Grand Prize Winner to be Published! The 34th Ogawa Mimei Literary Award Ceremony Held. Grand Prize Work is a Family Story Themed Around "Udon."
The 34th Ogawa Mimei Literary Award ceremony was held on March 27, 2026, where Ayuri Itsuki's "Udon no Kamisama" received the Grand Prize and is scheduled for publication around November 2026. This event aims to promote children's literature and discover new talent.
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The 34th Ogawa Mimei Literary Award ceremony, sponsored by Gakken Co., Ltd. (Shinagawa, Tokyo / Representative Director and President: Tatsuya Nanjo), a group company of Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. (Shinagawa, Tokyo / Representative Director and President: Hiroaki Miyahara), and organized by Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture and the Ogawa Mimei Literary Award Committee, was held on March 27, 2026.
The Ogawa Mimei Literary Award was established in 1991 (Heisei 3) with the aim of inheriting the literary spirit of Joetsu City-born children's literature author Mimei Ogawa and publishing creative children's literature suitable for a new era. It is hosted by Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture and the Ogawa Mimei Literary Award Committee, and sponsored by Gakken Co., Ltd.
This time, a total of 802 works (453 short stories, 349 long stories) were submitted. From these, Ayuri Itsuki's "Udon no Kamisama" (God of Udon) (long story) received the Grand Prize, and Ken Sumigaki's "Otogi Densha to Yoimachi no Hashi" (Fairy Tale Train and Evening Wait Bridge) (long story) received the Award of Excellence. The Grand Prize winner received a prize of 1 million yen and a commemorative gift of "Teihon Ogawa Mimei Douwa Zenshu" (Complete Works of Mimei Ogawa's Fairy Tales) (Oozora Publishing), while the Award of Excellence winner received a prize of 200,000 yen and "Meisaku Douwa Ogawa Mimei 30-sen" (30 Selected Masterpiece Fairy Tales by Mimei Ogawa) (Shunyodo Shoten).
▲ Scene from the award ceremony. From left: Mr. Hashimoto, Executive Vice President of Gakken Co., Ltd.; Mr. Kenro Miyagawa, Chairman of the Ogawa Mimei Literary Award Committee; Ms. Ayuri Itsuki, Grand Prize winner; Mr. Ken Sumigaki, Award of Excellence winner; and Mr. Junichi Kosuge, Mayor of Joetsu City.
This 34th award ceremony was held at the Gakken Head Office building, where award winners and attendees gathered. The ceremony was moderated by Mr. Kikunaga, Vice Chairman of the Ogawa Mimei Literary Award Committee. Congratulatory addresses were given by Mr. Junichi Kosuge, Mayor of Joetsu City, Mr. Kenro Miyagawa, Chairman of the Ogawa Mimei Literary Award Committee, and Mr. Hashimoto, Executive Vice President of Gakken Co., Ltd. Following comments from the final selection committee members, certificates and commemorative gifts were presented to the two award winners.
The Grand Prize winning work, "Udon no Kamisama," is a family story that begins with Haruto Kono, a 4th-grade elementary school student born into a long-established udon restaurant, and his older brother Yuma, reuniting with their father who left the family 10 years ago to go to the city.
▲ Mayor Kosuge of Joetsu City
Mr. Yuji Ono, Professor at Joetsu University of Education and a member of the final selection committee, commented on the Grand Prize winning work, stating, "The literary theme of this story is about how the smell and taste of udon restore the lost memory of the grandmother, just as the word 'father' was restored to the brothers."
▲ Mr. Yuji Ono, Final Selection Committee Member
Ms. Ayuri Itsuki, the Grand Prize winner, reflected on her writing process, saying, "For 'Udon no Kamisama,' the main character came to mind first, and the story followed afterward." She expressed her joy and gratitude for the award, saying, "I'm truly glad I kept writing until the end without giving up. I want to thank everyone who chose my work and my family who warmly supported me."
▲ Ms. Ayuri Itsuki, Grand Prize Winner
Additionally, "Otogi Densha to Yoimachi no Hashi," which received the Award of Excellence, is a story about Kenichi, a 5th-grade elementary school student who becomes interested in a village submerged at the bottom of a dam. He chases after his disappeared younger brother, time-travels to the Showa era before the dam's completion, and dashes through the village where the "Otogi Densha" (Fairy Tale Train) once ran.
Mr. Hideharu Ogawa, a member of the final selection committee, praised the Award of Excellence winning work as "a well-crafted work written in a heartwarming style," adding that "the nostalgic title also expresses the charm of the work."
▲ Mr. Hideharu Ogawa, Final Selection Committee Member
Mr. Sumigaki, the Award of Excellence winner, said that the "Otogi Densha" that once operated in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture, was the inspiration for his work. He expressed his future aspirations, saying, "I want to continue striving to create works that allow people to experience a greatly expanded world."
▲ Mr. Ken Sumigaki, Award of Excellence Winner
After the award winners' greetings, as an attraction, a reading of "Namo naki Kusa" (Nameless Grass) by reader Ms. Hizuru Kara and a narration of "Tsuki Yo to Megane" (Moonlit Night and Glasses) by narrator Ms. Momoyo Osawa were performed.
▲ Left: Ms. Momoyo Osawa performing Mimei Ogawa's "Tsuki Yo to Megane." Right: Ms. Hizuru Kara performing Mimei Ogawa's "Namo naki Kusa."
The Grand Prize winning work is scheduled to be published as a book by Gakken Co., Ltd. around November 2026.
For information on the start of applications for the Ogawa Mimei Literary Award and past award-winning works, please visit the websites below.
▼ Joetsu City Website (Ogawa Mimei Literary Museum)
https://www.city.joetsu.niigata.jp/site/mimei-bungakukan/
▼ Ogawa Mimei Literary Award Website (Gakken Co., Ltd.)
https://gakken-ep.jp/extra/mimei-bungaku/
▼ Related Articles
"【Grand Prize Winner to Debut this Autumn】The 34th Ogawa Mimei Literary Award Grand Prize is 'Udon no Kamisama'"
The Ogawa Mimei Literary Award was established in 1991 (Heisei 3) with the aim of inheriting the literary spirit of Joetsu City-born children's literature author Mimei Ogawa and publishing creative children's literature suitable for a new era. It is hosted by Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture and the Ogawa Mimei Literary Award Committee, and sponsored by Gakken Co., Ltd.
This time, a total of 802 works (453 short stories, 349 long stories) were submitted. From these, Ayuri Itsuki's "Udon no Kamisama" (God of Udon) (long story) received the Grand Prize, and Ken Sumigaki's "Otogi Densha to Yoimachi no Hashi" (Fairy Tale Train and Evening Wait Bridge) (long story) received the Award of Excellence. The Grand Prize winner received a prize of 1 million yen and a commemorative gift of "Teihon Ogawa Mimei Douwa Zenshu" (Complete Works of Mimei Ogawa's Fairy Tales) (Oozora Publishing), while the Award of Excellence winner received a prize of 200,000 yen and "Meisaku Douwa Ogawa Mimei 30-sen" (30 Selected Masterpiece Fairy Tales by Mimei Ogawa) (Shunyodo Shoten).
▲ Scene from the award ceremony. From left: Mr. Hashimoto, Executive Vice President of Gakken Co., Ltd.; Mr. Kenro Miyagawa, Chairman of the Ogawa Mimei Literary Award Committee; Ms. Ayuri Itsuki, Grand Prize winner; Mr. Ken Sumigaki, Award of Excellence winner; and Mr. Junichi Kosuge, Mayor of Joetsu City.
This 34th award ceremony was held at the Gakken Head Office building, where award winners and attendees gathered. The ceremony was moderated by Mr. Kikunaga, Vice Chairman of the Ogawa Mimei Literary Award Committee. Congratulatory addresses were given by Mr. Junichi Kosuge, Mayor of Joetsu City, Mr. Kenro Miyagawa, Chairman of the Ogawa Mimei Literary Award Committee, and Mr. Hashimoto, Executive Vice President of Gakken Co., Ltd. Following comments from the final selection committee members, certificates and commemorative gifts were presented to the two award winners.
The Grand Prize winning work, "Udon no Kamisama," is a family story that begins with Haruto Kono, a 4th-grade elementary school student born into a long-established udon restaurant, and his older brother Yuma, reuniting with their father who left the family 10 years ago to go to the city.
▲ Mayor Kosuge of Joetsu City
Mr. Yuji Ono, Professor at Joetsu University of Education and a member of the final selection committee, commented on the Grand Prize winning work, stating, "The literary theme of this story is about how the smell and taste of udon restore the lost memory of the grandmother, just as the word 'father' was restored to the brothers."
▲ Mr. Yuji Ono, Final Selection Committee Member
Ms. Ayuri Itsuki, the Grand Prize winner, reflected on her writing process, saying, "For 'Udon no Kamisama,' the main character came to mind first, and the story followed afterward." She expressed her joy and gratitude for the award, saying, "I'm truly glad I kept writing until the end without giving up. I want to thank everyone who chose my work and my family who warmly supported me."
▲ Ms. Ayuri Itsuki, Grand Prize Winner
Additionally, "Otogi Densha to Yoimachi no Hashi," which received the Award of Excellence, is a story about Kenichi, a 5th-grade elementary school student who becomes interested in a village submerged at the bottom of a dam. He chases after his disappeared younger brother, time-travels to the Showa era before the dam's completion, and dashes through the village where the "Otogi Densha" (Fairy Tale Train) once ran.
Mr. Hideharu Ogawa, a member of the final selection committee, praised the Award of Excellence winning work as "a well-crafted work written in a heartwarming style," adding that "the nostalgic title also expresses the charm of the work."
▲ Mr. Hideharu Ogawa, Final Selection Committee Member
Mr. Sumigaki, the Award of Excellence winner, said that the "Otogi Densha" that once operated in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture, was the inspiration for his work. He expressed his future aspirations, saying, "I want to continue striving to create works that allow people to experience a greatly expanded world."
▲ Mr. Ken Sumigaki, Award of Excellence Winner
After the award winners' greetings, as an attraction, a reading of "Namo naki Kusa" (Nameless Grass) by reader Ms. Hizuru Kara and a narration of "Tsuki Yo to Megane" (Moonlit Night and Glasses) by narrator Ms. Momoyo Osawa were performed.
▲ Left: Ms. Momoyo Osawa performing Mimei Ogawa's "Tsuki Yo to Megane." Right: Ms. Hizuru Kara performing Mimei Ogawa's "Namo naki Kusa."
The Grand Prize winning work is scheduled to be published as a book by Gakken Co., Ltd. around November 2026.
For information on the start of applications for the Ogawa Mimei Literary Award and past award-winning works, please visit the websites below.
▼ Joetsu City Website (Ogawa Mimei Literary Museum)
https://www.city.joetsu.niigata.jp/site/mimei-bungakukan/
▼ Ogawa Mimei Literary Award Website (Gakken Co., Ltd.)
https://gakken-ep.jp/extra/mimei-bungaku/
▼ Related Articles
"【Grand Prize Winner to Debut this Autumn】The 34th Ogawa Mimei Literary Award Grand Prize is 'Udon no Kamisama'"