Japanese Literary Awards

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Shogakukan Children Publishing Culture Award しょうがくかんじどうしゅっぱんぶんかしょう

Edition 68 (2019)

Children's literaturePicture booksNonfiction

Winners

3 people
Kodemari Rui こてまり るい award

A young adult novel in which American high school students hold a public debate on the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Young people from different backgrounds and positions think through history, war responsibility, discrimination, and peace in their own words.

Was the atomic bombing necessary? Eight high school students carry that question into a debate about peace.

206 pages
atomic bombingwar and peacepublic debatemulticultural perspectiveshistorical memory
田中清代 たなか きよよ award

This picture book follows a girl walking home alone who encounters a mysterious black figure with large eyes called the Little One. Without exchanging words, she follows it into an old house and spends a quiet, warm time there.

Even without words, the Little One leads the girl to a place of comfort.

64 pages
picture bookmysterious presencelonelinesscomfortcopperplate-style art
おくはらゆめ おくはら ゆめ award

This children's story follows Aya, a third grader who feels lonely after quarrels and awkward encounters, as large and small cats begin appearing in her home. Moving between everyday life and the uncanny, her memories and decisions slowly take shape.

Encounters with many kinds of cats gently loosen the feeling of being alone.

93 pages
children's literaturecatsfriendshiplonelinesseveryday life and wonder