Tokyo, March 4, 2026 – Manga Productions, a subsidiary of Mohammed bin Salman Foundation “Misk,” and Manga Arabia, a subsidiary of the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG), have been awarded the Grand Prize in the Project Category at the CJPF Award 2026. The award is organized by the Cabinet Office of Japan through the Cool Japan Public-Private Partnership Platform (CJPF).
The award was received by Dr. Essam Bukhary, CEO of Manga Productions and General Manager & Editor-in-Chief of Manga Arabia, from H.E. Ms. Onoda Kimi, Minister of State for Economic Security, Science and Technology Policy, Space Policy, Intellectual Property Strategy, and Artificial Intelligence, during an official ceremony held in Tokyo.
This recognition reflects the distinguished achievements of both companies in strengthening the global presence of Saudi content and expanding its reach in international markets. As a leading Saudi company in the creative content industry, Manga Productions continues its commitment to exporting stories inspired by local culture to global audiences through strategic partnerships with prominent Japanese production companies.
This award also recognizes Manga Productions’ role in introducing Saudi culture to global audiences through its projects in anime, video games, and comics. Within a few years, the company has built a strong international presence through collaborations with major global production companies and by establishing strategic partnerships in Japan. These collaborations have resulted in the co-production of anime series and films, partnerships for the distribution and licensing of Japanese content, and initiatives to localize and publish video games across the region. The company has also launched several initiatives aimed at supporting and empowering national talents.
Manga Productions has also been a pioneer in education, introducing the “Manga Education Program” curriculum in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, benefiting more than 3 million students via “Madrasti” platform, and training over 4,000 talents across creative content disciplines. These achievements add to Manga Productions’ track record of audience reach and media impact, including over 1.6 billion total content views across 100+ streaming platforms, 4,000+ regional and international media mentions, 15 million+ Manga reads, and 1 million+ mobile game downloads. Notably, Manga Productions received the For-Profit Cultural Institutions Award at the Saudi National Cultural Awards 2025, organized by the Ministry of Culture. The company continues to achieve significant milestones in its creative journey, reinforcing its leadership in the creative content industry and its role in promoting Saudi culture globally. Manga Productions has also previously received the
It is worth noting that Manga Arabia, a subsidiary of the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG), has established strategic partnerships with seven of Japan’s leading publishing houses. In parallel, the company produces original manga titles from its headquarters in Riyadh, which are distributed through free monthly manga magazines reaching approximately 8,000 schools across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Since its establishment, the total circulation has exceeded 22 million copies. In the digital sphere, Manga Arabia’s applications have surpassed 12 million downloads across more than 190 countries, generating over 235 million in-app views and more than 17 million user interactions.
Manga Arabia has also been internationally recognized, receiving the Bronze Award at the 17th International Manga Award, presented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, for the work Saif. Additionally, the company was honored by the Japan Patent Office, affiliated with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), in recognition of its significant contribution to raising awareness on combating digital piracy and protecting intellectual property rights.
Across its digital platforms, Manga Arabia has achieved a broad global reach, surpassing 7.2 billion impressions and generating more than 75 million engagements. Furthermore, the company received the Excellence in Publishing Award (Digital Platforms Category) at the Riyadh International Book Fair Awards, reflecting the growing impact of Manga Arabia, the trust of its audience, and its expanding role in advancing the creative content production and publishing sector.
Dr. Essam Bukhary, CEO of Manga Productions and General Manager & Editor-in-Chief of Manga Arabia, stated: “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 and Manga Arabia reaffirm their commitment to strengthening cultural exchange between Japan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and expanding the global reach of creative content.
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