"Beelzebub," a manga series by Ryuhei Tamura, was selected as the best manga of the year in the boys' manga category at the 2012 Prix Mangawa awards in France, the organizer announced.
"Shion no Ou" (The king of Shion), a manga written by Masaru Katori and illustrated by Jiro Ando, was named the best manga for young men, while Rei Toma's "Dawn of the Arcana" was chosen as the best work in the girls' manga category.
Every year, winners are picked by young manga readers in France ranging in age from 11 to 18. For the eighth installment held this year, 3,986 children and teenagers cast ballots.
The Prix Mangawa is organized by French bookstore L'ange bleu in association with 600 or so libraries in France, along with teachers, librarians and publishers.
They aim to promote understanding of manga culture and encourage exchanges.
While manga comics may still be considered low-brow outside Japan, the awards are seen as a way to promote Japanese pop culture in France.
France is a major market for Japanese manga.
A wide range of translated versions of manga comics for boys, girls and young adults, as well as other titles more artistic in nature, are published there and have gained popularity.
"Beelzebub" is a popular comedy currently running in the Shonen Jump weekly comic magazine in Japan.
The story revolves around Tatsumi, a high school boy who ends up being a parent to the son of a demon king.
"Shion no Ou" is a suspenseful manga series about "shogi," or Japanese chess.
The two tittles have been adapted into animated TV series.
"Dawn of the Arcana" is a fantasy manga about a feud between two countries currently serialized in the Cheese! monthly comic magazine.
Visit the Prix Mangawa awards at (http://www.prixmangawa.com/).
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