Ryo Asai Wins Japan Booksellers' Award for 'In the Megachurch'
Ryo Asai's novel 'In the Megachurch' has won the Japan Booksellers' Award. This prestigious award, chosen by booksellers nationwide, often leads to bestsellers and adaptations. Asai, who debuted while at Waseda University, has a rich history of awards, including for 'The Kirishima Thing' and 'Someone'. 'In the Megachurch' has sold over 230,000 copies in five months since its September release.
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The first Japan Booksellers' Award began in 2004, with booksellers across Japan voting for the 'book they most want to sell.' Past winning works have mostly become bestsellers, and some have even been adapted into TV dramas or films, making it a highly influential award.
'Sports Hochi' reported that Ryo Asai, attending the awards ceremony today, wore a suit with gray hair and a smile, receiving a bouquet from Akiko Abe, last year's Japan Booksellers' Award winner.
In his acceptance speech, Ryo Asai stated, 'Novels are about writing one's own biases and extremes. It is an honor for my work to become a part of the bookshelves in this Japan Booksellers' Award, which gathers many biases and extremes.'
Ryo Asai debuted in 2009 while studying at Waseda University, winning the Shosetsu Subaru Newcomer Award for 'The Kirishima Thing,' which was later adapted into a film. He has a rich record of awards, such as winning the Naoki Prize for 'Someone' in 2013, the Tsubota Joji Literary Award for 'The World Map's Draft,' and the Shibata Renzaburo Award for 'Seiyoku,' among others.
'In the Megachurch,' released last September, sold over 230,000 copies within five months. The story features three protagonists: a man living separately from his family due to his involvement in managing an idol group, a sensitive university student seeking healing, and a woman whose happy support for a stage actor with her partners drastically changes due to a certain report.
This novel is structured from three different perspectives: those who create the fan economy, those deeply immersed in it, and those who were once deeply immersed.
Additionally, 'TOUT LE BLEU DU CIEL' (tentative translation, 'The Blue of the Sky'), a work by French author Melissa Da Costa translated by Tomoko Yamamoto, won the favor of booksellers in the Japan Booksellers' Award's translated novel category. (Compiler: Yang Wei-ching) 1150409
'Sports Hochi' reported that Ryo Asai, attending the awards ceremony today, wore a suit with gray hair and a smile, receiving a bouquet from Akiko Abe, last year's Japan Booksellers' Award winner.
In his acceptance speech, Ryo Asai stated, 'Novels are about writing one's own biases and extremes. It is an honor for my work to become a part of the bookshelves in this Japan Booksellers' Award, which gathers many biases and extremes.'
Ryo Asai debuted in 2009 while studying at Waseda University, winning the Shosetsu Subaru Newcomer Award for 'The Kirishima Thing,' which was later adapted into a film. He has a rich record of awards, such as winning the Naoki Prize for 'Someone' in 2013, the Tsubota Joji Literary Award for 'The World Map's Draft,' and the Shibata Renzaburo Award for 'Seiyoku,' among others.
'In the Megachurch,' released last September, sold over 230,000 copies within five months. The story features three protagonists: a man living separately from his family due to his involvement in managing an idol group, a sensitive university student seeking healing, and a woman whose happy support for a stage actor with her partners drastically changes due to a certain report.
This novel is structured from three different perspectives: those who create the fan economy, those deeply immersed in it, and those who were once deeply immersed.
Additionally, 'TOUT LE BLEU DU CIEL' (tentative translation, 'The Blue of the Sky'), a work by French author Melissa Da Costa translated by Tomoko Yamamoto, won the favor of booksellers in the Japan Booksellers' Award's translated novel category. (Compiler: Yang Wei-ching) 1150409