The 2nd 'Kotoba no Tsubasa Children's Literature Award' to be held. Applications will be accepted from July 18th nationwide for elementary school students.

Kamakura National Language School (Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Representative: Junya Nakamoto) will accept applications for the 2nd 'Kotoba no Tsubasa Children's Literature Award' from July 18th (Sat) to August 31st (Sun), 2026, targeting elementary school students nationwide. In the first year, 94 stories were received from all over Japan. The 'Mikan Award,' which allows submission even if the work is incomplete, will continue. From this year, children's literature writer Masafumi Murakami will join the judging panel. The chair of the judges will continue to be writer Genshiro Takahashi.

Background of Establishment: Today's Stories Are Letters to Your Future Self We want to create a place where we can properly respond to children's desire to 'write.' This literary award was born from such a wish. Confronting one's own heart, searching for words while being confused—sometimes stopping, sometimes abandoning. But, away from evaluations and scores, as children write over time, they weave 'stories that can only be written now.' Writing a story is like writing a letter to your future self. 'Kotoba no Tsubasa Children's Literature Award' aims to be a 'runway' for freely writing such letters.

In the First Year, 94 Works Were Brought by Wings from All Over Japan In the first year (July 19th to August 31st, 2025), 94 works were received from elementary school students nationwide. Some were only a few pages long, while others were nearly the maximum limit of 10,000 characters. The themes ranged from familiar stories like favorite festivals to stories set in space, and long philosophical works exploring everyday questions. A variety of unexpected works were gathered. The Grand Prize was awarded to 'I Want to Be Jam Strawberry' (Tokyo, 6th grade), and the Genshiro Takahashi Award was given to 'I Am a Saint' (Okinawa, 6th grade). The winning and selected works were compiled into a commemorative collection and presented to the winners. Through sophisticated binding by TOP Factory Co., a more beautiful collection was created than any other award-winning collection in Japan. First Kotoba no Tsubasa Children's Literature Award Winning Works Collection (Printing and Binding: TOP Factory Co.)

'Mikan Award'─ 8 Works Submitted Incomplete The biggest feature of this award is the establishment of the 'Mikan Award (Incomplete Award)' to commend the challenge of works that were not completed. Grand beginnings of stories, stories without a clear ending, or fragments of stories in progress—all of these are subject to judging. From 10,000-character long works to newly born story buds, we accept all 'want to write' feelings. All works born from the feeling of 'wanting to write' are subject to judging. In the first year's comments, Genshiro Takahashi said about the significance of the Mikan Award: Fun stories are always nice to listen to. The most important element of a story is wanting to hear the continuation, isn't it? If it's completed, it's over, isn't it? Therefore, it's not wrong to say that the true fun of a story lies in works that are not completed. That's why we deliberately created the 'Mikan Award.' — Genshiro Takahashi (Chair of the Judges), from the 1st Award Ceremony The first Mikan Award was given to 'Winter Snow Mountain' (Shizuoka, 6th grade) and 'To Protect Peace in the Universe' (Kanagawa, 4th grade). The 2nd award will also accept the full force of incomplete works.

From the Chair of the Judges, Genshiro Takahashi — Contribution to the 1st Award Winning Works Collection At the beginning of the collection of winning and selected works from the first year, there is an article contributed by the chair of the judges, Genshiro Takahashi. This is the literary award with the lowest application age in the world, the smallest in the world, and the easiest to understand in the world. Or perhaps not. I don't know all the literary awards in the world. But isn't this the most fun, the kindest, and the most child-focused literary award in the world? People who thought it would be nice to have such a literary award gathered, and before we knew it, this award was born. It's a newly hatched chick. But I hope it grows big. I hope everyone writes their own novel. And I hope everyone reads those novels. Adults and children. Such a world seems fun. Many children sent their works to such a literary award. I read them with all my heart. There were many wonderful works. I was happy. The world is not yet abandoned. But it's from now on. I hope this literary award becomes bigger. I hope it remains childlike even as it grows bigger. — Genshiro Takahashi (Chair of the Judges), from the contribution to the 1st Works Collection First Kotoba no Tsubasa Children's Literature Award Winning Works Collection (Printing and Binding: TOP Factory Co.)

Emails from Winners After the first year ended, some time passed, and we received such voices from the winners' families. It conveys that writing is not just for that child. From the announcement video, the warmth of Mr. Nakamoto and Mr. Takahashi's character came through, and especially the part about the Mikan Award made me want to watch it many times. I hope that when my daughter stumbles upon something in the future, I can open the video again and receive the message from the teachers. — From a parent of a 1st year winner On Sundays, we finished dinner early and waited with the family for the YouTube countdown starting at 6 PM. At the moment of the announcement, since the window was open, our surprised and joyful voices echoed around us, I think. That night, my daughter informed her homeroom teacher and the librarian at school using Royoro Note, and the teachers were very pleased. — From a parent of a 1st year winner

From the 2nd Year, Children's Literature Writer Masafumi Murakami Will Join the Judging Panel Masafumi Murakami (born and residing in Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture in 1991) won the Grand Prize in the 2nd Fröbelkan Story Newcomer Award in 2019 with his debut work 'The Secret of That Child,' and received the 49th Children's Literature Newcomer Award. His works include 'Candle,' 'Ribbon Girl,' 'Let Me Hear Your Story,' 'If in the Distance,' and 'Chocolate Assort: A Gift from That Child' (all published by Fröbelkan). 'Let Me Hear Your Story' was asked in the entrance exams for more than 14 schools in 2024 and became the most frequently asked novel.

Judging Criteria: 'Stories That Can Only Be Written Now' The chair of the judges will be writer Genshiro Takahashi. In addition to Eisuke Sawada (Fukuyama Heisei University), the first person in story creation education, children's literature writer Masafumi Murakami will also participate for the first time. Experts from the forefront of the literary and educational worlds will gather as judges. We will shine a light on children's expressions from multiple perspectives.

Educational Committees and Local Companies Also Sponsor. Expanding Support from the Region The ideals of this literary award have received understanding and support from educational administration and the local community. Under the sponsorship of the Kamakura City Board of Education, Zushi City Board of Education, and Hayama Town Board of Education, many companies, organizations, and individuals, including Kamakura's creative company Owarai Corporation Kayak, have expressed their support and cooperation. We aim not only to be a place that selects excellent works but also to create a system where society supports children's desire to 'write.'

Application Method Please see the official website (https://kotoba-wing-award.studio.site/) for application methods and forms.