Newton's 'Nyaton: Science of Cats' Wins 'Rubyful Award 2026'

Newton Press, a group company of The Asahi Shimbun Company, has been awarded the 'Rubyful Award 2026' by the Ruby Foundation for its publication, 'Nyaton: Science of Cats.' Additionally, three other media outlets within the Asahi Shimbun Group received the 'Ruby Tomo Award.'

The 'Rubyful Award' honors publications that have used furigana (ruby characters) to increase reader understanding and access. This was the second year of the award, and the ceremony took place in Tokyo on June 2, 2026.

'Nyaton: Science of Cats,' the Grand Prize winner, introduces scientific knowledge using the accessible theme of cats. The book uses furigana throughout, which was praised for fostering intellectual curiosity among readers who typically do not interact with scientific books.

The 'Ruby Tomo Award,' which recognizes individuals and organizations that contribute to the spread of furigana and the improvement of information accessibility, was presented to three outlets from the Asahi Shimbun Group:

- AERA with Kids Editorial Department (Asahi Shimbun Publications)
- Newton Press
- The Asahi Shogakusei Shimbun

Twelve individuals and organizations were honored with this award, with the Asahi Shimbun Group accounting for three of them.

The AERA with Kids Editorial Department was recognized for implementing full furigana in the children’s media outlet 'Junior Aera' and for sharing information about the importance of furigana.

Since 2023, Newton Press has promoted the implementation of full furigana across its special issue series, contributing to the expansion of the readership in the scientific and knowledge sectors.

The Asahi Shogakusei Shimbun was recognized for maintaining its philosophy from the time of its founding by using full furigana across all its pages, supporting children’s information access for many years.

The Ruby Foundation aims to realize a society where everyone can access information and knowledge through the use of furigana. This award recognizes the efforts of the Asahi Shimbun Group in improving information accessibility.

The Group will continue to contribute to improving the quality of information provided to diverse readers and to the realization of a society where everyone can easily access information.