manga can seem confusing, intimidating, or just “not for them.” Fear not! Publishing pros and manga experts, including Ben Applegate (Director, Publishing Services, Penguin Random House), Cayley Last (Editor, Kodansha), and surprise guests, will dispel misconceptions about the medium, discuss its rise into pop culture, and offer suggestions on how to get started. Whether you’re 16 or 60, whether you like superheroes, indie comics, autobiographical works, romance or something else entirely, there’s a manga out there for everyone! Moderated by Ivan Salazar (Sr. Marketing Director, Kodansha).

Saturday, July 25, 2026

New & Upcoming Kodansha Manga Revealed!
When: 11:00AM – 12:00PM
Where: Room 9
What: Kodansha—purveyors of some of the most exciting manga published today like Blue Lock, Gachiauta, and Witch Hat Atelier—offers manga fans a special sneak peek of upcoming manga licenses coming to a bookstore, comic shop, and bookshelf near you! Join the manga experts from Kodansha, including Ben Applegate (Director, Publishing Services, Penguin Random House), Cayley Last (Editor, Kodansha), and Misaki Kido (Kodansha Events Director), to get the inside scoop on the hottest new manga series to add to your wishlist, stay for the Q&A to learn more, and even come away with some surprise giveaways! Moderated by Ivan Salazar (Sr. Marketing Director, Kodansha). 

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Keep your eyes open for Comic-Con in San Diego announcements here at kodansha.us and updates across our social media channels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky and TikTok!