Ryo Asai’s In the Megachurch hits No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Book Hot 100 list released April 23 — its first time atop the chart in 25 weeks on the tally.
The novel, which weaves together three characters’ contrasting experiences around Japan’s “oshikatsu” culture (devoted fan support for a favorite celebrity or character), won the top prize at the 2026 Hon’ya Taisho (Japan Booksellers’ Award), announced on April 9. The title held at No. 1 on the social media metric while improving on last week’s positions in brick-and-mortar, e-commerce (EC) and subscriptions.
Tatsuya Endo’s SPY×FAMILY Vol. 17 stays in the top 3 for a third consecutive week at No. 2. Debuting at No. 3 is Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura’s Blue Lock Vol. 38.
Ao Kojima’s Hon nara Uru Hodo Vol. 3 enters at No. 4. Set in a small secondhand bookshop called Jugatsu-do, the human drama manga scores in the top 20 across four metrics: No. 3 in brick-and-mortar, No. 4 in EC, No. 17 in e-books and No. 2 in social media. The title took the top spot in the male category of Kono Manga ga Sugoi! (“This Manga is Amazing”) 2026 guidebook.
In other chart moves, Haruo Yuki’s Hakobune, published in 2022, climbs from outside the top 20 to No. 18. The mystery novel follows a group of people pushed to their limits, trapped in a flooding underground structure. Yuki’s next title, Rakuen, is due out July 23.
The Billboard Japan Book Hot 100 is a comprehensive chart combining physical sales, e-books, library loans, subscription data and social media activity. Below are the top 10 titles on this week’s list, tracking the period from Apr. 13 to Apr. 19.
(Numbers in parentheses indicate the title’s metric placements for brick-and-mortar, EC, e-books, subscriptions, and social media, top 20 only. English title given if translations or adaptations exist.)
1. In the Megachurch, Ryo Asai (6/6/–/3/1)
2. SPY×FAMILY Vol. 17, Tatsuya Endo (4/19/2/–/–)
3. Blue Lock Vol. 38, Muneyuki Kaneshiro, Yusuke Nomura (2/10/3/–/–)
4. Hon nara Uru Hodo Vol. 3, Ao Kojima (3/4/17/–/2)
5. Shangri-La Frontier Vol. 26, Katarina, Ryosuke Fuji (5/–/5/–/–) 6. Meitantei Conan (Detective Conan/Case Closed) Vol. 108, Gosho Aoyama (1/–/–/–/–) 7. Honzuki no Gekokujo: Shisho ni Narutame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen (Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 4 “I Want to Save the Royal Academy’s Library!”) Vol. 12, Hikaru Katsuki, Miya Kazuki, You Shiina (12/13/1/–/–) 8. Nogizaka46 Sakura Kawasaki 1st Photo Book “Etude,” Sakura Kawasaki, Ryuji Sue (7/2/–/–/–)
9. REAL Vol. 17, Takehiko Inoue (8/7/13/–/–) 10. Honzuki no Gekokujo: Shisho ni Narutame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen (Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 5) Suzuka, Miya Kazuki, You Shiina (13/15/7/–/–)
