Ms. Natsuko Kuroda, 75, has won the 148th Akutagawa Prize, becoming the oldest person to win the twice-a-year literary prize established in 1935. It generally is regarded as a prize for a rookie novelist.
Separately, the Naoki Prize, for entertainment-oriented works, has been awarded to 23-year-old Mr. Ryo Asai and 57-year-old Mr. Ryutaro Abe. Mr. Asai is the youngest winner of the prize.
Ms. Kuroda and Mr. Asai, as the oldest and youngest prize winners, may catch people's attention, but it is hoped that people will read their works, fully appreciating their content.
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