Vol. 15 of Soso no Frieren (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End) by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe keeps at No. 1 on Billboard Japan’s Book Hot 100, on the chart released Jan. 8.
The Japan Book Hot 100 is a comprehensive list combining physical sales, e-books, library loans, subscription data, and social media activity. Soso no Frieren (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End) Vol. 15 leads both physical-store sales and e-books and is at No. 14 for EC this week, holding the top spot for the third consecutive week.
Following at No. 2 is In the Megachurch by Ryo Asai, lifting from No. 13 last week. Told from the perspectives of three characters and centered on the culture of “oshi-katsu,” or fan activity, the novel drew increased attention through year-end roundups by bookstores and individual readers. Buzz was further fueled by the 36-year-old author’s appearance on TV Asahi’s Reiwa Roman no Goraku Gatari, which aired on Jan. 3.
Following at No. 3, Mina Miyajima’s Naruse wa Tenka wo Toriniiku surges five spots from No. 8 last week. The Naruse series finale, Naruse wa Miyako wo Kakenukeru, also jumps from No. 11 to No. 5 this week.
Below are the top titles on this week’s Japan Book Hot 100, tracking the period from Dec. 29, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026:
JAPAN BOOK HOT 100 Top 10
(Numbers in parentheses indicate the title’s metric placements for physical stores, EC, e-books, subscriptions, and social media, top 20 only. English title given if translations or adaptations exist.)
1. Soso no Frieren (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End) Vol. 15, Kanehito Yamada, Tsukasa Abe (1・14・1・-・-)
2. In the Megachurch, Ryo Asai (-・-・-・-・1)
3. Naruse wa Tenka wo Toriniiku, Mina Miyajima (19・-・-・1・2)
4. Ningen Hyouhon (Human Specimens), Kanae Minato (8・-・-・-・11)
5. Naruse wa Miyako wo Kakenukeru, Mina Miyajima (10・-・-・-・4)
6. Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu (The Summer Hikaru Died) Vol. 8, Mokumokuren (2・-・19・-・-)
7. Bakudan (Bomb), Katsuhiro Go (-・-・-・16・8)
8. Hakobune, Haruo Yuki (-・-・-・-・3)
9. BUTTER, Asako Yuzuki (-・-・-・7・6)
10. Henna Chizu (Strange Maps), Uketsu (5・-・-・-・-)
