#Japan #Tokyo #Sankei #Children's Award #Takahashi Masaki

Celebrating the 73rd Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award

The esteemed Sankei Children’s Publishing Culture Award is proud to announce the winners of its 73rd edition. This prestigious award, administered by the Sankei Shimbun, recognizes the most outstanding children’s literature published in Japan during the past year. The competition this year was fierce, with 4,276 works evaluated, focusing specifically on books in Japanese aimed at upper elementary school readers.

Grand Prize Winner

The top honor, the Grand Prize, was awarded to Takahashi Masaki for his thought-provoking work, What If Your Town Was Gaza? published by Poplar Publishing. This book offers young readers a significant reflection on global issues, helping to broaden their perspectives on different cultures and sociopolitical realities. It challenges children to consider their own lives in the context of global issues, making it an essential addition to children’s literature.

Other Notable Winners

Alongside the Grand Prize, several other outstanding works were recognized:

• - JR Prize: Doki Doki Shiteru by Takegami Tae (Kaiseisha)
• - Taihei Prize: Watashi, Wakannai by Iwase Nariko (Kodansha)
• - Art Prize: Aru Hoshi no Kisha by Mori Yoko (Gakken)
• - Sankei Shimbun Award: Zukan Ishizumi by Nishikougei Ishizumi Kenkyuukai, supervised by Sanada Junko (Gijutsu Hyoronsha)
• - Fuji TV Award: Chotto Dake Tomodachi by Nakagawa Chihiro (Nora Shoten)
• - Nippon Broadcasting Award: Shiroi Niji o Nageru by Yoshino Mariko (Gakken)
• - Translation Award: Same no Yenni translated by Yokona Nana (Iwanami Shoten) and Reina to Hiki Gairu no Shinshi translated by Kawano Mariko (Tokusho Shoten)

About the Award

Established in 1954, the Sankei Children’s Publishing Culture Award aims to promote quality children’s literature for future generations. Over the years, approximately 1,200 works in various categories, such as children’s fiction, picture books, translations, and encyclopedias, have been awarded, shaping the history of post-war Japanese children’s literature and picture book culture.

Selection Committee

The selection process was rigorous and included a diverse panel of judges from various fields:

• - Literary Judges: Kawabata Yuko (Professor, Japan Women’s University) and Doi Yasuko (Director, Osaka International Children’s Literature Promotion Foundation)
• - Picture Book & Art Judges: Ochiai Keiko (Author, Crayon House Representative) and Sakuma Yumiko (Translator)
• - Social & Scientific Judges: Kinoshita Isamu (Emeritus Professor, Chiba University) and Haragai Keiko (Chairperson, Tokyo Children’s Library)
• - Additionally, guest judges from sponsoring organizations participated in the final selection.

For more detailed insights on the winners and the contributing authors, visit the Sankei News site. This contributes to not only the literary development of children but also their understanding of the world around them, ensuring that they grow up with empathy and knowledge.