Transgender Manga 'ECHOS' Wins Amazing Grand Prix Award

Japanese manga publisher Takarajimasha announced that ECHOES won the 7th Kono Manga ga Sugoi! (This Manga is Amazing) Grand Prix Award. The transgender themed manga won by unanimous vote from the judges. ECHOES was written by 28-year-old Ayumi, and is based on her life experiences with gender identity.

The Kono Manga ga Sugoi! Grand Prix Award began in 2010 as a way to help manga readers discover new talent and as a way for young manga creators to develop their skills.

ECHOES centers around a female basketball team and their personal trials. Protagonist Sei has the mind of a male, and is struggling with the idea of being transgender. The story also focuses on teammates Asuka, who is a misanthrope (people hater); and Kaneko, who is struggling to let go of past guilt.

The goal of the manga, according to Ayumi, is to show that various types of people can come together as a community to help each other overcome obstacles, and to create a world were transgender people are not treated as strange individuals.