Key Facts
• The 173rd Akutagawa and Naoki Prize selection meeting was held on July 16, 2025.
• Both prizes were declared ‘no winner,’ the first time since January 1998.
• This marks the sixth instance in the history of both awards.
• Akutagawa Prize candidates included four works, such as Gregory Kezunajatt’s ‘Trajectory.’
• Naoki Prize candidates included six works, such as Fuyuma Aisaka’s ‘The Trajectory of Breakshot.’
• Akutagawa Prize selection committee highlighted innovative attempts but expects more from future works.
• Naoki Prize committee cited a lack of standout works despite close competition.
• The last ‘no winner’ for Akutagawa Prize was in the 145th round, and for Naoki Prize, the 136th round.
• Selection discussions for the Naoki Prize lasted approximately four hours.
• Committee members encouraged readers to explore the shortlisted works in bookstores.
Summary
The 173rd Akutagawa and Naoki Prize selection meeting concluded with no winners, a rare occurrence last seen in January 1998. This marks the sixth time in the awards’ history that both prizes were left unawarded. The Akutagawa Prize committee praised the innovative efforts of the four shortlisted works, including Gregory Kezunajatt’s ‘Trajectory,’ but expressed hope for stronger future submissions. Meanwhile, the Naoki Prize committee, after four hours of deliberation, found no single work among the six candidates, such as Fuyuma Aisaka’s ‘The Trajectory of Breakshot,’ to be outstanding enough to merit the award. Despite the lack of winners, the committees encouraged readers to explore the shortlisted works, emphasizing their emotional impact on audiences. This decision underscores the high standards upheld by both prestigious literary awards.
