The is an annual award which began in 1989 and is sponsored by the

Yomiuri Shimbun The (lit. ''Reading-selling Newspaper'' or ''Selling by Reading Newspaper'') is a Japanese newspaper published in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and other major Japanese cities. It is one of the five major newspapers in Japan; the other four are t ...

and

Shimizu Corporation is an architectural, civil engineering and general contracting firm. It has annual sales of approximately US$15 billion and has been widely recognized as one of the top 5 contractors in Japan and among the top 20 in the world. It is a family bu ...

with the backing of publisher

Shinchōsha is a publisher founded in 1896 in Japan and headquartered in Yaraichō, Shinjuku, Tokyo. Shinchosha is one of the sponsors of the Japan Fantasy Novel Award. Books * Haruki Murakami: '' Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World'' (198 ...

. The winner gets a contract to have their unpublished work published by Shinchōsha and receives ¥5 million. The contest is open to anyone, whether an already published author or not. Past winners include

Riku Onda is the professional name of , a Japanese writer. Onda has won the Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for New Writers, the Japan Booksellers' Award, the Mystery Writers of Japan Award for Best Novel, the Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize, and the Naoki Prize. Her wo ...

Fuyumi Ono is a Japanese novelist best known for writing , which was adapted into a popular anime series. She is married to Yukito Ayatsuji, the author of the horror novel '' Another''. Biography Ono is married to , a mystery novelist who writes under th ...

and

Ken'ichi Sakemi is a Japanese writer, whose works have been adapted into other formats, including films, manga, and anime. Life and career Sakemi was born in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture. In 1988, In 1988 he graduated from Aichi University, Faculty of Letters, ...

. It ceased in being awarded after 2013, its twenty-fifth year, but started again in 2017.

Selection committee

Historical: 1-7

* Mitsuo Anno *

Hiroshi Aramata is a Japanese author, polymath, critic, translator and specialist in natural history, iconography and cartography. His most popular novel was ''Teito Monogatari'' (''Tale of the Capitol''), which has sold over 5 million copies in Japan alone. ...

Hisashi Inoue was a leading Japanese playwright and writer of comic fiction. From 1961 to 1986, he used the pen name of Uchiyama Hisashi. Early life Inoue was born in what is now part of Kawanishi in Yamagata Prefecture, where his father was a pharmacis ...

* Genichirō Takahashi * Sumiko Yagawa

Historical: 8-10

*Mitsuo Anno *Hiroshi Aramata *Hisashi Inoue *

Makoto Shiina is a unisex name, unisex Japanese name although it is more commonly used by males. As a noun, Makoto means "sincerity" (誠) or "truth" (真, 眞). People Given name *Makoto (musician) (born 1977), drum and bass artist *Makoto (Sharan Q) (:j ...

*Sumiko Yagawa

Historical: 11-13

*Hiroshi Aramata *Hisashi Inoue *Makoto Shiina * Kōji Suzuki *Sumiko Yagawa

Historical: 14-22

*Hiroshi Aramata *Hisashi Inoue *

Mari Kotani is a Japanese science fiction critic, best known as the author of ''Evangelion as the Immaculate Virgin (analysis of the anime serie Neon Genesis Evangelion),'' Tokyo: Magazine House, 1997 and of ''Joseijou muishiki: techno-gynesis josei SF-r ...

*Makoto Shiina *Kōji Suzuki

Historical: 23-25

*Hiroshi Aramata *

Moto Hagio is a Japanese manga artist. Regarded for her contributions to ''shōjo'' manga ( manga aimed at young and adolescent women), Hagio is considered the most significant artist in the demographic and among the most influential manga artists of a ...

*Mari Kotani *Makoto Shiina *Kōji Suzuki

List of winners

Year 1: 1989

*Grand Prize: ''

Kōkyū Shōsetsu is a Japanese fantasy novel written by Ken'ichi Sakemi, published in 1989. It was Sakemi's first novel and was released in two forms: hardcover and bunkobon. The novel won the 1st Japan Fantasy Novel Award in 1989, and was adapted into the 1990 ...

'' by

*Superior Award: ''Uchū no Minamoto no Taki'' by

Izumi Yamaguchi is a Japanese actress. She is represented with F Road (Full House Group). Her son is actor Kento Yamaguchi. Biography After dropping out from high school, she joined Watanabe Productions. By the time she was in elementary school, she belonged t ...

*Runners Up: **''Tsuki no Shizuku 100% Juice'' by

Hiroaki Okazaki Hiroaki is a masculine Japanese given name. It can be written in many ways. In the following lists, the kanji in parentheses are the individual's way of writing the name Hiroaki. Possible writings *(written: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ...

**''Cosmic Beetle'' by Takao Iwamoto **''Mikazuki Ginjirō ga Iku: Īhatōbo no Bōkenhen'' by Tatsuhiko Takeyoshi

Year 2: 1990

*Grand Prize: none *Superior Award: **''Rakuen'' by Kōji Suzuki, English translation: ''

Paradise In religion, paradise is a place of exceptional happiness and delight. Paradisiacal notions are often laden with pastoral imagery, and may be cosmogonical or eschatological or both, often compared to the miseries of human civilization: in paradis ...

'' (

Vertical Vertical is a geometric term of location which may refer to: * Vertical direction, the direction aligned with the direction of the force of gravity, up or down * Vertical (angles), a pair of angles opposite each other, formed by two intersecting s ...

. 2006) **''Eiyū Rafashiden'' by Hiroaki Okazaki *Runners Up: **''Last Magic'' by

Tetsuya Murakami Tetsuya Murakami (born 24 September 1981), is a Japanese futsal player and futsal coach. He is part of the Japanese national futsal team. Clubs * 2005-2007 FIRE FOX * 2008- Shriker Osaka Titles * All Japan Futsal Championship JFA Japan Fut ...

**''Nichirin'ō Densetsu'' by

Ayame Hara Ayame may refer to: * Ayame (given name) * Ayame (train), a train service in Japan * Ayamé Ayamé is a town in south-eastern Ivory Coast, near the border of Ghana. It is a sub-prefecture and commune of Aboisso Department in Sud-Comoé Region, Co ...

**''Nenjutsu Kozō'' by

Masakazu Katō Masakazu is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: * Imafuku Masakazu (died 1582), Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period who served the Takeda clan *Kobori Masakazu (1579–1647), artist and aristocrat in the reign ...

Year 3: 1991

*Grand Prize: ''Balthasar no Henreki'' by

Aki Satō Aki or AKI may refer to: Places in Japan *Aki District, Hiroshima, a district in Hiroshima Prefecture *Aki, Kōchi, a city in Kochi Prefecture * Aki District, Kōchi, a district in Kochi Prefecture * Aki, Ōita, a town in Ōita Prefecture *Aki Pro ...

*Superior Award: ''Nanka Tōkaitakushi'' by

Gakuto Hara Gakuto (written: 岳人, 岳登, 岳斗, 学人 or ガクト in katakana) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese writer *, Japanese voice actor *, Japanese footballer *, Japanese writer *, Japanese fo ...

*Runners Up: **''Refrain'' by Rin Sawamura **''Tenmei Dōji'' by

Yasuko Kawai Yasuko (written: , , , , , , , , or ) is a feminine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese empress *, Japanese manga artist *, Japanese swimmer *, Japanese empress consort *Yasuko Harada Yasuko Harada (January ...

**''Rokubanmei no Sayoko'' by

Year 4: 1992

*Grand Prize: none *Superior Award: ''Mukashi, Kasei no Atta Basho'' by

Yūsaku Kitano Yūsaku, Yusaku or Yuusaku is a masculine Japanese given name. Possible writings Yūsaku can be written using different combinations of kanji characters. Some examples: *勇作, "courage, make" *勇策, "courage, scheme" *雄作, "masculine, ma ...

*Runners Up: **''Fantasia'' by

Kyō Fujiwara Kyō may refer to: * The Japanese name for Koga, a Kanto gym leader * Kyō no Go no Ni {{disambig ...

**''Aoi Eriru no Hana'' by Satoshi Utsugi **''Yasha ga Ike Densetsu Ibun'' by Komoriten **''Gāda no Hoshi'' by Satoko Tatsuki

Year 5: 1993

*Grand Prize: ''Irahai'' by Tetsuya Satō *Superior Award: ''Shusen'' by Takenori Nanjō *Runners Up: **''Tōkei Ibun'' by

**''Kyūkei no Kisetsu'' by Riku Onda

Year 6: 1994

*Grand Prize: **''Bagājimanupanasu'' by Eiichi Ikegami **''Tettō Musashinosen'' by Minoru Ginbayashi *Superior Award: none *Runners Up: **''Mujika Makīna'' by Fumio Takano **''Sekai no Hate ni Umarete'' by Rin Sawamura **''Tobichi no Jimu'' by Min Ishidate

Year 7: 1995

*Grand Prize: none *Superior Award: **''Funtai'' by

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**''Bus Stop no Shōsoku'' by Tatsushi Shimamoto *Runners Up: **''Yōsorō 1983'' by Tetsuya Ueno **''Gakidō Sugoroku Soba Itohiki'' by Noboru Kihara

Year 8: 1996

*Grand Prize: none *Superior Award: **''Island'' by Ken Hazuki **''Aonekoya'' by Mitsuko Kido *Runners Up: **''Dabusuton Kaidō'' by Mitsufumi Asagure **''Kaiyū Opera Fune kara no Dasshutsu'' by Shunichi Hashimoto **''Uchū Bōeigun'' by Masayuki Yagi

Year 9: 1997

*Grand Prize: ''Baisuboiru Book'' by Kyōichi Imura *Superior Award: ''Kyōsō Kaiiki'' by Shigeru Satō *Runners Up: **''Gonin Kazoku'' by Rin Sawamura **''Junkai no Senritsu'' by Ryōji Yokoyama **''Nendaiki "Anoekumene Mercury"'' by Fumiko Hagiwara

Year 10: 1998

*Grand Prize: ''Organist'' by Yō Yamanoguchi *Superior Award: **''Yan no Ita Shima'' by Rin Sawamura **''Aoneko no Machi'' by

Yūichi Suzumoto is a male Japanese novelist originally from Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka, Japan, though he now lives in Osaka, Japan. As of 2006, he works for Aquaplus, known for being the publishing company of Leaf. Before going to Leaf, Suzumoto worked at the publishin ...

*Runners Up: **''Gizō Shuki'' by Toshiro Kuwabara

Year 11: 1999

*Grand Prize: ''Nobunaga Aruiha Taikanseru Androgynous'' by Haruaki Utsukibara *Superior Award: ''BH85'' by Mori Seika *Runners Up: **''Crystal Memory'' by Tomomichi Nishiogi **''Jacob no Hashigo wo Kudari Kitaru Mono'' by Aoi Hitomi

Year 12: 2000

*Grand Prize: none *Superior Award: ''Kasō no Kishi'' by Naoko Saitō *Runners Up: **''Namida Hime'' by Michimichi Okuno **''Koiwarai'' by Yui Matsunomiya a.k.a. Hiroshi Matsumiya **''Bachigaina Kōgeihin'' by Matsui Ōhama

Year 13: 2001

*Grand Prize: ''Taiyō to Shisha no Kiroku'' by Chise Kasuya *Superior Award: ''Shabake'' by Megumi Hatakenaka *Runners Up: **''Undead Returners'' by Jin Satō **''Apāto to Oni to Kisekae Ningyō'' by Osamu Koshigaya

Year 14: 2002

*Grand Prize: ''Short Stories'' a.k.a. ''Sekai no Hate no Niwa: Short Stories'' by Ken Nishizaki *Superior Award: ''Kai'' by Ayumi Oyama *Runners Up: **''Kigeki no Naka no Kigeki: Minami no Kuni no Shakespeare'' by Keiichi Izumi **''Amanouzume no Yūutsu'' by Humika Nakajima

Year 15: 2003

*Grand Prize: ''Taiyō no Tou / Pyrenees no Shiro'' a.k.a. ''Taiyō no Tou'' by Tomihiko Morimi *Superior Award: ''Zou no Sumu Machi'' by Kyū Watanabe *Runners Up: **''Rabbit Shinpan'' by Jun Kanooka **''Kagemai'' by Noriaki Oda

Year 16: 2004

*Grand Prize: ''Rasu Manchasu Tūshin'' by Hirayama Mizuho *Superior Award: ''Bonus Track'' by Osamu Koshigaya *Runners Up: **''Kono Hareta Hi ni, Hitori de'' by

Katsuhiro Harada is a Japanese game producer, director, and general manager from Bandai Namco Entertainment, best known as the former producer (now Michael Murray ) and current director of the popular fighting game series ''Tekken.'' Biography Harada was born ...

**''Ikejiri Water Court'' by Michiko Horii

Year 17: 2005

*Grand Prize: ''Konharuya Gomez'' by Naka Saijō *Superior Award: none *Runners Up: **''Tenjō no Niwa, Hikari no Jikoku'' by Natsuki Mizumachi **''Kohaku Wacchi'' by Kazu Saiki

Year 18: 2006

*Grand Prize: ''Boku Boku Sensei' by Hideyuki Niki *Superior Award: ''Yami Kagami'' by Asako Horikawa *Runners Up: **''Cappadocia Wine'' by Kazuho Ōhara **''Yoru no Unicorn'' by Tetsuya Matsuda

Year 19: 2007

*Grand Prize: ''Enken Den' by Hideaki Hironari *Superior Award: ''Brack Jack Kid'' by Takehiko Kubodera *Runners Up: **''Karakuri Neko to Jikan Ryokō Dairiten'' by Kiri Wada **''Kikkō Ki'' by Masayuki Fujita

Year 20: 2008

*Grand Prize: ''Tenkai no Miyako: Aru Kenchikuka wo Meguru Monogatari'' a.k.a. ''Tenshi no Horō: Aru Kenchikuka wo Meguru Monogatari'' by Gen Nakamura *Superior Award: ''Kanojo no Shiranai Kanojo'' by

Ran Satomi Ran, RaN and ran may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Ran'' (film), a 1985 film directed by Akira Kurosawa * "Ran" (song), a 2013 Japanese song by Luna Sea * '' Ran Online'', a 2004 MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role playing game) * ...

*Runners Up: **''Ryūmori no Matsuei'' by Haruka Mayama **''Ideal'' by Yū Matsuzaki a.k.a. Yūri Matsuzaki

Year 21: 2009

*Grand Prize: ''Gettōya'' by Junko Tōda / ''Zōdaiha ni Tsugu'' by Masakuni Oda *Superior Award: none *Runners Up: **''Kuzira ga Tobu Yoru'' by Minato Yamada **''Shishōsetsu'' by Sen Satō **''Kachō Ryōran'' by Uro Jinno

Year 22: 2010

*Grand Prize: ''Wadatsumi no Chinkonka'' a.k.a. ''Zenya no Kōseki'' by Kiri Shino *Superior Award: ''Shizuka no Umi'' a.k.a. ''Tsuki no Sanagi'' by Akira Ishino *Runners Up: **''Gehō Koji KA.SIN'' by Kazumi Kamimori **''Hall Shovel: Aru Anahori no Monogatari'' by Susumu Asari

Year 23: 2011

*Grand Prize: ''Sazanami no Kuni'' by Umiyuri Katsuyama *Superior Award: ''Yoshida Kigurumare Night'' by Shuntarō Hino *Runners Up: **''Zanzō no Tobira'' by Kō Aomi **''Nigemachi Fenuse'' by Nio Takano

Year 24: 2012

*Grand Prize: none *Superior Award: ''Asa no Yōka'' by Aoba Mikuni / ''Worker'' by Shunsuke Seki *Runners Up: **''Kyōryū Gift'' by Ayako Inoue **''Ongoku'' by Mika Harima

Year 25: 2013

*Grand Prize: ''Kotoshi no Okurimono'' a.k.a. ''Hoshi no Tami no Christmas'' by Natsuki Koyata *Superior Award: ''Kinoko Mura no Onna Eiyū'' a.k.a. ''Wasure Mura no Yen to Shinkai no Inu'' by Shin Suzuki a.k.a. Shin Saezaki *Runners Up: **''Akashic Museum'' by Kiyomi Amahara **''Akutō Kaden'' by Aoi Sakamoto

References

External links

Japan Fantasy Novel Award
{{Fantasy fiction 1989 establishments in Japan Awards established in 1989 Fantasy awards Japanese literary awards F Mitsui Fudosan Shimizu Corporation Japanese fantasy