Book Lovers Unite for the Annual 'Bookmeter OF THE YEAR 2025-2026' Voting Campaign

Celebrate Your Favorite Reads: 'Bookmeter OF THE YEAR 2025-2026'

Dwango Co., Ltd. has announced the user-participation voting event titled 'Bookmeter OF THE YEAR 2025-2026,' which will run from November 14 to December 14, 2025. This year, book lovers can cast their votes on the website dedicated to showcasing the nominations and promoting the event. The nominations will feature books released between October 2024 and September 2025, selected based on approximately 2 million reviews and registered reads from the Bookmeter community.

This annual voting tradition kicked off in 2001 as part of the 'BOOK OF THE YEAR' special in the Da Vinci magazine and transitioned to the Bookmeter platform in 2018, allowing enthusiasts to choose the most popular books of the year. The concept revolves around recognizing the year's top-read titles as chosen by avid readers.

Among the 20 nominated works are notable mentions like 'Murdered Melos: A Situation That Can't Wait' by Yoshio Gojo, which quickly became a hot topic on social media and secured a reprint just three days post-release. This nomination showcases the book's striking title and widespread appeal. Another nominee is 'A Quiet Place After Midnight' by Kei Iwai, which is also listed as a candidate for the Naoki Prize in the first half of 2024. Additionally, 'I Will Finely Chop Common Sense' by Akian Asakura generated significant buzz, amassing over 1,000 registered wants before its release, signifying it as one of the must-reads of 2025.

Participants in the voting will be limited to one vote, selecting up to three nominated works. As a token of appreciation, 500 lucky voters will receive 1,000 yen worth of coins redeemable at the electronic bookstore 'BOOK☆WALKER.' The results, comprising the overall ranking and separate category rankings for series, light novels, and non-fiction/essays, will be unveiled on December 22, 2025.

Event Details

- Voting Period: November 14, 2025 (12:00 PM) to December 14, 2025 (11:59 PM)
- Special Website: Vote here!
- Vote Procedure: Register for free on Bookmeter and use the voting button on the special site.
- Voting Eligibility: One vote per person, with a maximum selection of three works.
- Vote Incentive: Eligible voters can win 1,000 yen worth of coins from the electronic bookstore 'BOOK☆WALKER.'
- Results Announcement: Overall and category rankings will be announced on December 22, 2025, at the Bookmeter special site.

Nominated Titles (in alphabetical order):

- 'A Concerto of Lies' by Kikuko Tsumura (Shinchosha)
- 'Gazing at the Void' by Ryoue Tsukimura (Shinchosha)
- 'N's Deviation' by Shitomo Natsuki (Poplar Publishing)
- 'Exhausted from Dancing' by Takeshi Shioda (Bungeishunju)
- 'Coffee Ghost Stories' by Riku Onda (Gentosha)
- 'Crimes of One Million Years of Love' by Shuichi Yoshida (KADOKAWA)
- 'Upside Down Star' by Yusuke Takashi (KADOKAWA)
- 'Murdered Melos: A Situation That Can't Wait' by Yoshio Gojo (KADOKAWA)
- 'Ripe Persimmon' by Masahiro Sato (KADOKAWA)
- 'Double Mother' by Yume Tsujido (Gentosha)
- 'Hibino Tofu Shop' by Fumiaki Onodera (Tokuma Shoten)
- 'Sunflower' by Hotate Arakawa (Gentosha)
- 'Mt. Fuji' by Keiichiro Hirano (Shinchosha)
- 'Trajectory of Break Shot' by Touma Aisaka (Hayakawa Shobo)
- 'The Classroom of Stars' by Ikuko Takada (Kadokawa Haruki Corp.)
- 'I Will Finely Chop Common Sense' by Akian Asakura (Kodansha)
- 'Living in the Ear' by Yoko Ogawa (Kodansha)
- 'When Lights Flicker in the Forest' by Yoko Fujioka (PHP Institute)
- 'A Quiet Place After Midnight' by Kei Iwai (Gentosha)
- 'Reading and Speaking' by Kasumi Asakura (Bungeishunju)

About Bookmeter

Bookmeter is operated by Dwango Co., Ltd. and boasts over 34 million reviews, making it one of the largest book review platforms in Japan. Users can manage their reading habits through app and web services that allow them to catalog the books they have read or wish to read, supported by graphical tracking of reading volumes. This platform not only enhances reading habits but also helps avoid buying errors. Through reviews and user interactions, Bookmeter broadens reading experiences and makes the journey of reading even more enjoyable. Collaborative initiatives with libraries began in 2021 and over 46 municipalities are involved, offering some library sites their reviews.