Shimase Love Literature Prize () is a Japanese literary award presented annually for outstanding works of romantic fiction. Established in 1994 by the former town of Mikawa (now part of Hakusan, Ishikawa), the prize honors the writer Shimada Seijirō. Since 2014, the award has been organized and administered by Kanazawa Gakuin University.
Background The prize was founded by the town of Mikawa to commemorate the 40th anniversary of a municipal merger. Following the dissolution of Mikawa in 2005, responsibility for the award was transferred to the city of Hakusan.
Due to organizational difficulties, the prize was temporarily suspended in 2011. It was revived in 2013 by a private organization, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Love Literature. Since 2014, it has been continued under the auspices of Kanazawa Gakuin University.
Selection process A distinctive feature of the Shimase Love Literature Prize is the active involvement of students from Kanazawa Gakuin University in the selection process.
As part of the “Shimase Love Literature Seminar,” students read and discuss submitted works and nominate candidates for the final round. The final decision is made by a jury composed of established writers and literary scholars.
Laureates YearLaureate(s)Original titleEnglish title1994Takagi Nobuko蔵燃Burning Ivy1995Yamamoto Michiko瑞瓦唐草Chinese Forget-Me-Not1996Bandō Masako桜雨Cherry Blossom Rain1997Nozawa Hisashi恋愛時代The Age of Love1998Koike Mariko欲望Desire1999Fujita Yoshinaga求愛Courtship2000Yū Aku詩小説Lyrical Novel2001Tōdō Shizukoソング・オブ・サンデーSong of Sunday2002Iwai Shimako自由戀愛Free Love2003Tanimura Shiho海猫Sea Cat2004Inoue Areno潤一Junichi2005Kodemari Rui欲しいのは、あなただけAll I Want Is You2006Ira Ishida眠れぬ真珠The Sleepless Pearl2007Ekuni KaoriがらくたJunk2008Sawako Agawa婚約のあとでAfter the Engagement2009Yuka Murayamaダブル・ファンタジーDouble Fantasy2010Kirino NatsuoナニカアルSomething Is There2011Atsuko AsanoたまゆらTamayura2012Shino SakuragiラブレスLoveless2013Mariko Hayashi / Akane Chihayaアスクレピオスの愛人 / あとかたAsclepius’ Lover / Traces2014Rio ShimamotoRedRed2015Manichi Yoshimura臣女The Handmaiden2016Otokawa Yūzaburō / Nao-Cola Yamazakiロゴスの市 / 美しい距離The City of Logos / Beautiful Distance2017Hirokage Asakura風が吹いたり、花が散ったりThe Wind Blows, Flowers Fall2018Miura Shionののはな通信Nonohana Letters2019Wataya Risa生のみ生のままでSimply Alive2020Yamamoto Fumio自転しながら公転するOrbiting While Rotating2021Toriko Yoshikawa余命一年、男をかうOne Year Left: Buying a Man2022Yoshida Shūichiミス・サンシャインMiss Sunshine2023Michi Ichihō / Ueda Takahiro光のとこにいてね / 最愛のStay in the Light / Beloved2024Hikorohii黙って喋ってSpeaking in SilenceSource: World of Literary Prizes English titles are approximate translations for reference.
External links
Official website
References