AJA Names New Anime Prize, Schedules 2027 Ceremony in Tokyo

The Association of Japanese Animations formally designated its new industry prize as the Nippon Anime Awards on November 2. The organization confirmed the first ceremony will occur on November 21, 2027, at SGC Hall Ariake in Tokyo.

AJA President Ishikawa Kazuko announced the name during the closing event of Tokyo Anime Next. The three-day program concluded in the Ikebukuro neighborhood after a series of screenings and workshops that began on October 30. Ishikawa presented the awards alongside the official slogan, “Moving Frames. Moving Hearts. Moving the World.”

The body stated that the awards will recognize specific anime titles and the professionals behind their production. The program aims to appeal to domestic and international audiences simultaneously. The ceremony will also feature initiatives designed to create new business opportunities and cultivate emerging talent.

Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko issued a message for the event. She stated, “The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will continue to provide strong support for anime and everyone involved in bringing it to life.” The metropolitan government co-organized the event with the AJA, while Toshima City served as a special sponsor.

The main stage event lasted approximately 90 minutes. The latter portion featured the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra performing music paired with edited footage from three anime series. Nakagawa Nami sang “Kamado Tanjiro no Uta” for the “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” segment. The orchestra also performed the score cue “Demon Slayer Corps.”

Higuchi Ai performed “Akuma no Ko,” the closing theme for “Attack on Titan: The Final Season Part 2.” This followed an orchestral rendition of “Ashes on the Fire.” The musical segment concluded with a tribute to “Detective Conan,” which is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Kuraki Mai performed “Secret of My Heart” with orchestral backing for the finale. She has recorded numerous songs for the long-running detective series. Ishikawa told the audience that the organization hopes to share the appeal of anime with a wider global audience. She added that the industry intends to build that future together with its supporters.

The evening began with a panel discussing the international reach of the medium. The panel included comedian Itakura Toshiyuki, singer Nakagawa Shoko, and Sally Amaki. Amaki, who grew up in Los Angeles, identified “Sorairo Days” by Nakagawa Shoko as her entry point into anime music. She noted that she sang the song during her audition to become a voice actor.

Nakagawa Shoko expressed gratitude for her career path, saying, “I’m so glad I became an anime singer.” The four-day program also included a symposium at the Tokyo International Film Festival’s TIFFCOM market. That session on October 30 examined the purpose of the new awards program.

Fourteen titles screened across three cinemas in Ikebukuro over the weekend. Most of the selections were theatrical features, and four included talk sessions with cast and crew. The lineup included the world premiere of the first episode of “Lona,” a television series from screenwriter Nogi Akiko and Wit Studio.

Production classes at the Toshima Civic Center featured staff from “Cosmic Princess Kaguya!” and “Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe.” A separate session covered a Japan-Saudi Arabia co-produced animation created for Saudi Arabia’s 96th National Day. Children at the event used light tables to trace frames from “Chibi-Maruko-chan.” Sony Music Solutions managed the event secretariat.