【Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award Nippon Broadcasting Award Winner!】A Sports Novel 'Shiroi Niji wo Nageru' Recommended by the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association, Connecting Hearts! A Story of Friendship and Growth Forged by 'Catchball'

Gakken Inc., a group company of Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. (Shinagawa, Tokyo / Representative Director and President: Hiroaki Miyahara), announced that its novel 'Shiroi Niji wo Nageru' (written by Mariko Yoshino, illustrated by Takamine Kurosu) received the '73rd Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award Nippon Broadcasting Award' on May 5, 2026. ■ Today, many children harbor 'unexpressed feelings' This work depicts elementary school sixth-grade boys and girls who confront modern anxieties such as school transfers, family illness, and diversity, and grow through a new sports competition called 'Catchball Classic'. Mariko Yoshino, author of 'Team Futari', portrays the earnest and 'unexpressed feelings' that girls and boys at a sensitive age experience: feeling a 'temperature difference' with classmates and teammates, feeling out of place after transferring schools, and holding back true feelings to avoid worrying their families. Especially now, when communication via SNS and messaging apps is commonplace, this work, filled with the gentle and warm sentiment of 'throwing a ball with care for the other person,' has won a prestigious award. ■ Two key characters in the story The 'Catchball Classic' is a competition recommended by the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association, where a team of nine competes on the accuracy and speed of their catchball throws. Yayya and Hao, the two protagonists captivated by this sport, encourage each other through regular messages and vow to reunite at the prefecture's Catchball Classic tournament. ◉ Yayya A sixth-grader who loves playing baseball. She was the captain of her previous team but transferred schools. She struggles to fit into her new team, facing the 'invisible wall' that prevents girls from playing in 'Koshien,' and human relationships among parents. ◉ Hao Yayya's former teammate. He is now the captain. While worrying about his younger brother Tomo, who had a leg illness, and struggling with the distance between siblings, he supports his boys' baseball team, which is short on members and cannot play games. ◉ Tomo Hao's younger brother. He developed a leg illness at the end of his first year of elementary school and underwent surgery in the winter of his second year. ■ Recommended by the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association! This work has received strong support from players active at the forefront of professional baseball. ▼ Message from Mr. Yoshihiro Maru of the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association I want you to read and experience the moments that only team sports can offer. That's why I can continue to play baseball. ■ What is the 'Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award'? The 'Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award' is a children's literature award established in 1954 by Sankei Shimbun with the aim of providing 'good books for the next generation of children.' With over 70 years of history, approximately 1,200 works, including translated picture books, children's novels, and children's non-fiction, have been honored to date. ■ 'note' for trial reading is now available A 'note' where you can read a sample of the beginning of 'Shiroi Niji wo Nageru' has been released. It also includes a message from the author, Mariko Yoshino, to readers. https://note.com/gakken_koho/n/nd24bf2e1d735 [Product Overview] ■ 'Teens Literature Library Shiroi Niji wo Nageru' Written by: Mariko Yoshino, Illustrated by: Takamine Kurosu Price: 1,760 JPY (tax included) Release Date: March 3, 2025 Format: Quadruple (roughly B6) / 232 pages E-book: Available ISBN: 978-4-05-206059-5 Publisher: Gakken Inc. Gakken Publishing Site: https://hon.gakken.jp/book/1020605900 [Purchase This Book Here] ・Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4052060598/ ・Rakuten Books: https://books.rakuten.co.jp/rb/18097914/ ・Seven Net: https://7net.omni7.jp/detail/1107574182/ ・Kindle: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0DYGBDLVK/ ・Rakuten Kobo: https://books.rakuten.co.jp/rk/b2ea649efaba3e47baea624b7bc90a0d/ ■ Gakken Inc. https://www.corp-gakken.co.jp/ ・Representative Director and President: Tatsuya Nanjo ・Date of Establishment: January 13, 2009 (Trade name changed on October 1, 2022) ・Capital: 50 million JPY ・Location: 2-11-8 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8416 ・Business Activities: Publishing and content business, global business, medical and nursing publishing content business, kindergarten and school business, classrooms