The Billboard Japan Book Hot 100, a comprehensive chart that integrates physical sales, e-books, library loans, subscription-based consumption, and social media buzz, saw consistent leadership from Vol. 15 of Soso no Frieren (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End) by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe across the charts released on January 1 and January 8. This volume demonstrated remarkable staying power, showcasing its broad appeal and robust performance across multiple metrics.

On the January 1 chart, Soso no Frieren Vol. 15 secured its second consecutive week at No. 1 since its debut, leading physical-store sales, ranking No. 3 for e-books, and No. 15 for EC. Following closely at No. 2 was the latest volume of the manga adaptation of Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries). A new entry, the comic adaptation of the popular light novel Katainaka no Ossan, Kensei ni Naru (From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman) Vol. 8, debuted impressively at No. 3. This chart period also saw notable gains across the board for novels, a trend likely driven by year-end retrospectives at bookstores, increased demand for holiday binge-reading, and the launch of a live-action drama for Kanae Minato’s Ningen Hyouhon (Human Specimens). Mina Miyajima’s Naruse wa Tenka wo Toriniiku and Ryo Asai’s In the Megachurch also saw climbs, with the latter surging from outside the top 20 to No. 13.

The subsequent chart, released on January 8 and tracking the period from December 29, 2025, to January 4, 2026, further solidified Soso no Frieren Vol. 15's dominance, marking its third consecutive week at the top. This time, it led both physical-store sales and e-books, while ranking No. 14 for EC. The most significant leap on this chart was Ryo Asai’s In the Megachurch, which soared from No. 13 to No. 2. This surge was attributed to increased attention from year-end roundups by bookstores and individual readers, compounded by the author's appearance on TV Asahi’s Reiwa Roman no Goraku Gatari.

The Naruse series also experienced a strong upward trajectory on the January 8 chart. Mina Miyajima’s Naruse wa Tenka wo Toriniiku climbed five spots from No. 8 to No. 3, demonstrating sustained reader interest. Furthermore, the series finale, Naruse wa Miyako wo Kakenukeru, also made a notable jump from No. 11 to No. 5, indicating a strong conclusion for the popular series. These movements highlight the dynamic nature of the Japan Book Hot 100, where sustained popularity, media exposure, and seasonal reading habits collectively shape the weekly rankings.