Japan Children's Literature Association Newcomer Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 5 (1972) award
Akira Sanetou
さねとう あきら
Sanetou Akira
Aliases:
實藤述
Pen Names:
Akira Sanetou（pen name）
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1935-01-16 （Omori, Tokyo (now Ota, Tokyo, Japan)）
- Died
- 2016-03-07 age 81
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Ota, Tokyo (formerly Omori Ward) → Hiroshima Prefecture (evacuated during wartime)
Career
- Occupations
- Children's literature author, Playwright, Scriptwriter
- Active Years
- 1957-2016
- Influenced By
- Kunio Yanagita, Junji Kinoshita, Rikusuke Saito
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waseda University, First Faculty of Letters | Department of Drama | Theatre | — | 1954-1958 | Japan |
Waseda University, First Faculty of Letters
Department of Drama
/ Theatre
Period:
1954-1958
Country:
Japan
Dropped out before graduation and joined theatre troupe activities
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Minister of Health and Welfare Award | Don't Look Back, Pedro | — | Ministry of Health and Welfare (or equivalent) | 受賞 |
| 1972 | Japan Children's Literature Association Newcomer Award | Jibetakkosama | — | Japan Children's Literature Association | 受賞 |
| 1972 | Noma Juvenile Literature Recommended Work Award | Jibetakkosama | — | Noma Juvenile Literature Award Committee | 推奨 |
| 1979 | Shogakukan Literature Prize | The Biography of Jumbo Cocco | — | Shogakukan | 受賞 |
| 1986 | Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award | Tokyo Stone-Age People War | — | Sankei Shimbun | 受賞 |
| 2004 | Saita Takashi Playwright Award | Non Non Baa and Me (play) | — | Saita Takashi Award Committee | 受賞 |
Minister of Health and Welfare Award
1961
Work:
Don't Look Back, Pedro
Organization:
Ministry of Health and Welfare (or equivalent)
Result:
受賞
Japan Children's Literature Association Newcomer Award
1972
Work:
Jibetakkosama
Organization:
Japan Children's Literature Association
Result:
受賞
Noma Juvenile Literature Recommended Work Award
1972
Work:
Jibetakkosama
Organization:
Noma Juvenile Literature Award Committee
Result:
推奨
Shogakukan Literature Prize
1979
Work:
The Biography of Jumbo Cocco
Organization:
Shogakukan
Result:
受賞
Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award
1986
Work:
Tokyo Stone-Age People War
Organization:
Sankei Shimbun
Result:
受賞
Saita Takashi Playwright Award
2004
Work:
Non Non Baa and Me (play)
Organization:
Saita Takashi Award Committee
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Noma Children's Literature Newcomer Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 10 (1972) award
Shogakukan Children Publishing Culture Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 28 (1979) award
Works
Major Works
Jibetakkosama
1972 Creative folktales / Children's literatureA collection of original folktales focusing on marginalized people in Tokyo and folkloric motifs; stories explore outsiders and social marginalization.
folktalediscriminationalienation
The Biography of Jumbo Cocco
1979 Children's literature / Animal storyA story about a wild-spirited chicken and children; it offers a new perspective on animal tales by depicting an animal that resists domestication.
animalsgrowthcoexistence
Tokyo Stone-Age People War
1985 Long novel / Folktale-like speculative fictionA grand long novel juxtaposing civilization and earth/nature; it questions modern lifestyles and the foundations of civilization.
civilization vs. naturehuman historyenvironment
The Laughing Great Wolf
1973 Picture book / Creative folktaleA picture book inspired by folktale motifs. After publication it sparked controversy over perceived social implications and later went out of print following discussions and reconciliation.
discriminationsolidarityfolktale allegory
Bibliography
- Jibetakkosama (1972)
- Yukinkonkon Stories (1972)
- The Lazy God's Tale (1974)
- The August of the God-Forced (1975)
- The Biography of Jumbo Cocco (1979)
- Tokyo Stone-Age People War (1985)
- When Wolves Laugh (1987)
- Fukumochi Tengumochi (2005)
Adaptations
- Numerous stage adaptations and plays (Theatre Tsugetsu/February troupe, Gekidan Coro, Puppet Theatre Pook, etc.)
- Opera libretto 'Bekkanko Oni' (music by Hikaru Hayashi, 1979)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- A children's literature style rooted in creative folktales, strong narrative voiceDramatic, story-driven prose with theatrical sensibilities
- Recurring Motifs
- folktale motifsdiscrimination and solidaritywar seen from children's perspectivesnature vs. civilization
Legacy
He established a distinctive position in children's literature and theatre rooted in creative folktales. His works addressing marginalized people, discrimination, and wartime experience have been used educationally and influenced stage and operatic productions.
Academic Societies
- Japan Children's Literature Association
Archives
- National Diet Library (Japan)
In Popular Culture
- Stage adaptation of 'Non Non Baa and Me' (Gekidan Coro)
Trivia
- Reportedly witnessed the flash of the atomic bomb on August 6, 1945, from across a cape.
- The picture book 'The Laughing Great Wolf' sparked controversy with the Buraku Liberation League in the 1970s; after reconciliation it was not reprinted and went out of print.
- Dropped out of Waseda University and worked with theatre troupes such as 'Nakama', engaging in children's theatre direction and scriptwriting.