Ryo Asai's "In the Megachurch" Wins 2026 Japan Booksellers' Award, Captivating Readers with its Fandom Exploration
The 2026 Japan Booksellers' Award has been announced, with Ryo Asai's full-length novel, "In the Megachurch," taking the top honor. Since its release last September, the book has become a bestseller, selling over 230,000 copies in just five months and receiving rave reviews from many readers. The work weaves its narrative from three distinct perspectives, representing different generations and positions: those who orchestrate the "fandom economy," those who are passionately immersed in it, and those who were once deeply involved. It has garnered significant attention as an ambitious work that deeply explores the merits and demerits of "stories" that profoundly move people's hearts. Many readers reportedly empathize with the protagonist involved in idol management. It is also known for being serialized in the evening edition of the Nikkei (Japan Economic Shimbun), with many readers having eagerly anticipated its development since its serializati...