芥川・直木賞の候補作決まる オードリー・若林さん「青天」も

The candidates for the prestigious Akutagawa and Naoki literary prizes have been announced. Among the nominees for the Naoki Prize is "Seiten" by Masayasu Wakabayashi, a comedian and member of the popular duo Audrey. This marks a significant literary debut for Wakabayashi, who is known for his work in television and comedy. The Akutagawa Prize, which honors emerging writers, and the Naoki Prize, for popular fiction, are among Japan's most esteemed literary awards.

The inclusion of a comedian's work in the Naoki Prize shortlist highlights the growing recognition of diverse voices in contemporary Japanese literature and could bring new attention to the awards.