Saudi Manga Productions And Manga Arabia Receive CJPF Grand Prize In Cultural Exchange

Manga Productions and Manga Arabia receive the Grand Prize in the Project Category at the CJPF Award 2026, highlighting growing recognition for Saudi creative content in Japan and worldwide. The honour comes from the Cabinet Office of Japan, through the Cool Japan Public-Private Partnership Platform, and underlines both companies’ roles in taking locally inspired stories to international audiences.

The prize is presented in Tokyo to CEO of Manga Productions and General Manager and Editor-in-Chief of Manga Arabia Dr. Essam Bukhary. The award is handed over by Minister of State for Economic Security, Science and Technology Policy, Space Policy, Intellectual Property Strategy, and Artificial Intelligence Onoda Kimi during an official ceremony attended by government and industry representatives.

Dr. Bukhary states: "We are proud to receive the Grand Prize in the Project Category at the CJPF Award, which represents recognition of the continuous efforts of the teams at Manga Productions and Manga Arabia. Inspired by the creative values of Japanese content, we have worked to develop productions that reflect our cultural identity with a global vision. This achievement highlights our role in building creative bridges between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Japan, and the world, empowering future generations, and supporting the growth of the content industry in the Kingdom. With this recognition, we remain committed to expanding the global presence of Saudi content and contributing to the development of the creative sector."

Manga Productions, a subsidiary of Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk), and Manga Arabia, part of the Saudi Research and Media Group, position the award as further evidence of strengthening cultural exchange between Japan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Both companies emphasise that they remain focused on expanding the global circulation of Saudi creative works in multiple formats.

Within a few years, Manga Productions develops a strong presence in global markets by working with leading Japanese and international partners. The company co-produces anime series and films, agrees distribution and licensing deals for Japanese content, and helps localise and publish video games across the region, while also investing in initiatives that support and empower Saudi creative talent.

Manga Productions also works with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture on the "Manga Education Program". The curriculum is delivered through the "Madrasti" platform, reaching more than three million students across the Kingdom. Over 4,000 people receive training in creative content fields, supporting skills development in animation, gaming, and related disciplines.

The company records extensive audience engagement. Its works achieve over 1.6 billion content views on more than 100 streaming platforms, alongside more than 4,000 regional and international media mentions, over 15 million Manga reads, and more than one million mobile game downloads. Manga Productions also receives the For-Profit Cultural Institutions Award at the 2025 Saudi National Cultural Awards, organised by the Ministry of Culture.

Manga Arabia, operating from Riyadh, builds a portfolio of original manga titles while also forming strategic partnerships with seven major Japanese publishing houses. The company distributes free monthly manga magazines to approximately 8,000 schools across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with total print circulation since establishment exceeding 22 million copies, helping familiarise students with manga created in Arabic.

In digital platforms, Manga Arabia’s applications achieve more than 12 million downloads in over 190 countries, generating over 235 million in-app views and more than 17 million user interactions. Across broader online channels, its content passes 7.2 billion impressions and 75 million engagements. Recognitions include the Bronze Award at the 17th International Manga Award for "Saif", an honour from the Japan Patent Office for efforts against digital piracy, and the Excellence in Publishing Award, Digital Platforms Category, at the Riyadh International Book Fair Awards.

Together, Manga Productions and Manga Arabia continue to expand Saudi cultural presence across print, digital, animation, and gaming, while deepening links with Japanese institutions and companies. Their latest recognition at the CJPF Award 2026 adds to a record of awards and partnerships that underline their contribution to the creative content sector and the international visibility of Saudi stories.

With inputs from SPA