Browsing through this year’s Taisho nominees

Thanks to Sean (A Case Suitable for Treatment) Gaffney for tweeting the news that the nominees for the 2011 Manga Taisho Awards have been announced. (Here’s Wikipedia’s entry on the awards with lists of nominees and winners from previous years.) Khursten (Otaku Champloo) Santos has already taken a look at the nominees, but I’m totally obsessed with this awards program, so I can’t resist mentioning them here at possibly ridiculous length.

I Am a Hero, written and illustrated by Kengo Hanazawa, seinen, serialized in Shogakukan’s Big Comic Spirits, also nominated last year. It’s about a mangaka whose working and personal lives are disrupted by a possibly delusional, sinister conspiracy.

A Bride’s Story, written and illustrated by Kaoru Mori, seinen, serialized in Enterbrain’s Fellows!, due for publication in English from Yen Press. Mori is already much loved by English-language manga readers for Emma and Shirley (both from CMX). A Bride’s Story “tells the tale of a beautiful young bride in nineteenth-century Asia,” as she prepares for an arranged marriage with a much-younger man.

Omo ni Naitemasu, written and illustrated by Akiko Higashimura, seinen, serialized in Kodansha’s Morning. It’s a comedy about the mistress and muse of an artist. Higashimura seems to be something of a favorite with the Taisho panel, having been nominated for Kuragehime (from Kodansha’s Kiss) last year, Mama ha Tenparist (from Shueisha’s Chorus) in 2009, and Himawari (from Kodansha’s Morning) in 2008. She hasn’t won a Taisho yet, but it seems like it’s only a matter of time.

Kokkoku, written and illustrated by Seita Horio, seinen, serialized in Kodansha’s Morning Two. I can’t find much information, other than that it’s an action-mystery story. It also seems to be Horio’s debut ongoing.

Sayonara mo Iwazu ni, written and illustrated by Kentarô Ueno, seinen, serialized in Enterbrain’s Comic Beam. Again, I’m somewhat at a loss, but the title loosely translates to something like “Silent Goodbye.” “Without Even Saying Goodbye.” (Thanks, Travis!)

Saru, written and illustrated by Daisuke Igarashi, seinen, serialized in Shogakukan’s IKKI. It’s about a supernatural war between the physical and mental sides of an ancient and powerful being of some sort, so it sounds like it’s very much in Igarashi’s wheelhouse. You may be familiar with Igarashi from his wonderful Children of the Sea, which Viz is serializing on its SigIKKI site.

March Comes in Like a Lion, written and illustrated by Chica Umino, seinen, serialized in Hakusensha’s Young Animal, also nominated in 2009. It’s a slice-of-life story about a gifted but antisocial shogi player. You may be familiar with Umino from her wonderful Honey and Clover (Viz).

Un chocolatier de l’amour perdu, written and illustrated by Setona Mizushiro, josei, serialized in Shogakukan’s Flowers and Rinka, published in French as Heartbroken Chocolatier by Kazé. It’s about a lovelorn candy maker with a possibly unfaithful girlfriend. You may be familiar with Mizushiro from X-Day (Tokyopop), After School Nightmare (Go! Comi), or from previous license requests.

Shingeki no Kyojin, written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama, shônen, serialized in Kodansha’s Bessatsu Shônen. It’s about the fight of a human race fighting back against the violent giants who have been terrorizing them for centuries.

Drifters, written and illustrated by Kouta Hirano, seinen, serialized in Shônen Ganosha’s Young King OURs. It’s an historical fantasy about a samurai who’s transported to a mysterious world. You may recognize Hirano from Hellsing (Dark Horse).

Don’t Cry Girl, written and illustrated by Tomoko Yamashita, shôjo, serialized in Libre Shuppan’s Kurofune Zero. I can’t find much information on the series, but you may recognize Yamashita from Black-Winged Love and Dining Bar Akira (Netcomics).

Hana no Zubora-Meshi, written by Masayuki Kuzumi, illustrated by Etsuko Mizusawa, published by Akita Shoten. I have no idea what it’s about, but the cover is cute, and it’s in the josei category.

Mashiro no Oto, written and illustrated by Marimo Ragawa, shônen, serialized in Kodansha’s Monthly Shônen Magazine. It’s about an aimless young man who finds purpose in playing the Shamisen, a traditional Japanese string instrument. You may recognize Ragawa from Baby & Me (Viz) or from N.Y.N.Y., a seminal but as-yet-unlicensed boys’ love title.

So, what are your thoughts? Any of the above titles look particularly enticing to you? Do you have any more details on any of the above? There are some terrific, established creators in the mix, along with some promising-looking newcomers.