Georga Wada had made his feelings known about the Crunchyroll Anime Awards. In the midst of his thoughts, he mentioned how he believed that Japan should have its own awards show to recognize anime by the Japanese people.
Well, it didn’t take long after that comment for something to coalesce because Wada announced the formation of TOKYO ANIME NEXT, an awards show that is to be founded by the Association of Japanese Animations (AJA).
The event is designed to celebrate Japanese animation from a distinctly Japanese perspective, functioning as a home-grown alternative to international fan-voted awards.
The initial event is scheduled to take place in Ikebukuro, Japan, from October 30 to November 2, 2026. The TOKYO ANIME NEXT event will feature screenings, exhibitions, workshops, talk shows, and live stage performances. The ending of the event will serve as a kickoff to unveil a full-scale international anime event that is slated to officially launch in 2027.
When it comes time to determine the awards, the winners will be discussed and selected by Japanese creators and industry experts.
Source: Otaku Mantra
