Novels about extreme mountain climbing, rare medical conditions and crime during the pandemic received two of Japan's most prestigious literary prizes on Wednesday.

The 171st Akutagawa Prize, given to up-and-coming writers for a work of literary fiction published in a newspaper or magazine, has two winners this time around: Sanzo K. Matsunaga for “Bari Sanko” (roughly translated as “Extreme Mountain Climbing”) and Aki Asahina for “Sanshouo no Shijuku-nichi” (“The 49th day of the Salamander”).

Meanwhile, the 171st Naoki Prize, given to an early or mid-career author for a work of pop or genre fiction, went to Michi Ichiho for “Tsumidemikku.”

Matsunaga, born in 1980 and writing under a pen name, debuted in 2021 with “Cameo,” which won the Gunzo Award for New Writers that year. “Bari Sanko” centers on a young man named Hata, who starts a mountaineering club with his coworkers, and a veteran odd-ball colleague who pursues incredibly difficult climbs. Matsunaga himself works a day job and hikes in his spare time.

At a news conference following the announcement, Matsunaga mentioned that works of “pure literature,” which the award is given for, is a debated genre and that he aims for his works to be accessible.

“What we call pure literature has many forms and different things that make it interesting,” he said. “My work is fairly easy to understand, and maybe it can serve as an introduction to pure literature for readers.”

Asahina, born in 1981, began writing while working as a gastroenterologist. He published his debut novel, “Watashi no Motan,” in 2022. “Sanshouo no Shijuku-nichi” draws on the author’s medical expertise and is about conjoined sisters who appear as one person.

“While I was writing, I never once felt sorry for the twin sisters, nor did I feel sympathy for them. I didn’t once think of them as having disabilities either,” Asahina said at the news conference. “I didn’t intentionally try to make the story bright ... and of course there are struggles, but I have never seen them as misfortunate or pitiful people. It’s natural.”

Ichiho, born in 1978, has written a number of books and has been nominated for the Naoki Prize twice before. “Tsumidemikku” is a collection of six stories that draw on the theme of crime during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I don't think of myself as a novelist,” Ichiho said. “But, if a normal older woman can write a novel and win a huge prize like this, it makes me think life is funny.”

The Akutagawa and Naoki prizes are each awarded twice a year, in January and July. Each winner receives a pocket watch and ¥1 million ($6,400) in prize money. Both awards are known to launch careers and typically bring with them a significant boost in sales.