The TV anime Kuroiwa Medaka ni Watashi no Kawaii ga Tsūjinai has been nominated for the Best Romance Anime category at the Japan Expo DARUMA Awards 2026. Public voting is currently open until July 1.
About the Series
Based on the manga by Kuze Ran, serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine (Kodansha), the series has surpassed 28 million copies in cumulative circulation. It is a romantic comedy centered on the “popular girl × ascetic boy” dynamic. The story follows Kawai Mona, a beautiful and stylish girl who is used to being popular, but her school life is turned upside down when transfer student Kuroiwa Medaka shows no interest in her. Determined to make him notice her, Mona tries every trick in the book—sometimes even going a little too far.
DARUMA Awards Details
The Japan Expo DARUMA Awards are presented annually at Japan Expo, one of Europe’s largest Japanese culture events held in Paris, France. The awards are influential in the French anime and manga industry. A jury of industry experts selects nominees across 20 categories. Final winners are determined by a combination of the jury’s vote and public voting. Fans can cast their votes via the Mangacollec app or website for each category until July 1.
Cast & Staff
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Kuroiwa Medaka | Iwasaki Ryota |
| Kawai Mona | Serizawa Yu |
| Shonan Asahi | Amamiya Sora |
| Haruno Tsubomi | Hanazawa Kana |
| Namba Tomo | Yano Hina |
| Shirahama Minami | Maeda Kaori |
| Kido Yuzuru | Hatakenaka Yuu |
| Kobayakawa Sho | Yamashita Daiki |
Staff
Original Work: Kuze Ran (Kodansha “Weekly Shonen Magazine” serialization)
Director: Okumura Yoshiaki
Series Composition & Script: Fudeyasu Kazuyuki
Character Design: Watanabe Mayumi
Music: Tateyama Akihiro
Sound Director: Onuma Noriyoshi
Color Design: Yamauchi Aiko
Photography Director: Nishimura Tetsuya (Studio Elle)
Art Director: Miyake Masakazu
Animation Production: SynergySP
(C)Kuze Ran・Kodansha／“Kuroiwa Medaka ni Watashi no Kawaii ga Tsūjinai” Production Committee
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