[Naoki Prize Candidate Announced] Hika Harada's '#Daidokoro no Aru Tokoro' Nominated for the 175th Naoki Prize! 《Includes Author's Comment on Nomination》

'#Daidokoro no Aru Tokoro' (Where the Kitchen Is), authored by Hika Harada and published by Bungeishunju on May 13, 2026, has been selected as a candidate for the 175th Naoki Sanjugo Prize.

Harada, who was formerly a scenario writer, debuted as a novelist in 2007 after winning the 31st Subaru Literary Prize for 'Hajimaranai Tea Time'. She has since produced numerous popular works, including the 2018 bestseller 'Sanzen-en no Tsukaikata', which has sold over 1 million copies.

This collection of six interconnected stories centered around kitchens, '#Daidokoro no Aru Tokoro', is her first Naoki Prize nomination.

The selection meeting for the 175th Naoki Prize will be held in Tokyo on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

◼︎ Author Hika Harada's Comment on the Nomination

I never expected a literary career that would lead me to such a glorious occasion, so I am simply astonished.

The thing I have been most grateful for since becoming a novelist is that I have had much more help in publishing my books than I imagined, and I have never felt alone. I am grateful to every single person who has 'helped' me so far.

Regardless of the outcome, I will use this as life experience and continue to dedicate myself to writing good novels and making interesting books available for more people to read.

Thank you very much.

◼︎ Plot Summary of '#Daidokoro no Aru Tokoro'

Stories of 'Me' across six kitchens---

Two children have left home, and a husband retired and moved abroad. A housewife left alone in a large house, an OL living with a cost-and-time-performance-conscious boyfriend in Ebisu, and a single mother raising four energetic children....

Before these women, who vary in generation and circumstances, was the midnight 30-minute drama series 'Daidokoro no Aru Tokoro'.

◼︎ About the Author

Hika Harada

Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1970. In 2005, she won the Grand Prize at the 34th NHK Radio Drama Competition for 'Little Princess No. 2'. In 2007, she won the 31st Subaru Literary Prize for 'Hajimaranai Tea Time'. Her book 'Sanzen-en no Tsukaikata' is a bestseller with over 1 million copies sold. She has numerous works, including the 'Lunch Sake', 'Furuhon Shokudo', 'Tokyo Laundering', and 'Sanninya' series, as well as 'Radio GAGAGA', 'Kissa Ojisan', 'Saifu wa Odoru', and 'Gekishu'.

◼︎ Bibliographic Information

Title: '#Daidokoro no Aru Tokoro'
Author: Hika Harada
Price: 1,980 yen (tax included)
E-book Price: 1,900 yen (tax included)
Publisher: Bungeishunju
Format: Shiroku-ban, lightweight, softcover
Release Date: May 13, 2026
Page Count: 304 pages
ISBN: 978-4-16-392099-3
URL: https://books.bunshun.jp/ud/book/num/9784163920993