Celebrating the Top 10 Horror Short Stories: Pitiful Pear's Anthology Release

In an exhilarating announcement, leading Japanese publishing house Kawade Shobo has teamed up with remarkable horror author Pear (梨) to unveil the winners of the Pear Horror Short Story Award. This unique competition was hosted on the popular novel submission platform, Every Star (エブリスタ) and witnessed an impressive submission pool of over 2,000 entries, showcasing the creativity and imagination of horror enthusiasts worldwide.

The Contest and Its Results

Pear took on the role of the special judge for this thrilling contest, where the selected pieces showcase diverse themes based on familiar interpersonal elements—namely, body, emotion, and memory. From a wide array of stories, a total of ten distinct pieces have been chosen for publication in an anthology slated for late November 2026. This collection is anticipated to be a must-read for horror aficionados, delivering a tapestry of intriguing and stimulating content.

The winner selection process has been elaborate. Pearl himself expressed his sentiments about the quality of the pieces by stating, “I found myself wishing I could read a few thousand more words of many submissions!” This comment reflects both his delight and the creative depth exhibited in many of the shortlisted entries.

With a mere 0.5% acceptance rate, the competition for this award was undeniably fierce, prompting excitement and anticipation among budding writers within the horror genre. Pear emphasized the remarkable talent displayed by the participants, calling attention to the significant challenge in choosing winners from such a vast pool of talent.

Reflection and Insights from Pear

In his overall assessment, Pear elaborated on the evolving trends within the entries. He emphasized the critical importance of refining novels into cohesive works and offered further thoughts on the evolution of horror storytelling in modern literature. For those interested in gaining deeper insights into the evaluative criteria, a comprehensive review is available on the contest’s results page.

A Glimpse at the Winning Selections

The anthology will feature ten stand-out works categorized under three thematic elements:

Body Horror

- “Unmeasurable Parts” by Mizuto Kato (水到渠成)
- “The Location of the Organs” by Sari Noge (乃上さり)
- “Mary Sue’s Right Leg” by Haruki Kizuki (木月陽)
- “Sea of Scales” by Komaki (駒木)

Emotional Horror

- “Ordinary and Happy Days with Sakino” by Namua Ido (伊藤なむあひ)
- “A Little God” by Yu Tohmiya (藤宮佑)
- “Children of Fortune” by Mizuoni (水鬼)
- “Bait” by 4.7 Independent (4.7独居)

Memory Horror

- “Mr. Bottai” by Shouki Ryouiki (瘴気領域)
- “Outer Space Rokubukiru” by Goro Koganei (小金井ゴル)

For detailed evaluations of each piece, readers can visit the contest's results page. This anthology is certainly a testament to the vibrant creativity pulsating within the horror genre today.

About the Special Judge - Pear

Pear, a celebrated horror writer, has organized various engagements such as the “Fear Exhibition” and “Missing Exhibition”. He contributed creatively to the “Study: Osaka Kansai International Art Festival 2025” focusing on speculative narratives. Notable works include “Tragic Laughter” published by East Press, establishing him as a prominent figure in contemporary horror literature.

About the Contest

The Pear Horror Short Story Award was officially open for submissions from December 1, 2025, to March 2, 2026, encouraging pieces emphasizing horror through themes of body, emotion, and memory.

In collaboration with Every Star and the esteemed Kawade Shobo, the initiative hopes to nurture and propel new literary talents to wider audiences.

About Kawade Shobo

Kawade Shobo has consistently pushed the boundaries of literary arts since its inception. The publisher is known for championing both Japanese and international literary works across various genres and fields, making significant contributions to the cultural landscape. Excitement is building as they approach their 140th anniversary in 2026, aligning with this exciting anthology release.

About Every Star

Founded in 2010, Every Star has evolved into a flourishing platform for aspiring writers across genres including romance, fantasy, mystery, and horror. Over 40 publishing houses have partnered with their editorial team to assist promising writers in taking their first steps towards professional publishing.

With ongoing initiatives like the “Star Gift” program, Every Star continues to expand its services to support and uplift creators in their literary pursuits. With a vision of being a stage for everyone to shine, Every Star remains committed to amplifying diverse voices and stories in the literary arena.