Ep. 52: The Hunger for Recognition and the Prison of Our Own Expectations - "PRIZE" by Yuka Murayama
In this episode, I’m diving into Yuka Murayama's gripping novel PRIZE, which won 3rd place in the 2026 Japan Booksellers' Award.
It’s a story about Kain Amou, a mega-bestselling author who has wealth and fame, yet is burning with absolute fury because she cannot, for the life of her, win the prestigious Naoki Award (直木賞).
I ended up reading the whole thing in one sitting because it was just that engaging! But beneath the glamorous andfierce world of literary awards, it really forced me to look at the messy, vulnerable parts of human relationships and our own need for validation.
From the…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.