Japanese Literary Awards

Literary Awards

Browse award recipients, categories, and yearly award lists

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373 literary awards

Kobayashi Hideo Award

Established
2002
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Shincho Foundation for the Promotion of Literature
Category
Criticism and Critical Writing
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around April–June
Academic AwardCriticismEssay

A Japanese academic award established to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Kobayashi Hideo's birth.

Prize: Commemorative item and 1 million yen prize money

Japan Children's Literature Association Criticism Newcomer Award

Established
2003
Frequency
Held every other year
Organizer
Japan Children's Literature Association
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Criticism and Critical Writing
Target
Newcomer
Application Deadline
around December
Announcement Period
around May
Children's literatureCriticismNewcomer award

Newcomer award for children's literature criticism hosted by the Japan Children's Literature Association.

Prize: Publication in the "Japan Children's Literature" magazine

Mephisto Criticism Award

Established
2019
Organizer
Kodansha
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Criticism and Critical Writing
Target
Open
Application Deadline
around March
Announcement Period
around October–December
Literature prizeCriticism

A criticism award hosted by Kodansha's literary magazine Mephisto, inviting essays on works by Mephisto Prize-winning authors. The first and only edition was held in 2019, with no subsequent rounds.

Prize: Winning work will be published in Mephisto magazine

Gunzo Newcomer Criticism Prize

Established
2015
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Kodansha
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Criticism and Critical Writing
Target
Newcomer
Application Deadline
around October
Announcement Period
around June
Criticism

A public newcomer award for pure literary criticism established in 2015 when the criticism division of the Gunzo Newcomer Literary Prize became independent.

Prize: 500,000 yen (250,000 yen for excellent works) is awarded as the main prize

Subaru Critique Award

Established
2017
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Shueisha
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Criticism and Critical Writing
Target
Newcomer
Criticism

A newcomer award for criticism sponsored by Shueisha.

Japan SF Criticism Award

Established
2006
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Science Fiction Writers of Japan
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Criticism and Critical Writing
Target
Newcomer
SF criticismNewcomer award

A newcomer award for SF criticism hosted by the Science Fiction Writers of Japan.

Prize: Trophy presentation, publication in SF Magazine, and manuscript fee payment

Japan Tanka Poets Club Criticism Award

Established
2003
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Japan Tanka Poets Club
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Criticism and Critical Writing
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around May
Criticism booksResearch books

An award sponsored by the Japan Tanka Poets Club targeting criticism books and research books on tanka poetry and tanka poets.

Prize: Certificate and 100,000 JPY prize money

Contemporary Tanka Criticism Award

Established
1954
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Tanka Kenkyūsha
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Criticism and Critical Writing
Target
Open
Tanka criticism

An open call award that solicits unpublished tanka criticism and honors outstanding works.

Prize: The winning work is published in the October issue of 'Tanka Kenkyū' magazine, and the winner is invited to the award ceremony.

Tanka Research Award

Established
1963
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Tanka Research Publishing
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Tanka
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around September
TankaLiterary award

A tanka award sponsored by Tankakenkyu-sha. Work published in comprehensive tanka journals in the previous year (20 or more poems in a series) is eligible, with selection based on the quality of the work and the track record of the poet.

Prize: Winning works published in the September issue of "Tanka Research" magazine and honored at the award ceremony

Haiku Poets Association Criticism Newcomer Award

Established
0
Organizer
Haiku Poets Association
Category
Criticism and Critical Writing
Target
Newcomer
Announcement Period
around January
CriticismHaikuNewcomer Award

A newcomer award in the field of criticism hosted by the Haiku Poets Association.

Osaragi Jiro Tribune Award

Established
2001
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
The Asahi Shimbun
Category
Criticism and Critical Writing
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around December
Criticism

A literary prize established in 2001 as the critical-writing division of the Osaragi Jiro Award, honoring outstanding academic works on Japanese and international politics, economics, society, and culture.

Prize: Award plaque and prize money

Ishibashi Tanzan Award

Established
1980
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
General Incorporated Foundation Ishibashi Tanzan Memorial Foundation
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around September–November
Social SciencesHumanities

An academic award established in memory of Ishibashi Tanzan, targeting academic books and papers in the fields of social sciences and humanities.

Masayoshi Ohira Memorial Award

Established
1985
Frequency
annual
Organizer
Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Masayoshi Ohira Memorial Foundation
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around February
Memorial AwardLiterature Award

An award presented by the Ohira Masayoshi Memorial Foundation to honor outstanding works contributing to the development of the Asia-Pacific solidarity concept in the fields of politics, economics, culture, and science and technology.

Shinmura Izuru Award

Established
1982
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Shinmura Izuru Memorial Foundation
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
Application Deadline
around June
Announcement Period
around November
LinguisticsJapanese Linguistics

An award administered by the Shinmura Izuru Memorial Foundation to honor outstanding achievements in Japanese linguistics and related language studies.

Prize: Certificate

Kubota Utsubo Award

Established
1968
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Waseda University Society of Japanese Literature
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around October–December
Japanese literature research

Society award established by the Waseda University Society of Japanese Literature, given for achievements in Japanese literature research.

Prize: Awarded from the Memorial Project Fund

Sekine Award

Established
1993
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Sekine Award Steering Committee
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Criticism and Critical Writing
Target
Professional
Heian-period literature and linguistics research

A research award encouraging women scholars working on Heian-period literature and linguistics; it ended with the 2022 selection.

Prize: 200,000 yen prize money and certificate

Jodai Bungakukai Award

Established
1983
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Jodai Bungakukai
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around May
PapersBooks

An academic award established by the Jodai Bungakukai.

Chuko Bungakukai Award

Established
2008
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Chuko Bungakukai
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Newcomer
Announcement Period
around October–November
Academic Award

An academic award established by the Chuko Bungakukai.

Academy of Middle Ages Literature Prize

Established
2018
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Academy of Middle Ages Literature
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Newcomer
Announcement Period
around June
Literature PrizeMedieval LiteratureHumanities

Society award to encourage outstanding achievements by young medieval literature researchers.

Prize: Certificate of commendation and commemorative gift

Nihon Kinsei Bungakukai Award

Established
2005
Frequency
annual
Organizer
The Association for Early Modern Japanese Literature
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around June
Literary StudiesEarly Modern Literature

An academic prize awarded by the Association for Early Modern Japanese Literature, recognizing outstanding research papers published in the journal Kinsei Bungei by scholars aged 40 or under.

Japanese Classical Literature Academic Award

Established
2008
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Supporters Association of the National Institute of Japanese Literature
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Newcomer
Announcement Period
around October
Academic Award

An academic award aimed at encouraging and supporting young researchers in Japanese classical literature.

Prize: Certificate and cash prize

The Association for the Study of Japanese Language and Literature Awards

Established
1956
Frequency
annual
Organizer
Association for the Study of Japanese Language and Literature
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Newcomer
Announcement Period
around June
Society AwardAcademic AwardJapanese LinguisticsJapanese Literature

Collective term for the society awards presented by the Association for the Study of Japanese Language and Literature. Includes multiple awards targeting books by young researchers, papers published in institutional journals, and research presentations.

Prize: Association for the Study of Japanese Language and Literature Award, Literature and Linguistics Award, Research Presentation Encouragement Award, etc. (Details of each award according to society announcements)

Kodansha Essay Award

Established
1985
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Kodansha
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Essays, Miscellanies, and Travel Writing
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around September
EssayLiterary award

A literary award sponsored by Kodansha targeting essays.

Prize: Commemorative item

Nihon Essayist Club Award

Established
1952
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Nihon Essayist Club
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Essays, Miscellanies, and Travel Writing
Target
Newcomer
Announcement Period
around June
Essay

An essay award sponsored by the Nihon Essayist Club

Zuihitsu Shunjyu Award

Established
1995
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
General Incorporated Association Zuihitsu Shunjyu
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Essays, Miscellanies, and Travel Writing
Target
Open
Application Deadline
around August–September
Announcement Period
around December
Essay

An open submission essay literary award sponsored by General Incorporated Association Zuihitsu Shunjyu. No age restrictions, soliciting works of approximately 5 pages (400-character format), and selecting Excellent Award, Honorable Mentions, and Selected Entries.

Prize: Excellent Award: 1 recipient, Honorable Mentions: several, Selected Entries: approx. 20

Sakenomi Shoten-in Award

Established
2005
Frequency
annual
Organizer
Volunteer booksellers and publishing sales representatives
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around September
paperback fiction

An award selected by volunteer booksellers and publishing sales staff who recommend a paperback title.

Prize: Selected as the award-winning work

Ranobe-Loving Bookseller Award

Established
2012
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Bookseller Volunteers Operating Committee
Selection Method
Vote
Category
Light Novels and Web Literature
Target
Professional
Light NovelLiterary Award

Light novel award selected by votes from booksellers nationwide.

Ekinaka Bookstore Award

Established
2013
Frequency
Annual
Organizer
BOOK COMPASS / JR East Cross Station
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Publishing Culture and Book Culture
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around October
Literary Award

A bookstore award run by JR East station bookstores, selecting a winning title from themed nominees through store sales and official X voting.

Prize: Conferred on the grand prize-winning work

Okinawa Bookstore Grand Prize

Established
2015
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Okinawa Bookstore Grand Prize Executive Committee
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Publishing Culture and Book Culture
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around April
Novel CategoryLocal Book CategoryLiterary Book CategoryChildren's Book CategoryPicture Book CategoryOkinawa Category

Literary award selecting books recommended by bookstore staff in Okinawa Prefecture.

Hokkaido Yukari-no-Hon Award

Established
2016
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Hokkaido Booksellers Grand Trade Fair
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Publishing Culture and Book Culture
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around September
NovelsNonfictionArt booksPicture booksComics

A literary award targeting books connected to Hokkaido, selected by votes from booksellers.

Prize: Recognition as the grand prize-winning work