Seiun Award

Entry updated 16 September 2024. Tagged: Award.

["Nebula Award"] The name for a set of genre prizes voted on by members of the annual Japanese Science Fiction Convention. These Awards take their name from the short-lived Seiun ["Nebula"], a single-issue magazine published by Tetsu Yano in 1954, and acknowledged as Japan's first. Despite the titular resemblance to the Nebula awards given by Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, the convention-going fan-centred voting process and footprint of the Seiun Awards is more similar to that of the Hugos. Considering the vast proportion of awards doled out to either Hayakawa Shobō publications or stories in Hayakawa's S-F Magazine, a cynic might suggest they should be called the Hayakawa Awards.

Although a list of recommendations is drawn up by Japan's Science Fiction Fan Group, voters are free to include any qualifying works on their ballots, arguably opening the field to grass-roots opinion. Voters customarily only include serials that are deemed to have ended, often postponing nominations for best-selling sagas for several years, as in the case of Yoshiki Tanaka's Ginga Eiyū Densetsu ["Legend of Galactic Heroes"] (1982-1987) and Masaki Yamada's Kishin Heidan ["Machine-God Soldiers"] (1990-1994), only honoured several years after their first volumes appeared in print. Such a voting practice can lead to the outward appearance of over-sentimentality with a number of posthumous awards, denoting not only fond remembrance for the likes of Tadashi Hirose, but as in the case of the tardy win for Kaoru Kurimoto, a sense of closure with the truncation of the Guin Saga that would have otherwise been regarded as ongoing.

However, this practice is often defeated by over-eager voters unaware of the precedents, and by authors whose fixups are only commissioned after the fact, as in the case of Hōsuke Nojiri, who won for both the original short story and later novel expansion of Taiyō no Sandatsusha ["Usurper of the Sun"] (September 1999 S-F Magazine; exp 2002). Other awards pre-emptively declare that as-yet unfinished serial publications constitute a complete "novel", such as the Seiun for Chiaki Kawamata's fixup Kaseijin Senshi ["The Early History of the Martians"] (1984), awarded three years before its official publication in book form. Similarly, if this rule were vigorously enforced, Chōhei Kanbayashi's Yukikaze series would surely have only won a single award, and not the three it has picked up during the course of its existence. Similar blurring seems to have occurred between the Nonfiction category and the occasional Special prizes and/or Free voting, as in the case of an award for the invention of the Sony Aibo Robot Dog as "Nonfiction". The media category sideslipped from the usual Cinema and Television material with its award to a Videogame, Gun Parade March (2000).

The Seiuns' foreign-language category can present an interesting snapshot of what Takayuki Tatsumi has termed the "time lag" between English-language publication and Japanese translation, such as the tardy rediscovery of Cordwainer Smith, as well as intriguing variations in taste between East and West. Such cognitive dissonance, of course, extends in both directions, with Anime greats such as the works of Hayao Miyazaki receiving Japanese recognition long before they appeared on the Hugo ballots. The Comics category, on the Seiun ballot since 1978, universally doles out its awards to local products (see Manga).

In the twenty-first century, the Seiun Awards have attained a more vital role in the transnational spread of Japanese science fiction, with a Seiun win usually guaranteeing the attention of English-language publishers such as Haikasoru or Kurodahan. As with this encyclopedia entry, the Seiuns serve as a portal to much that Japanese SF has to offer. [JonC]

Japanese Novel

1970: Yasutaka Tsutsui, Reichōrui, Minami-e ["Primates South"] (1969)
1971: Sakyō Komatsu, Tsugu no wa dare ka? ["Who Succeeds Humanity?" or "Who Will Inherit?"] (1972)
1972: Ryō Hanmura, Ishi no Ketsumyaku ["Blood Ties to a Stone"] (1971)
1973: Tadashi Hirose, Kagami no Kuni no Alice ["Alice Through the Looking Glass"] (1972)
1974: Sakyō Komatsu, Nippon Chinbotsu ["Japan Sinks"] (1973) (see Nippon Chinbotsu)
1975: Yasutaka Tsutsui, Ore no Chi wa Tanin no Chi ["My Blood is the Blood of Another"] (1974)
1976: Yasutaka Tsutsui, Nanase Futatabi ["Nanase Again"] (1975)
1977: Musashi Kanbe, Saikoro Tokkōtai ["Dice Commando"] (1976)
1978: Masaki Yamada, Chikyū Seishin Bunseki Kiroku: Eld Analysis ["Earth Psychoscopic Record: Eld Analysis"] (1977)
1979: Taku Mayumura, Shometsu no ` ["Vanishing Halo"] (1979)
1980: Masaki Yamada, Hōseki Dorobō ["Jewel Thief"] (1980)
1981: Chiaki Kawamata, Kaseijin Senshi ["The Early History of the Martians"] (1984)
1982: Hisashi Inoue, Kirikirijin ["The People of Kirikiri"] (1981)
1983: Sakyō Komatsu, Sayonara Jupiter (1982)
1984: Chōhei Kanbayashi, Teki wa Kaizoku / Kaizokuban ["The Enemy is the Pirate / Pirate Edition"] (1983)
1985: Chōhei Kanbayashi, Sentō Yōsei Yukikaze ["Battle Sprite Yukikaze"] (1984)
1986: Haruka Takachiho, Dirty Pair no Gyakuten ["Dirty Pair Strike Again"] (1985) (see Dirty Pair)
1987: Chōhei Kanbayashi, Prism (1986)
1988: Yoshiki Tanaka, Ginga Eiyū Densetsu ["Legend of Galactic Heroes"] (1982-1989)
1989: Akira Hori Babylonia Wave (1988)
1990: Baku Yumemakura, Jōgen no Tsuki wo Taberu Shishi ["The Lion That Ate the Crescent Moon"] (1989)
1991: Mariko Ōhara, Hybrid Child (1990)
1992: Hiroe Suga, Merusasu no Shōnen: Rasenmachi no Monogatari ["Boy of Merusasu: A Tale of the Spiral Town"] (1991)
1993: Gorō Masaki, Venus City (1992)
1994: Kōshū Tani, Owarinaki Sakuteki ["Unending Search for the Enemy"] (1993)
1995: Masaki Yamada, Kishin Heidan ["Machine-God Soldiers"]
1996: Taku Mayumura, Hikishio no Toki ["Time of the Ebb Tide"] (1995)
1997: Hiroyuki Morioka, Teikoku no Ōjo ["Princess of the Empire"] (1996)
1998: Chōhei Kanbayashi, Teki wa Kaizoku / A-kyu no Teki (1997)
1999: Yūichi Sasamoto, Suisei Gari (1998)
2000: Chōhei Kanbayashi, Good Luck Sentō Yōsei Yukikaze ["Good Luck: Battle Sprite Yukikaze"] (1999)
2001: Hiroe Suga, Eien no Mori: Hakubutsukan Wakusei ["Eternal Forest: Museum Planet"] (2000)
2002: Hōsuke Nojiri, Fuwafuwa no Izumi ["The Fountains of Fluffy"] (2001)
2003: Hōsuke Nojiri, Taiyō no Sandatsusha ["The Usurper of the Sun"] (2002)
2004: Issui Ogawa, Dairoku Tairiku ["The Sixth Continent"] (2003)
2005: Yūichi Sasamoto, final volume of ARIEL (1986-2004 20vols)
2006: Kazuma Shinjō, Summer / Time / Traveller (2005)
2007: Sakyō Komatsu, Nippon Chinbotsu Dainibu ["Japan Sinks 2"] (2006)
2008: Hiro Arikawa, Toshokan Sensō ["Library Wars"] (2007)
2009: Keikaku Itō, Harmony (2008)
2010: Kaoru Kurimoto, Guin Saga
2011: Hiroshi Yamamoto, Kyōnen wa Ii Toshi ni Naru darō ["Last Year Might Be a Good One"] (2010)
2012: Yasumi Kobayashi, Tengoku to jigoku ["Heaven and Hell"] (2011)
2013: Keikaku Itō (Project Itoh) and Toh Enjoe, Shisha no Teikoku ["The Empire of Corpses"] (2012)
2014: Issui Ogawa, Kororogi-dake kara Jupiter Trojan e ["To Mount Kororogi, From Jupiter Trojan"] (2013)
2015: Taiyō Fujii, Orbital Cloud (2014)
2016: Shinji Kajio, Onshū Seiiki ["The Grudge Asterisms"] (2015)
2017: Yasumi Kobayashi, ULTRAMAN F (2016)
2018: Hirotaka Tobi, Reigo Kin ["Harmonialehre"] (2018 SF Magazine; 2019)
2019: Issui Ogawa, Tenmei no Shirube ["Signpost to the Stars"] (2009-2019)
2020: Joji Hayashi, Seikei Izumo Heitan ["Logistics of Star System Izumo"] (2020)
2021: (tie) Keisuke Makino, Tsuki to Raika to Nosferatu ["Moon and Laika and Nosferatu" vt "Irina: The Vampire Cosmonaut"] (2021) and Taiyo Fujii, Man Kind (August 2017-August 2021 SF-Magazine)
2022: Satoshi Hase, Protocol of Humanity (2022)
2023: Fumio Takano, Graf Zeppelin: Ano Natsu no Hikōki ["Graf Zeppelin: The Aircraft of That Summer"] (2023)

Japanese Short Story

1970: Yasutaka Tsutsui, "Full Nelson" (October 1969 SF Magazine)
1971: Yasutaka Tsutsui, "Vitamin" (June 1970 SF Magazine)
1972: Yoshio Aramaki, "Shirokabe no Moji wa Yūhi ni Haeru" (February 1971 SF Magazine)
1973: Sakyō Komatsu, "Kessho Seidan" (September 1972 SF Magazine)
1974: Yasutaka Tsutsui, "Nippon Igai Zenbu Chinbotsu" (September 1973 All Yomimono)
1975: Masaki Yamada, "Kamigari" (July 1974 SF Magazine)
1976: Sakyō Komatsu, "Bomisa" (July 1975 SF Magazine)
1977: Yasutaka Tsutsui, "Metamorphosis Guntō"
1978: Sakyō Komatsu, "Gordias no Musubime"
1979: Shinji Kajio, "Chikyū wa Plain Yoghurt" (July 1978 SF Magazine)
1980: Haruka Takachiho, "Dirty Pair no Daibōken" (February 1979 SF Magazine) (see Dirty Pair)
1981: Motoko Arai, "Green Requiem" (September 1980 Kisō Tengai)
1982: Motoko Arai, "Neptune" (January 1981 SF Magazine)
1983: Chōhei Kanbayashi, "Kotobazukaishi" (September 1982 SF Magazine)
1984: Chōhei Kanbayashi, "Super Phoenix" (June 1983 SF Magazine)
1985: no award
1986: Masahiro Noda, "Lemon Pie Oyashiki Zero Banchi" (February 1985 SF Magazine)
1987: Kōshū Tani, "Martian Railroad Ikkyū" (December 1986 SF Magazine)
1988: Norio Nakai, "Yama no Ue no Kōkyōgaku" (October 1987 SF Magazine)
1989: Jin Kusami, Kurage no Hi (1988 chap)
1990: Mariko Ōhara, "Aqua Planet" (January 1989 SF Magazine)
1991: Baku Yumemakura, "Jōdan no Tsuki wa Kurau Inoshishi" (June 1990 SF Magazine)
1992: Shinji Kajio, "Kyōryū Laurentiis no Genshi" (March 1991 SF Magazine)
1993: Hiroe Suga, "Sobakasu no Figure" (August 1992 SF Magazine)
1994: Kenji ŌTsuki, "Kuruguru Tsukai" (August 1993 SF Magazine)
1995: Kenji ŌTsuki, "Nonoko no Fukushu Jigujigu" (February 1994 SF Magazine)
1996: Kō Hiura, Hitonatsu no Keikenchi (1995 chap)
1997: Jin Kusakami, "Diet no Hōteishiki" (October 1996 SF Magazine)
1998: Mariko Ōhara, "Independence Day in Osaka" (March 1997 SF Bakahon)
1999: Hiroyuki Morioka, "Yoake no Terrorist" (February 1998 SF Magazine)
2000: Hōsuke Nojiri, Taiyō no Sandatsusha ["The Usurper of the Sun"] (November 1999 SF Magazine)
2001: Shinji Kajio, "Ashibiki Daydream" (in SF Japan Millennium 00 anth 2000)
2002: Hirofumi Tanaka, Ginga Teikoku no Kōbō mo Fude no Ayamari (2001 chap)
2003: Mizuhito Akiyama, "Ore wa Missile" (February 2002 SF Magazine)
2004: Shinji Kajio, Yomibito Shirazu (2003 chap)
2005: Hirotaka Tobi, Katadorareta Chikara (2004 chap)
2006: Issui Ogawa "Tadayotta Otoko" ["Drifting Man"] (in Rō Vár no Wakusei, anth 2005)
2007: Hōsuke Nojiri, "Furoshiki to Kumo no Ito" ["The Loincloth and the Spider's Thread"] (April 2006 SF Magazine)
2008: Hōsuke Nojiri, Chinmoku no Fly-by (2007 chap)
2009: Hōsuke Nojiri, "Nankyokuten no Pira Pia Dōga" (April-May 2008 SF Magazine)
2010: Hirotaka Tobi, "Jisei no Yume" (December 2009 NOVA 1)
2011: Issui Ogawa, "Arisuma-ō no Aishita Mamono" (February 2010 SF Magazine)
2012: Hōsuke Nojiri, "Utau sensuikan to Pia Pia dōga" ["The Singing Submarine and the Pia Pia Cartoon"] (August 2011 SF Magazine)
2013: Chohei Kanbayashi, "Ima Shuugouteki Muishikio" (?? 2012 SF Magazine)
2014: Kōshū Tani, "Hoshi o Tsukuru Monotachi" ["Those Who Make the Stars"] (2015)
2015: Hirotaka Tobi "Umi no Yubi" ["Finger Star of the Sea"] (2014)
2016: Hiroshi Yamamoto and Hirofumi Tanaka "Tatarajima Futatabi" ["Tatarajima Again"] and "Kaiju Ruxubigra no Ashigata o Totta Otoko" ["The Man Who Made the Footprints of the Monster Ruxubigra"] (2015)
2017: Gengen Kusano, "Saigo nishite Saisho no Idol" ["Last and First Idol"] (November 2016 Hayakawa website)
2018: Gengen Kusano, "Ankoku Seiyū" ["Dark Seiyū"] (January 2018 Hayakawa website)
2019: Hiroe Suga, "Mizu no Tsuki" ["Unseen Moon"] (2019 SF Magazine)
2020: (tie) Haruna Ikezawa, "Orbital Christmas" (Summer 2020 Nova) and Katsuie Shibata, "American Buddha" (2020 SF Magazine)
2021: Satoshi Ogawa, "SF Sakka no Taoshikata" ["How to Defeat SF Writers"] (in Anomalous Papers, anth 2021, ed Kyōsuke Higuchi)
2022: Kōichi Harukure, "Hōchi no kemono" ["The Sagacious Stags"] (2021 SF Magazine)
2023: Mikihiko Hisanaga "Watashitachi no Kaijū" ["Kaijū Within"] (August 2022 Shiminode Chō)

Foreign Language Novel

1970: J G Ballard, The Crystal World (fixup 1966; trans Yasuo Nakamura 1969)
1971: Michael Crichton, The Andromeda Strain (1969; trans Hisashi Asakura 1970)
1972: Robert Silverberg, Nightwings (September 1968 Galaxy; fixup 1969; trans Takako Satō 1971)
1973: Kurt Vonnegut, The Sirens of Titan (1959; trans Hisashi Asakura 1972)
1974: Frank Herbert, Dune (fixup 1965; trans Tetsu Yano1972-1973)
1975: Robert Silverberg, Up the Line (1969; trans Yasuo Nakamura 1974)
1976: Roger Zelazny, This Immortal (October-November 1965 F&SF as "... And Call Me Conrad"; exp 1966; trans Fusa Obi 1975)
1977: Jack Vance, The Dragon Masters (August 1962 Galaxy; 1963 dos; trans Hisashi Asakura 1976)
1978: Robert A Heinlein, I Will Fear No Evil (July-December 1970 Galaxy; 1970; trans Tetsu Yano 1977)
1979: Larry Niven, Ringworld (1970; trans Takumi Shibano 1978)
1980: Arthur C Clarke, Rendezvous with Rama (1973; trans Hiroshi Minamiyama 1979)
1981: James P Hogan, Inherit the Stars (1977; trans Hiroaki Ike 1980)
1982: James P Hogan, The Genesis Machine (1978; trans Akira Yamataka 1981)
1983: Robert L Forward, Dragon's Egg (1980; trans Akira Yamataka 1982)
1984: Barrington J Bayley, The Garments of Caean (1976; text restored 1978; trans Wataru Fuyukawa 1983)
1985: Barrington J Bayley, The Zen Gun (1983; trans Akinobu Sakai 1984)
1986: Michael Moorcock, Elric series (trans Hitoshi Yasuda and Akemi Itsuji 1984-1985)
1987: William Gibson, Neuromancer (1984; trans Hisashi Kuroma 1986)
1988: Cordwainer Smith, Norstrilia (April 1964 Galaxy and May 1964 If; 1975; trans Hisashi Asakura 1987)
1989: Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, Footfall (1985; trans Akinobu Sakai 1988)
1990: Barrington J Bayley, Collision Course (1973; vt Collision with Chronos 1977; trans Nozomu Omori 1989)
1991: David Brin, The Uplift War (1987; trans Akinobu Sakai 1990)
1992: Charles Sheffield, The McAndrew Chronicles (coll of linked stories 1983; rev vt One Man's Universe 1994; trans Akinobu Saki 1991)
1993: Poul Anderson, Tau Zero (June-August 1967 Galaxy as "To Outlive Eternity"; exp 1970; trans Hisashi Asakura 1992)
1994: James P Hogan, Entoverse (1991; trans Hiroaki Ike 1993)
1995: Dan Simmons, Hyperion (1989; trans Akinobu Sakai 1994)
1996: Dan Simmons Fall of Hyperion (1990; trans Akinobu Sakai 1995) and Stephen Baxter, Timelike Infinity (trans Kazuko Onoda 1995)
1997: Robert J Sawyer, End of an Era (1994; trans Masayuki Uchida 1996)
1998: Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, and Michael Flynn, Fallen Angels (1991; trans Satoshi Asai 1997)
1999: (tie) Stephen Baxter, The Time Ships (1995; trans Hisaya Nakahara 1998) and Kim Stanley Robinson, Red Mars (1992; trans Yutaka Ōshima 1998)
2000: Mike Resnick, Kirinyaga (fixup 1998; trans Masayuki Uchida 1999)
2001: Robert J Sawyer, Frameshift (1997; trans Masayuki Uchida 2000)
2002: Pat Murphy, There and Back Again by Max Merriwell (1999; trans Hisashi Asakura 2001)
2003: Robert J Sawyer, Illegal Alien (1997; trans Masayuki Uchida 2002)
2004: David Brin, Heaven's Reach (1998; trans Akinobu Sakai 2003)
2005: Greg Egan, Distress (1995; trans Makoto Yamagishi 2004)
2006: Greg Egan, Diaspora (1997; trans Makoto Yamagishi 2005)
2007: Phillip Reeve, Mortal Engines (2001; trans Rei Anno 2006)
2008: James Tiptree Jr, Brightness Falls From the Air (1985; trans Hisashi Asakura 2007)
2009: Robert Charles Wilson, Spin (2005; trans Ken Mogi 2008)
2010: John Scalzi, The Last Colony (2007; trans Masayuki Uchida 2009)
2011: Michael Flynn, Eifelheim (2006; trans Yōichi Shimada 2010)
2012: Paolo Bacigalupi, The Windup Girl (2009; trans Kazue Tanaka and Hiroshi Kaneko 2011)
2013: John Scalzi, The Android's Dream (2006; trans Masayuki Uchida 2012)
2014: Peter Watts, Blindsight (2006; trans Yoichi Shimada 2013)
2015: Andy Weir, The Martian (2014; trans Kazuko Onoda 2014)
2016: Ann Leckie, Ancillary Justice (2013; trans Hideko Akao 2015)
2017: Peter Tieryas, United States of Japan (2016; trans Naoya Nakahara 2016)
2018: Peter Tieryas, Mecha Samurai Empire (2018; trans Naoya Nakahara 2018)
2019: Liu Cixin, Santi ["Three-Body Problem"] (2019; trans Nozomi Omori, Tomi Tachihara, Sakura Mitsuyoshi and Wan Zhai as Santai)
2020: Liu Cixin, Hei'an Senlin ["The Dark Forest"] (2007; trans into Japanese by Nozomi Omori, Tomi Tachihara, Kaori Uehara and Ko Tomari as Kokuan Shinlin, 2020)
2021: Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary (2021; trans Kazuko Onoda)
2022: Liu Cixin, Santi 0 Qiuzhuang Shandian ["Three-Body Problem 0: Ball Lightning"] (2005; trans Nozomu Omori 2022) [vt of Ball Lightning, reconfigured to acknowledge it as a prequel to The Three-Body Problem]
2023: John Scalzi, The Kaiju Preservation Society (2022; trans Masayuki Uchida 2023)

Foreign Language Short Story

1970: Thomas M Disch, "The Squirrel Cage" (October 1966 New Worlds; October 1969 SF Magazine trans Norio Itō)
1971: Ray Bradbury, "The Poems" (January 1945 Weird Tales; January 1970 SF Magazine trans Norio Itō)
1972: Ray Bradbury, "The Blue Bottle" (Fall 1950 Planet Stories as "Death-Wish"; vt in A Sea of Space, anth 1970, ed William F Nolan; April 1971 SF Magazine trans Norio Itō)
1973: Ray Bradbury, "The Black Ferris" (May 1948 Weird Tales; January 1972 SF Magazine trans Norio Itō)
1974: Arthur C Clarke, "A Meeting with Medusa" (December 1971 Playboy; September 1973 SF Magazine trans Norio Itō)
1975: R A Lafferty, "Eurema's Dam" (in New Dimensions II, anth 1972, ed Robert Silverberg; October 1974 SF Magazine trans Norio Itō)
1976: A Bertram Chandler, "Wet Paint" (May 1959 Amazing; April 1975 SF Magazine trans Norio Itō)
1977: Stanisław Lem, "Rozprawa" (March 1976 SF Magazine trans Dan Fukami)
1978: no award
1979: Larry Niven, "All the Myriad Ways" (October 1968 Galaxy; October 1978 SF Magazine trans Takumi Shibano)
1980: no award
1981: Larry Niven, "A Relic of Empire" (December 1966 If; February 1980 SF Magazine trans Takumi Shibano)
1982: Thomas M Disch, "The Brave Little Toaster" (August 1980 F&SF; December 1981 SF Magazine trans Hisashi Kuroma)
1983: George R R Martin, "Nightflyers" (April 1980 Analog; August 1982 SF Magazine trans Hitoshi Yasuda)
1984: Roger Zelazny, "Unicorn Variation" (April 1981 Asimov's; September 1983 SF Magazine trans Jun Kazami)
1985: no award
1986: no award
1987: John Varley, "PRESS ENTER _" (May 1984 Asimov's; February 1986 SF Magazine trans Jun Kazami)
1988: James Tiptree Jr, "The Only Neat Thing to Do" (October 1985 F&SF; January 1987 SF Magazine trans Hisashi Kuroma)
1989: Orson Scott Card, "Eye for Eye" (March 1987 Asimov's; November 1988 SF Magazine trans Mariko Fukamachi)
1990: Cordwainer Smith, "Think Blue, Count Two" (February 1963 Galaxy; February 1989 SF Magazine trans Norio Itō)
1991: George Alec Effinger, "Schrödinger's Kitten" (September 1988 Omni; February 1990 SF Magazine trans Hisashi Kuroma)
1992: John Varley, "Tango Charlie and Foxtrot Romeo" (in Blue Champagne, coll 1986; October 1991 SF Magazine trans Hisashi Kuroma)
1993: R A Lafferty, "Groaning Hinges of the World" (in The Ruins of Earth, anth 1971, ed Thomas M Disch; April 1992 SF Magazine trans Hisashi Kuroma)
1994: Greg Bear, "Tangents" (January 1986 Omni; November 1993 SF Magazine trans Akinobu Sakai)
1995: Cordwainer Smith, "A Planet Named Shayol" (October 1961 Galaxy; June 1994 SF Magazine trans Norio Itō)
1996: Isaac Asimov, "Robot Visions" (in Robot Visions, coll 1990; December 1995 SF Magazine trans Norio Itō)
1997: Greg Bear, "Heads" (July-August 1990 Interzone; February 1996 SF Magazine trans Kazuko Onoda)
1998: Allen Steele, "The Death of Captain Future" (October 1995 Asimov's; September 1997 SF Magazine trans Masahiro Noda)
1999: Dan Simmons, "This Year's Class Picture" (in Still Dead, anth 1992, ed John M Skipp & Craig Spector; October 1998 SF Magazine trans Yōichi Shimada)
2000: James Tiptree Jr, "Out of the Everywhere" (in Out of the Everywhere, and Other Extraordinary Visions, coll 1981; March 1999 SF Magazine trans Norio Itō)
2001: Greg Egan, "Oceanic" (August 1998 Asimov's; January 2000 SF Magazine trans Makoto Yamagishi)
2002: (tie) Ted Chiang, "Story of Your Life" (in Starlight 2, anth 1998, ed Patrick Nielsen Hayden; September 2001 SF Magazine) and Greg Egan, "Reasons to Be Cheerful" (April 1997 Interzone; in 20-Seiki SF 6, anth 2001, trans Makoto Yamagishi)
2003: Greg Egan, "Luminous" (September 1995 Asimov's; in 90-nendai SF Kessaku, anth 2002, trans Makoto Yamagishi)
2004: Ted Chiang, "Hell is the Absence of God" (in Starlight 3, anth 2001, ed Patrick Nielsen Hayden; in Anata no Jinsei no Monogatari, anth 2003, trans Yoshimichi Furusawa)
2005: Theodore Sturgeon, "And Now the News ..." (December 1956 F&SF; July 2004 SF Magazine trans Nozomu Omori)
2006: Ken MacLeod, The Human Front (2002 chap; August 2005 SF Magazine trans Yoshimichi Furusawa)
2007: Adam-Troy Castro and Jerry Oltion, "The Astronaut from Wyoming" (July/August 1999 Analog; July 2006 SF Magazine trans Hisashi Asakura)
2008: Alastair Reynolds, "Weather" (in Galactic North, coll 2006; August 2007 SF Magazine trans Hisaya Nakahara)
2009: Ted Chiang, The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate (2007 chap; January 2008 SF Magazine trans Nozomu Omori)
2010: Greg Egan, "Dark Integers" (October/November 2007 Asimov's; March 2009 SF Magazine trans Makoto Yamagishi)
2011: James Lovegrove, "Carry the Moon in my Pocket" (in Moon Shots, anth 1999, ed Peter Crowther; trans in Uchū Kaihatsu Kessaku-sen: Wyoming-umare no Uchū Hikōshi ["Masterpieces of Space Exploration: The Astronaut from Wyoming"], anth 2010)
2012: Ted Chiang, The Lifecycle of Software Objects (2010; January 2011 SF Magazine trans Nozomu Omori)
2013: Paolo Bacigalupi, "Pocketful of Dharma" (February 1999 F&SF; ?? 2012 SF Magazine trans Hiroshi Kaneko)
2014: Ken Liu, "The Paper Menagerie" (March/April 2011 F&SF; January 2013 SF Magazine trans Yoshimichi Furusawa)
2015: Pat Cadigan, "The Girl-Thing Who Went Out for Sushi" (in Edge of Infinity, anth 2012, ed Jonathan Strahan; March 2014 SF Magazine trans Yooichi Shimada)
2016: Ken Liu "Good Hunting" (in Kami no Dōbutsuen ["The Paper Menagerie"], anth 2015, trans Yoshimichi Furusawa).
2017: (tie) James Tiptree, Jr, "Backward, Turn Backward" (in Synergy: New Science Fiction Number Two, anth 1988, ed George Zebrowski; trans Kazuko Onoda in Amata no Hoshi, Hōkan no Gotoku ["A Wreath of Stars Like a Crown"], anth 2016, ed edited by Kazuko Onoda) and Ken Liu, "Simulacrum" (February 2011 Lightspeed; trans Yoshimichi Furusawa, December 2016 SF Magazine)
2017: Cixin Liu, "The Circle" (trans from Chinese to English by Ken Liu in Carbide Tipped Pens (anth 2014) edited by Ben Bova and Eric Choi; trans Naoya Nakahara in Oritatami Pekin: Genzai Chūgoku SF Anthology ["Folding Beijing: An Anthology of Contemporary Chinese SF"] anth 2018, ed Ken Liu)
2019: Greg Egan, "Uncanny Valley" (August 2017 Tor.com; trans Makoto Yamagishi 2019 SF Magazine)
2020: Alastair Reynolds, "Zima Blue" (Summer 2005 Postscripts; trans by Naoya Nakahara 2020 S-F Magazine)
2021: James Alan Gardner, "The One with the Interstellar Group Consciousnesses" (in Federations, anth 2009, ed John Joseph Adams; trans Chiori Sada)
2022: (tie) Sarah Pinsker, "Sooner or Later, Everything Falls into the Sea" (February 2016 Lightspeed; trans Idumi Ichida); Liu Cixin, "Liulang Diqiu" ["Wandering Earth"] (trans Nozomi Omori, Masako Furuichi)
2023: Greg Egan, "Solidity" (September/October 2022 Asimov's; trans Makoto Yamaigshi 2023 SF Magazine)

Best Media of the Year

1970: (tie) Charly (1968) and The Prisoner (1967-1968)
1971: UFO (1970-1973)
1972: The Andromeda Strain (1971)
1973: A Clockwork Orange
1974: Soylent Green (1971)
1975: Uchū Senkan Yamato
1976: Star (1975) (see Tsuneari Fukuda)
1977: no award
1978: Solaris (1971)
1979: Star Wars (1977) (1977)
1980: Alien (1979)
1981: Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1982: no award
1983: Blade Runner (1982)
1984: The Dark Crystal (1982)
1985: Kaze no Tani no Nausicaä (1984)
1986: Back to the Future (1985)
1987: Brazil (1985)
1988: Oneamisu No Tsubasa (1987)
1989: Tonari no Totoro (1988)
1990: Top o Nerae (1988)
1991: Ginga Uchū Odyssey (1990)
1992: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
1993: Mama Wa Shōgaku Yon-Nensei
1994: Jurassic Park (1993)
1995: Zeiram 2 (see Zeiram [1991])
1996: Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (see Daikaijū Gamera)
1997: Gamera 2: Attack of Legion (see Daikaijū Gamera)
1998: Ultraman Tiga (1996-1997) (see Ultraman)
1999: Nadesico Prince of Darkness (1998 Japan; vt Martian Successor Nadesico: The Motion Picture US) (see Martian Successor Nadesico)
2000: Cowboy Bebop (1998-1999)
2001: Gun Parade March (2000)
2002: Kamen Rider Kuuga (see Kamen Rider; Shōtarō Ishinomori)
2003: Hoshi no Koe (see Makoto Shinkai)
2004: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
2005: Planetes (2003-2004)
2006: Tokusō Sentai Dekaranger (see Shōtarō Ishinomori)
2007: Toki o Kakeru Shōjo (2006) anime
2008: Dennō Coil (2007)
2009: Macross Frontier (see Super Dimensional Fortress Macross [1982-1983])
2010: Summer Wars (2009)
2011: District 9 (2009)
2012: Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011)
2013: Mōretsu Pirates (2012; English-language vt Bodacious Space Pirates)
2014: Pacific Rim (2013)
2015: Uchū Senkan Yamato 2199: Hoshi-meguru Hakobune ["Space Cruiser Yamato 2199: Odyssey of the Celestial Ark"] (2014).
2016: Girls und Panzer der Film (2015).
2017: Shin Godzilla (2016)
2018: Kemono Friends (2017-current)
2019: SSSS.Gridman (2018)
2020: Astra Lost in Space (2019)
2021: Ultraman Z (2020) (see Ultraman)
2022: Godzilla: Singular Point (2021)
2022: Shin Ultraman (2022)
2023: Godzilla Minus One (2023)

Best Comic of the Year

(see Manga)

1978: Keiko Takemiya, Terra e
1979: Hideo Azuma, Fujōri Nikki
1980: Moto Hagio, Star Red
1981: Wakako Mizuki, Densetsu
1982: Katsuhiro Ōtomo, Kibun wa mō Sensō
1983: Moto Hagio, Gin no Sankaku
1984: Katsuhiro Ōtomo, Dōmu
1985: Moto Hagio, X+Y
1986: Masamune Shirow, Appleseed
1987: Rumiko Takahashi, Urusei Yatsura
1988: Masami Yūki, Kyūkyoku Chōjin
1989: Rumiko Takahashi, Mermaid's Forest
1990: Megumi Wakatsuki, So What?
1991: Eiji Yokoyama, Uchū Daizakka
1992: Yukinobu Hoshino, Yamataika
1993: Natsumi Itsuki, OZ
1994: Miki Tori and Grant Leauvas Monogatari by Kyōko ShitŌ, Dai-honya
1995: Hayao Miyazaki, Kaze no Tani no Nausicaä
1996: Hitoshi Iwaaki, Kiseijū (see Parasyte -the maxim-)
1997: Kazuhiro Fujita, Ushio & Tora
1998: Miki Tori, SF Taishō
1999: Eiji Yokoyama, Runna-hime Hōrōki
2000: Wakako Mizuki, Itihaasa
2001: Clamp, Cardcaptor Sakura
2002: Makoto Yukimura, Planetes
2003: Yūichi Hasegawa, Chronoeyes
2004: Kyōko Hikawa, Kanata Kara
2005: Izumi Kawahara, Bremen II
2006: Reiko Okano, Onmyōji
2007: Hitoshi Ashinano, Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō (see Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō)
2008: Naoki Urasawa, 20th Century Boys
2009: Yasuhiro Nightow, Trigun Maximum
2010: Naoki Urasawa, Osamu Tezuka et al, Pluto
2011: Hiromu Arakawa, Fullmetal Alchemist
2012: Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, Gundam: The Origin
2013: Yukinobu Hoshino, Inherit the Stars, based on the Minervan Experiment/Giants sequence by James P Hogan
2014: Tomohiro Marukawa, Narue no Sekai ["The World of Narue"].
2015: Masayuki Ishikawa, Moyasimon.
2016: Tsutomu Nihei, Sidonia no Kishi ["Knights of Sidonia"] (see Knights of Sidonia).
2017: Akimoto Osamu, Kochira Katsushikaku Kamearikoenmae Hashutsujyo
2018: Tsukumizu, Shōjo Shūmatsu Ryokō (graph 2018)
2019: (tie) Dowman Sayman, Babylon made no Nan Kōnen ["How Many Light Years to Babylon"] (graph 2019) and Masato Hisa, Ninja Batman (graph 2019)
2020: Toriko Gin, Kimi o Shinasenai tame no Storia ["A Story to Keep You From Dying"] (2018-2020)
2021: Takashi Shiina, Zettai Karen Children ["Absolutely Lovely Children" vt Psychic Squad] (July 2005-July 2021 Shōnen Sunday)
2022: Uoto, Chi: Chikyū no Undō ni Tsuite ["Orb: On the Movements of the Earth"] (2020-2022)
2023: Ryoko Kui, Dungeon Meshi ["Delicious in Dungeon"] (2014-2023)

Best Artist of the Year

1979: Naoyuki Katō
1980: Noriyoshi Ōrai Noriyoshi
1981: Yoshikazu Yasuhiko
1982: Shusei Nagaoka
1983: Yoshitaka Amano
1984: Yoshitaka Amano
1985: Yoshitaka Amano
1986: Yoshitaka Amano
1987: Michiaki Satō
1988: Jun Suemi
1989: Hiroyuki Katō; and Keisuke Gotō
1990: Katsumi Michihara
1991: Eiji Yokoyama
1992: Masamune Shirow
1993: Keinojō Mizutama
1994: Hitoshi Yoneda
1995: Keinojō Mizutama
1996: Akihiro Yamada
1997: Yuji Kaida
1998: Shigeru Mizuki
1999: Takami Akai
2000: Kenji Tsuruta
2001: Kenji Tsuruta
2002: Katsuya Terada
2003: Makoto Shinkai
2004: Daisuke Nishijima
2005: Makoto Shinkai
2006: Range Murata
2007: Yoshitaka Amano
2008: Naoyuki Katō
2009: Naoyuki Katō
2010: Naoyuki Katō
2011: Naoyuki Katō
2012: Naohiro Washio
2013: Kenji Tsuruta
2014: Naoyuki Katō
2015: Keinojō Mizutama
2016: Noriyoshi Ōrai
2017: Naoyuki Katō
2018: Naoyuki Katō
2019: Yūko Shiraishi
2020: Yūko Shiraishi
2021: Yūko Shiraishi
2022: (tie) Kenji Tsuruta; Naoyuki Katō
2023: Kia Asamiya

Nonfiction of the Year

1985: Fujio Ishihara, Kōseiki Sekai e no Shōtai: Kinkyori no Kōsei o Saguru ["Invitation to the Light Century: Exploring Nearby Stars"]
1986: Noriaki Ikeda, Tokusatsu Hero Retsuden ["Chronicles of Special-Effects Heroes"] (see Tokusatsu)
1987: Fujio Ishihara, Ishihara Hakase no SF Kenkyūshitsu ["Professor Ishihara's SF Research Lab"]
1988: Tetsu Yano, Wizardry Gensōkyoku: Pasukon Bunka no Bōken ["Wizardry Fantasia: Adventures in Computer Culture"]
1989: Masahiro Noda, Space Opera no Kakikata ["How to Write Space Opera"]
1990: Robert L Forward, Future Magic
1991: Hayakawa Shobō Editorial Office, SF Handbook
1992: Denshi Rikkoku Nihon no Jijoden ["Autobiography of the Electronic State of Japan"] NHK TV
1993: Daniel Keyes, The Minds of Billy Milligan
1994: Masahiro Noda, Yasashii Uchū Kaihatsu Nyūmon ["Introduction to Creating a Nice Universe"]
1995: Masahiro Noda, Itoshi no Wonderland ["Beloved Wonderland"]
1996: Togakkai, Tondemo-bon no Sekai ["The World of the Unthinkable"]
1997: Togakkai, Tondemo-bon no Gyakushū ["The Unthinkable Strikes Back"]
1998: Honda Walking Robot P2
1999: Masahiro Noda, NHK TV, Uchū o Kusō Shitekita Hitobito ["The People Who are Making Fantasy from Space"]
2000: Sony Aibo Robot Dog
2001: Yūichi Hasegawa, Motto Sugoi Kagaku de Mamorimasu ["Staying Safe With Better Science"]
2002: Hisaaki Masuyama, NHK Shōnen Drama Series no Subete ["All About NHK Children's Drama Serials"]
2003: Yūichi Sasamoto, Uchū no Passport ["Passport to Space"]
2004: Yūichi Sasamoto, Uchū no Passport 2 ["Passport to Space 2"]
2005: Maeda Kensetsu, Maeda Kensetsu Fantasy Eigyōbu ["Maeda Construction Fantasy Sales Department"]
2006: Hideo Azuma, Shissō Nikki ["Disappearance Diary"]
2007: Yūichi Sasamoto, Uchū no Passport 3 ["Passport to Space 3"]
2008: Hazuki Saishō (see Shinichi Hoshi), Hoshi Shinichi: 1001 Hanashi o Tsukutta Hito ["Shinichi Hoshi: The Man Who Made 1001 Stories"]
2009: The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan (see Worldcon), Sekai no SF no Yattekita: Nippon Con File ["World SF Comes to Japan: Nippon Con File 2007"]
2010: Yasuo Nagayama, Nihon SF Seishinshi: Bakumatsu Meiji kara Sengo made ["History of Japanese SF Spirit from the 1850s to the Post-war Period"]
2011: Tsukasa Shikano, Sa wa Science no Sa ["S Is for Science"]
2012: Azuma Hideo Sōtokushū ["The Hideo Azuma Special Collection"] (2011) (see Hideo Azuma)
2013: "The Present and Future of CGM: The World Opened up by Hatsune Miku, Nico Nico Douga, and PIAPRO" (May 2012 IPSJ Magazine)
2014: Asari Yoshitoh and the Summer Rocket team, DIY Liquid Fuel Rocket (2013)
2015: Shinji Maki and Nozomu Ōmori, Sanrio SF Bunko Sō Kaisetsu ["The Compendium of the Sanrio SF Library"] (2014)
2016: Keinojō Mizutama, SF Made 10000 Konen, SF Made 10000 Kōnen Ijo ["Ten Thousand Light Years to SF; Beyond 10,000 Light Years to SF"] (2015).
2017: Haruna Ikezawa, "SF" is "Suteki Fiction" (2016)
2018: Yasutaka Tsutsui, Tsutsui Yasutaka Jisaku o Kataru ["Yasutaka Tsutsui Discusses His Own Work"] (2018)
2019: Tetsuya Miyazaki, Hyappun de Meicho Komatsu Sakyō Special: Kaminaki Jidai no Shinwa ["100 Famous Works: Sakyō Komatsu Special: Myths for a Godless Age"] (2019)
2020: Hideaki Sena, Hyappun de Meicho Arthur C. Clarke Special: Tada no Kusō de wa Nai ["100 Famous Works: Arthur C. Clarke Special: No Ordinary Imagination"] (2020)
2021: Dai Matsui, Super Sentai (2021)
2022: Arukikata Collective, Chikyū no Arukikata Mu: Isekai no Akurikata ["Best Guide to Parallel Worlds"] (2021)
2023: [Tokyo Sōgensha], Sōgen SF Bunko Sokaisetsu ["Complete Guide to the Sōgen SF Library"] (2022)

Free Genre

2002: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, H-IIA Rocket
2003: Kawada Industries and Yutaka Izubuchi, Humanoid Robot HRP-2 Promet
2004: Toshio Okada (see Gainax), Royal Science Museum Series One
2005: Japan Pavilion of the 9th Venice Bienniale of Architecture
2006: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, MUSES-C Hayabusa probe landing on the asteroid Itokawa
2007: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, M-V Rocket
2008: Crypton Future Media Co, Hatsune Miku
2009: no award
2010: Sunrise and Nomura Co Ltd, Gundam 30th Anniversary Project (statue)
2011: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, MUSES-C Hayabusa probe's return to Earth
2013: CiRA (Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University), iPS cells
2014: Nova SF
2015: Aoi Hono'o ["Blue Blazes"] (2014), based on the manga by Kazuhiko Shimamoto, directed by Yūichi Fukuda (see Gainax)
2017: Element 113 Research Group, for the naming of Element 113 as Nihonium
2018: MINERVA-II1 landing on Asteroid Ryugu
2019: First ever image of a Black Hole by the Event Horizon Telescope
2020: Amabie, the Japanese monster (an online meme related to the Covid-19 Pandemic)
2021: Shinseiki Evangelion (on its final completion, 2021)
2022: no award
2023: Giant Robots The Core of Japanese Mecha Anime exhibition

Special Prize

1982: Uchūjin ["Cosmic Dust"], as Japan's longest-running SF Fanzine; see Takumi Shibano
1989: Osamu Tezuka
2005: Tetsu Yano
2007: Yoshihiro Yonezawa
2008: Masahiro Noda
2010: Takumi Shibano
2012: no award

links

Seiun Awards (in Japanese)

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Internet Archive