45th Japan SF Grand Prize

Posted on February 21, 2025 by Mike Glyer

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan (SFWJ) announced the 45th Japan SF Grand Prize winners on February 18.

GRAND PRIZE

“Land of the Lustrous” by Haruko Ichikawa (Kodansha)

SPECIAL AWARD

“Galactic Wind Sail” by Kenrei Miyanishi (Tokyo Sogensha)

Also, SFWJ posthumously honored three persons with the 44th Japan SF Grand Prize Contribution Award:

Kazuo Umezu (manga artist)
Haruya Sumiya (translator)
Hiroshi Yamamoto (author)

The grand prize-winning work receives a certificate and trophy as the main prize, and a cash prize of 1 million yen as the supplementary prize.

The members of the prize selection committee were Ikezawa Haruna, Omori Nozomu, Shasendou Yuki, Tachihara Toya, and Hayashi Joji. Ikezawa, whose work was nominated, participated in the selection process in writing). The awards were given to the most outstanding science fiction work published between September 1, 2023 and August 31, 2024.

The award ceremony will be held on April 26, 2025.

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan (Japanese official name: 日本SF作家クラブ, Nihon SF Sakka Club) is an organization of science fiction and fantasy-related people, professional or semi-professional.

[Based on a press release.]

45th Japan Science Fiction Grand Prize Finalists

Posted on December 18, 2024 by Mike Glyer

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan (SFWJ) announced the 45^th Japan Science Fiction Grand Prize finalists on December 16.

(English translations of the names and titles have been obtained using Google Translate.)

Koichi Harukure, Telescope of 100 Million Years (Hayakawa Publishing)
Yoshio Aramaki and Takayuki Tatsumi, eds., Introduction to Science Fiction Criticism (Takanashi Shobo)
Kenrei Miyanishi, Galactic Wind Sail (Tokyo Sogensha)
Haruko Ichikawa, manga Land of the Lustrous (Kodansha)
Haruna Ikezawa, I’m Like a Lonely Star (Hayakawa Publishing)

In addition to publications and video works, entries can also be made of “performances,” “games,” “products,” and “achievements”. The eligibility period for the prize runs from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024.

The award selection committee members are Haruna Ikezawa, Nozomi Omori, Yuki Shasendou, Touya Tachihara, and Joji Hayashi.

44th Japan SF Grand Prize

Posted on February 23, 2024 by Mike Glyer

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan (SFWJ) announced the 44th Japan SF Grand Prize winners on February 19:

The 44th Japan SF Award is given to the most outstanding science fiction work published between September 1, 2022 and August 31, 2023.

The winner is:

Protocol of Humanity by Satoshi Hase (Hayakawa Shobo)

Also, SFWJ posthumously honored four persons with the 44th Japan SF Grand Prize Contribution Award:

Takashi Ishikawa (critic)
Aritsune Toyota (writer)
Yuki Sei (manga artist)
Leiji Matsumoto (manga artist)

The grand prize-winning work receives a certificate and trophy as the main prize, and a cash prize of 1 million yen as the supplementary prize.

The members of the prize selection committee were Haruna Ikezawa, Masahiko Inoue, Hitoshi Kusakami, Yūki Shansendō, and Toya Tachihara. The eligibility period for the prize ran from September 1, 2022 and August 31, 2023.

The award ceremony will be held on April 27, 2024.

[Based on a press release.]

43rd Japan SF Grand Prize

Posted on March 16, 2023 by Mike Glyer

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan (SFWJ) announced the 43rd Japan SF Grand Prize winners on February 19:

“SF suru Shiko: Yoshio Aramaki Hyoryoshu” [Critique of Speculative Reason: Collected Essays on Science Fiction, written by Yoshio Aramaki] (Japanese title: (SFする思考　荒巻義雄評論集成) by Yoshio Aramaki (荒巻義雄) (Takanashi Shobou)
“Zangetsuki” [Morning Moon] (Japanese title: 残月記) by Masakuni Oda (Futabasha).

The other finalists were:

Anomalous Papers (異常論文) edited by Kyosuke Higuchi (樋口恭介). An anthology published by Hayakawa Shobo in October 2021.
THE MAP AND THE FIST (地図と拳), written by Ogawa Satoshi (小川哲). A novel published by Shuei-sha in June 2022.
Kaiju Within (わたしたちの怪獣) written by Mikihiko Hisanaga (久永実木彦). A novelette contributed for Shimi no Techo vol. 6 in August 2022.

Publisher Futushaba describes the story of “Zangetsuki”/(Morning Moon ) in a press release:

Japan, in the near future, falls under a notorious dictatorship. This book contains the title story that depicts the fate of a man infected by selenomania, an infectious disease that is turning the world upside down, and the unwavering love of a woman living quietly by his side, as well as two other works. The stories take place in a fictional world created by the author’s immeasurable imagination based on the motif of the moon. One step into the world and you will be trapped in a whirlpool of imaginations—never returning to reality. Check out this long-awaited, new breakthrough!

The members of the prize selection committee were Masahiko Inoue, Gin Kusakami, Mari Kotani, Yūki Shansendō, and Toruya Tachihara. The eligibility period for the prize ran from September 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022.

Also, SFWJ honored three persons with the 43rd Japan SF Grand Prize Contribution Award: the late Mr. Tsukasa Shikano (science writer), the late Mr. Yasumi Tsuhara (novelist), and the late Masayoshi Yasugi (novelist). They contributed to the Japanese SF scene for many years by writing various works in their careers.

[Based on a press release. Additional translation by N.]

41st Japan SF Grand Prize

Posted on February 24, 2021 by Mike Glyer

Trophy prototype design: Hiroshi Yokoyama / Photo: Taiyo Fujii

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan have announced the winners of the 41st Japan SF Grand Prize for the best science fiction works released between September 1, 2019 and August 31, 2020.

The grand prize winners receive a certificate and trophy, and divide a prize of 1 million yen.

The award ceremony will be held online on Saturday, April 17.

The selection committee members were Sanzo Kusaka, Mari Kotani, Yumiko Shirai, Gakuto Mikumo, and Hiroyuki Morioka.

GRAND PRIZE [TIE]