A complete Japanese translation of the Korean novel "Toji" by the late female writer Pak Kyong-ni won the planning category of the 79th Mainichi Publishing Culture Award.

The complete 20-volume Japanese translation was released by Japanese publisher Cuon, which specializes in Korean literature.

Japanese writer and judge Kyoko Nakajima said "Toji," written over 25 years, impacted modern Korean writers, including 2024 Nobel laureate Han Kang.

Nakajima said it is also precious that the novel takes a perspective on modern and contemporary history from the period of Japan's colonial rule and that the completion of the Japanese translation over the past decade is a huge achievement for the publishing industry.

The annual Mainichi Publishing Culture Award is granted in the categories of planning, literature and art, humanities and society, natural sciences, and the year's special award.