Judges Confirmed for Futami Shobo's 'Gemstone Excavation Project' (presents by Yamagata Novelist & Writer Course)! Theme is BL. Grand Prize Guarantees Book and Comic Publication, Supported Global Expansion.
Futami Shobo announced the judges, including novelist Shion Miura and Professor Yukari Fujimoto, for their BL-themed 'Gemstone Excavation Project'. The grand prize includes guaranteed book and comic publications and global expansion support.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 2, 2026 at 01:06
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 16:47
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 08:22 (471h 34m after Collected)
This project is a collaboration between Futami Shobo and the Yamagata Novelist & Writer Course to discover and nurture new talents under the theme of BL, breaking away from conventional frameworks. We had already announced the participation of Ms. Shion Miura as a judge, but we are pleased to report that three new judges have also been confirmed.
[Judges] (In no particular order, titles omitted)
Shion Miura, Novelist
Born in Tokyo in 1976. Debuted in 2000 with "Kakutousuru Mono ni Maru". Won numerous awards including the Naoki Prize for "Mahoro Ekimae Tada Benriken" in 2006, the Japan Booksellers' Award for "The Great Passage" (Fune wo Amu) in 2012, the Oda Sakunosuke Prize for "Ano Ie ni Kurasu Yonin no Onna" in 2015, the Shimase Award for Love Stories and the Kawai Hayao Narrative Prize for "Nonohana Tsushin" in 2018, and the Special Prize of the Botanical Society of Japan for "Ai Naki Sekai" in 2019. Her other novels include "Run with the Wind" (Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru), "Kamusari Naanaa Nichijo", "Hikari", "Elegy wa Nagarenai", and "Sumi no Yurameki". Her essays include "Hon'ya-san de Machiawase", "Nokke kara Shitsurei shimasu", "Manner wa Iranai: Shosetsu no Kakikata Koza", and "Suki ni Natte Shimaimashita". Recent works include "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", "Yubisaki ni Mahou", and the essay "Shingari de Neteimasu".
Yukari Fujimoto, Professor at Meiji University
Professor at the School of Global Japanese Studies, Meiji University. Her specialties are "Gender and Representation" and "Manga Cultural Theory". Until 2007, she worked as an editor handling gender-related issues at Chikuma Shobo, while also engaging in critical activities focusing on comics and sexuality. She was the Secretary-General of the Dazai Osamu Prize and a literary editor in charge of Kikuko Tsumura, Rieko Matsuura, Azusa Nakajima, and others. She has serialized columns in newspapers and magazines and served as a selection committee member for the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize and the Kodansha Manga Award. She joined Meiji University in 2008. Recently, she has been investigating the overseas spread of expressions like BL and their relationship with local LGBT communities. Her representative books include "Watashi no Ibasho wa Doko ni Aruno?" (Gakuyo Shobo / Asahi Bunko) and "Kairaku Denryu" (Kawade Shobo Shinsha).
[Judges] (In no particular order, titles omitted)
Shion Miura, Novelist
Born in Tokyo in 1976. Debuted in 2000 with "Kakutousuru Mono ni Maru". Won numerous awards including the Naoki Prize for "Mahoro Ekimae Tada Benriken" in 2006, the Japan Booksellers' Award for "The Great Passage" (Fune wo Amu) in 2012, the Oda Sakunosuke Prize for "Ano Ie ni Kurasu Yonin no Onna" in 2015, the Shimase Award for Love Stories and the Kawai Hayao Narrative Prize for "Nonohana Tsushin" in 2018, and the Special Prize of the Botanical Society of Japan for "Ai Naki Sekai" in 2019. Her other novels include "Run with the Wind" (Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru), "Kamusari Naanaa Nichijo", "Hikari", "Elegy wa Nagarenai", and "Sumi no Yurameki". Her essays include "Hon'ya-san de Machiawase", "Nokke kara Shitsurei shimasu", "Manner wa Iranai: Shosetsu no Kakikata Koza", and "Suki ni Natte Shimaimashita". Recent works include "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", "Yubisaki ni Mahou", and the essay "Shingari de Neteimasu".
Yukari Fujimoto, Professor at Meiji University
Professor at the School of Global Japanese Studies, Meiji University. Her specialties are "Gender and Representation" and "Manga Cultural Theory". Until 2007, she worked as an editor handling gender-related issues at Chikuma Shobo, while also engaging in critical activities focusing on comics and sexuality. She was the Secretary-General of the Dazai Osamu Prize and a literary editor in charge of Kikuko Tsumura, Rieko Matsuura, Azusa Nakajima, and others. She has serialized columns in newspapers and magazines and served as a selection committee member for the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize and the Kodansha Manga Award. She joined Meiji University in 2008. Recently, she has been investigating the overseas spread of expressions like BL and their relationship with local LGBT communities. Her representative books include "Watashi no Ibasho wa Doko ni Aruno?" (Gakuyo Shobo / Asahi Bunko) and "Kairaku Denryu" (Kawade Shobo Shinsha).