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Asahi Historical Novel Grand Award

あさひじだいしょうせつたいしょう

Public award for unpublished full-length historical novels established to commemorate the founding of Asahi Shimbun Publishing.

Historical novel
Established
2009
Organizer
Asahi Shimbun Publishing
Category
Genre Fiction
Selection Method
Open call
Target
Newcomer
Frequency
1 per year
Status
Ended

Description

Established in 2009 by Asahi Shimbun Publishing Co., Ltd. to discover new writers of historical novels for the 21st century. Solicits unpublished full-length historical novels, with 2 million yen awarded to the grand prize winner. Sponsored by TV Asahi, outstanding works are considered for dramatization, selected works are announced in 'Shosetsu Tripper,' and winning works are published by Asahi Shimbun Publishing. Suspended after the 10th edition in 2018.

Prize

Main Prize
2 million yen awarded to the grand prize winner
Cash Prize
2,000,000 JPY
  • Consideration for dramatization (TV Asahi)
  • Publication of selected works in 'Shosetsu Tripper'
  • Publication of winning works

Selection

Selection Process

First selection
Judges Editorial staff
Final selection
Judges Final selection committee

Criteria

  • Originality unbound by conventional frameworks
  • Accuracy of historical research
  • Completeness of the work and narrative quality

Application Tips

Dos

  • 未発表の長編時代小説を応募
  • 時代考証をしっかり行う
  • 斬新な視点やテーマを盛り込む

Don''ts

  • 既出版作品を応募しない
  • 歴史考証を軽視しない
  • 既存のキャラクター模倣を避ける

From Judges

  • 物語の構成と完成度を重視する
  • 読者の心をつかむ描写を心がける
  • 時代背景のリアリティを大切にする

Official Resources

http://publications.asahi.com/jidai/

Past Winners

森山光太郎 もりやま こうたろう award

Set in the Yayoi period, this ancient historical romance depicts the conflict between fifteen-year-old Hisui no Mikoto, a girl of royal blood, and Mimaki, a man determined to extinguish the old royal line. By contrasting a girl who tries to save the weak with a man who seeks to rule by force, it builds a story around the origins of Japan.

A girl who protects the weak and a man who would seize a land through slaughter collide over the origins of ancient Japan.

288 pages
Yayoi periodancient historical romanceroyal powergirl in flightorigins of Japan
諏訪宗篤 すわ むねあつ award

Muneatsu Suwa's Chaya Shirojiro, Iga o Kakeru was published under a revised title after winning as Shonin Iga o Kakeru. It follows merchant Chaya Shirojiro as he helps lead Tokugawa Ieyasu through the dangers of Iga after the Honnoji Incident.

A merchant's loyalty and calculation drive Ieyasu's flight through Iga.

224 pages
historical fictionHonnoji IncidentIga crossingChaya Shirojiro
Tadahiro Kimura きむら ただひろ award

堀に吹く風 is an award-winning work that examines memory, social pressure, and the ways people try to understand themselves and others through its central situation.

堀に吹く風 considers the relationship between individual lives and the society around them through the shape of an award-winning work.

96 pages
award-winning workrelationshipsmemorysocietyconflict
Yasushi Shino しの やすし award

信長の肖像 is an award-winning work that examines memory, social pressure, and the ways people try to understand themselves and others through its central situation.

信長の肖像 considers the relationship between individual lives and the society around them through the shape of an award-winning work.

320 pages
award-winning workrelationshipsmemorysocietyconflict
Yoichi Katayama かたやま よういち excellent work

大坂誕生 is an award-recognized work by 片山洋一. It can be read as a literary work shaped by its characters' choices and their relationship with society and time.

大坂誕生 is a work by 片山洋一 that continues to draw attention through its award history.

award-winning literaturememoryhuman relationships
Hirotaka Matsunaga まつなが ひろたか excellent work

決戦!熊本城――肥後加藤家改易始末 is an award-recognized work by 松永弘高. It can be read as a literary work shaped by its characters' choices and their relationship with society and time.

決戦!熊本城――肥後加藤家改易始末 is a work by 松永弘高 that continues to draw attention through its award history.

award-winning literaturememoryhuman relationships
Shunsaku Kira よしき しゅんさく award

火男 is an award-recognized 歴史小説 by 吉来駿作. Public bibliographic records and award information frame it as a work concerned with personal choice, memory, and the pressure of its social or historical setting.

火男 looks at the relationship between individual lives and their times through the shape of an award-winning work.

264 pages
award-winning workmemoryrelationshipssocietyconflict
Kouichiro Nishi にし こういちろう award

無名の虎 is an award-winning work by jinshi-koichiro. This entry summarizes the work from award records and public bibliographic sources.

A work whose profile and availability can be traced through its award history.

award-winning workcontemporary literaturebibliographic verification
Hiroshi Hiramo ひらも ひろし award

隈取絵師 is a 歴史小説 by 平茂寛. A historical novel about an artist who paints kabuki kumadori makeup, depicting Edo entertainment and the world of artisans. The craft and pride behind the stage support the story.

隈取絵師 builds its world around historical fiction.

232 pages
historical fictionkabukiartisanEdo
Rokurou Inui いぬい みどろう award

A historical novel about people living in the world of shinobi, portraying skills and destinies left behind as the age changes. Secret missions, blood ties, and loyalty intersect to reveal lives kept outside the public face of history.

A historical novel about people living in the world of shinobi, portraying skills and destinies left behind as the age changes.

256 pages
忍び時代の転換忠誠影の戦い
No winner