The presentation ceremony of the Akutagawa Prize and the Naoki Prize, which were selected for the first time in 10 years, was held in Tokyo on the 27th, and four artists expressed their joy and future aspirations.

The 165th Akutagawa Prize and Naoki Prize were selected at the selection meeting last month. Mai Ishizawa's "At the place following the shell" for the Akutagawa Prize, Li Kotomi's "Island where Higanbana blooms", Norikazu Sato's "Tescatripoka" for the Naoki Prize, Sawada Hitoko's "Stars have fallen, still" were selected.



It is the first time in 10 years that two works have been selected for the Akutagawa Prize and the Naoki Prize.



On the 27th, a prize presentation ceremony was held in Tokyo, and a speech was given after the four winners were presented with a souvenir and a list of prize money.

Mr. Ishizawa of the Akutagawa Prize, who participated online from Germany, said, "I am afraid of this award, but I am really grateful. The award does not make it easier to continue writing, but I think it is still tough. What I saw from the award is a vivid but steep and difficult road, but I still want to keep writing without running away, "he said.

Similarly, Mr. Lee of the Akutagawa Prize said, "It was thanks to knowledge and literature that I was able to survive to this day, and literature provided a means of expression, and I was able to digest emotions such as anger and suffering. Then, the hero was blessed with a miracle and avoided death, but I strongly hope that the award of the Akutagawa Prize will be one of the miracle to survive. "

Mr. Sato of the Naoki Prize wrote, "It's been 500 years since the Aztec kingdom I drew in my work was destroyed, so I wrote it with the hope that readers would feel it, but one thing is destroyed. I feel like I was told that there is no guarantee that what has been up to now will not be destroyed through the work in the urgent situation. I am grateful for the Naoki Prize that gave me the opportunity to think about that. " Said.

In addition, Mr. Sawada of the Naoki Prize said, "For a writer, the prize is not a goal but a passing point, and I am excited about how to take advantage of this experience. Knowledge and literature are open to everyone. I have been helped by myself, so I want to increase the number of people who can be helped by it. The only thing I can do for that is to write, "he said.