‘Land of the Lustrous’ Manga Wins Big at Nihon SF Taishō Awards

The 45th Nihon SF Taishō Awards recently revealed their winners. The grand prize went to Haruko Ichikawa’s Land of the Lustrous manga. The special prize was awarded to Kenrei Miyanishi for their short story collection Ginga-Fū Hanzō (Sailing on Galactic Winds).

In addition, achievement awards were given posthumously to manga artist Kazuo Umezu, translator Haruya Sumiya, and novelist Hiroshi Yamamoto, who all passed away in the past year.

These awards cover works released between September 1, 2023, and August 31, 2024. A judging panel that includes voice actress and SFWJ chair Haruna Ikezawa, translator Nozomi Ōmori, and novelists Yūki Shasendō, Tōya Tachihara, and Jōji Hayashi made the selections.

The grand prize winner will receive a certificate, trophy, and 1 million yen (around $6,600). The special prize winner gets a certificate and trophy, while the achievement award recipients will also receive certificates. The ceremony will be streamed during the SF Carnival event at Tsutaya Books’ Daikanyama branch in Tokyo on April 26.

The Nihon SF Taishō Awards are often compared to the Nebula Awards in the US. Last year, the SFWJ honored late manga creators Leiji Matsumoto and Yuki Hijiri with achievement awards.

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