Librarians' Picks for Terrifying Books! Nippon Shuppan Hanbai "Scary Book Award 2026" Announced July 1st!

Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Ken Togashi, abbreviated: Nippan) announced the results of the "Scary Book Award 2026" hosted by the Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Library Selection Center (hereinafter, Selection Center) on July 1, 2026 (Wed).

The "Scary Book Award" is an event where library professionals nationwide vote for the book they find "most scary" from a list of nominated works to determine the grand prize winner. It began in 2024 as a spin-off of the "Librarian's Choice Selection Center Award" held every December by the Selection Center, and this is the third time it has been held.

In response to positive feedback from librarians such as "Scary books are very popular with elementary and junior high school students, so we want to purchase them based on the nominated works" and "We want it announced every year," the award is announced in July, before the summer vacation. For the hot summer, 78 scary books were nominated, and grand prize winners were decided in four categories.

◆ Event Overview

- Nominated Books

Based on selection performance at the Selection Center, the center's concierges selected 78 books, classifying them into four categories: "Creepy," "Chilling," "Startling," and "Gory."

- Participants

Library professionals nationwide (851 people)

- Voting Method

Participants voted for up to 3 books they found "most scary" in each category from the nominated books.

- Voting Period

May 7, 2026 (Thu) - June 14, 2026 (Sun)

- "Scary Book Award 2026" Details https://sensho-c.jp/scary-book-award-2026/

◆ Voting Results

<Creepy Category Grand Prize>

"54-Character Stories: Curse" (Yusuke Ujita, author / Yudai Takeda, illustrator), PHP Institute

[Comment from Yusuke Ujita, Author, on Winning the Creepy Category Grand Prize]

Packed with tight teeth, insects mimicking organs, and lingering guilt. This book is filled with things I myself found "scary" deep down. If you can relate to that "scary," nothing would make me happier. Thank you for this wonderful award.

[Voting Comments]

"Busy junior high school students love short stories. Fans of the 54-character series even write their own stories in 54 characters!" (Junior High School Librarian) "Because they are short sentences, the meaning becomes clear later and it gives you chills." (Elementary School Librarian) "Since the sentences are 54 characters long, it's easy to hand to children who say they dislike reading, and they can rethink it while looking at the answers, allowing for deep reading." (Elementary School Librarian)

<Chilling Category Grand Prize>

"The Man on the Flying Trapeze" (Mordicai Gerstein, author / Saburo Kawamoto, translator), Komine Shoten

[Comment from the Editor in Charge at Komine Shoten on Winning the Chilling Category Grand Prize]

This is a picture book depicting the great feat of a street performer who walked a tightrope without a safety net between the now-gone World Trade Center towers in New York.

Please experience the chilling suspense of the protagonist walking the tightrope, buffeted by the wind from the buildings.

[Voting Comments]

"As it's a true story, it was very nerve-wracking. People with a fear of heights probably couldn't handle it." (Junior High School Librarian) "I use it for reading aloud to upper elementary grades. The final scene where you hold your breath is great." (Elementary School Librarian) "The illustrations are wonderful! Your legs will feel weak." (Elementary School Librarian)

<Startling Category Grand Prize>

"More Spooky Ghost Picture Books Are Here..." (Nao Arita, author / fracoco, illustrator), Shin Nihon Publisher

[Comment from Nao Arita, Author, on Winning the Startling Category Grand Prize]

Thank you all very much! I'm delighted.

In this work, I reduced the text to the bare minimum while imbuing it with moments of fear experienced in everyday life. Which page did you find the scariest?

I hope you enjoy it while being scared.

[Voting Comments]

"Children love scary pictures, and they gather around the book in groups of 2-3 during breaks and get excited." (Junior High School Librarian) "You can tell it's scary just from the title on the cover, so the children love it! And it's standard to show a scary scene suddenly." (Elementary School Librarian) "It's just plain 'scary.' The children agree it's scary too." (Elementary School Librarian)

<Gory Category Grand Prize>

"Strange Maps" (Amau, author), Futabasha

[Comment from Riku Aragaki, Editor in Charge at Futabasha, on Winning the Gory Category Grand Prize]

Thank you for this wonderful award. "Strange Maps" is a book that captivates with its gradually approaching eeriness and a mystery that keeps you engrossed until the end. It uses many illustrations and simple text, so I hope even those who don't usually read books can enjoy it.

[Voting Comments]

"Amau's works are very popular at my school. Even though it's a small school with low library usage by students, the 'Strange' series is always checked out." (Junior High School Librarian) "A book that adults and children can enjoy engrossed." (Junior High School Librarian) "The Amau series is interesting and very popular." (Elementary School Librarian)

◆ Notes on Republication and Quotation

- When reprinting or quoting this material in newspapers, magazines, websites, etc., please be sure to clearly state "Hosted by Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Library Selection Center."

- Secondary use of this information by third parties for profit is strictly prohibited.

◆ Exhibition at Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Library Selection Center

The Selection Center is a facility that always stocks approximately 30,000 books, mainly for elementary and junior high school students, allowing library professionals to select books firsthand. In addition to all the nominated books for this "Scary Book Award 2026," there is also a rich display of new books, providing constant opportunities to discover new titles. You can also place immediate orders for books you like when you visit, or take selection lists home with you.

Furthermore, experienced concierges are always stationed at the Selection Center to support selection tailored to individual needs through dialogue with visitors.

The Selection Center will continue to hold various events with the aim of enriching libraries by supporting librarians.

◆ Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Library Selection Center Overview

Location: Chichibuyabiru 4F, 3-7-4 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Phone: 03-3288-5055

FAX: 03-3288-5060

Access: 5-minute walk from Kōjimachi Station Exit 1 on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line

5-minute walk from Hanzōmon Station Exit 6 on the Hanzōmon Line

10-minute walk from Yotsuya Station Kōjimachi Exit on the JR Chūō Line

Visit Application: Advance reservation required. Please contact the inquiry contact below.

*There may be temporary closures during the year-end and New Year holidays, Obon season, inventory taking, book rotation, etc.

*For details such as business hours, please see the official website.

Official Website: https://sensho-c.jp/

Inquiries regarding this matter

Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Co., Ltd. Library Sales Department, Planning Division, Library Selection Center Attn: Saeki, Hattori

TEL. 03-3288-5055

FAX. 03-3288-5060

E-mail:sensho_c@nippan.co.jp