Daruma Awards 2026: Gachiakuta and Chainsaw Man Triumph

The crowd at Japan Expo hardly had time to settle before the Daruma Awards handed out their 2026 honors — and what a night it was. Big names. Surprise winners. A clear signal that anime and manga keep reshuffling expectations.

Chosen by a mix of industry insiders and passionate fans, the Daruma Awards have quietly grown into one of the best barometers for international appetite. They celebrate last year’s standouts, and this edition leaned into both established franchises and bold newcomers.

Leading the charge on the small screen was Gachiakuta, crowned Anime Series of the Year and taking home Best Action as well. Short sentence. Impactful result. This shonen powerhouse has been collecting praise across ceremonies this season, and the Daruma nod cements its place among contemporary action titans.

On the manga side, Mujina Into the Deep surfaced as a favorite, winning Manga of the Year and Best Art Direction. The visuals were a conversation starter long before the trophy arrived; now critics and readers alike are pointing to its layered storytelling and striking design as proof of its lasting influence.

Kagurabachi continued its global climb by claiming Best Action Manga, while Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc added another feather to its cap by taking Best Theatrical Anime. The franchise has a knack for turning heads, and this cinematic arc proved that the momentum hasn’t slowed.

Other winners filled out a diverse roster: NIPPON SANGOKU: The Three Nations of the Crimson Sun won Best Story in Manga, and Ichi the Witch was named Best New Manga. The awards felt balanced between crowd-pleasers and risk-takers — a healthy mix that keeps the community buzzing.

For genre fans, Takopi’s Original Sin took Best Thriller Anime, while Centuria earned Best Thriller Manga. CITY the Animation and RuriDragon split the slice-of-life categories, and The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity impressively won both Best Romantic Anime and Best Romantic Manga — rare, and telling.

Music and opening sequences also got their due. The opening On the Way, performed by Aina THE END for DAN DA DAN season two, was voted Best Opening; BUMP OF CHICKEN’s I, from the final season of My Hero Academia, took Best Ending. And the award for Best Original Score went to season two of The Apothecary Diaries — a soundtrack that quietly threaded many of the series’ emotional beats.

Below is the complete list of Daruma Awards 2026 winners as announced at Japan Expo, neatly presented for quick reference.

Anime Series of the Year: Gachiakuta

Manga of the Year: Mujina Into the Deep

Best Action Anime: Gachiakuta

Best Action Manga: Kagurabachi

Best Theatrical Anime: Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc

Best Story (Manga): NIPPON SANGOKU: The Three Nations of the Crimson Sun

Best New Manga: Ichi the Witch

Best Art Direction (Manga): Mujina Into the Deep

Best Thriller Anime: Takopi’s Original Sin

Best Thriller Manga: Centuria

Best Slice-of-Life Anime: CITY the Animation

Best Slice-of-Life Manga: RuriDragon

Best Romantic Anime: The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity

Best Romantic Manga: The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity

Best Opening: On the Way — Aina THE END (DAN DA DAN season 2)

Best Ending: I — BUMP OF CHICKEN (My Hero Academia final season)

Best Original Score: The Apothecary Diaries (season 2)

Not every award night rewrites the map, but this year’s Daruma winners do more than decorate shelves. They point to what creators are mastering right now: cinematic ambition, fearless visuals, and stories that travel beyond borders. Which victory surprised you the most?