Megumi Semitani's 'Mieruka Hokiichi' Wins 39th Yamamoto Shugoro Prize!

Megumi Semitani's novel 'Mieruka Hokiichi' (Can You See, Hokiichi?), published by KADOKAWA, has won the 39th Yamamoto Shugoro Prize. The novel tells the story of Hokiichi Hanawa, a blind scholar from the Edo period, focusing on his inner struggles and relationships rather than just a biography. The selection committee praised the author's paradoxical approach to exploring what a blind person 'sees'. The author expressed immense joy, stating the writing process was challenging but rewarding.