Nihon SF Grand Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 8 (1987) award
Hiroshi Aramata
あらまた ひろし
Aramata Hiroshi
Pen Names:
Dan Seiji（Pen name used for translations (derived from Lord Dunsany)）,
Honno Mushitaro（Alternate pen name used in magazines）
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1947-07-12 （Uguisudani, Taito, Tokyo, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
Career
- Occupations
- natural history researcher, iconography researcher, novelist, collector, occult/mysticism researcher, yokai critic, translator, television personality, visiting professor
- Active Years
- 1970-
- Affiliations
- Kyoto International Manga Museum (Director), Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan (member), World Yokai Association (member), Musashino Art University (Visiting Professor)
- Memberships
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan, World Yokai Association
- Influenced By
- Teiichi Hirai, Jun'ichirō Kida, Shigeru Mizuki, Seigo Matsuoka
- Influenced
- Hiroo Yamagata
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keio University | Faculty of Law | — | 学士（法学） | — | Japan |
Keio University
Faculty of Law
Degree:
学士（法学）
Country:
Japan
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Japan Translation Publishing Culture Prize | Sekai Gensou Bungaku Taikei (World Fantasy Literature Series) (co-editor) | — | — | 受賞 |
| 1987 | Japan Science Fiction Grand Prize | Teito Monogatari | — | Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan | 受賞 |
| 1989 | Suntory Academic Award | Sekai Dai Hakubutsu Zukan, Vol.2 (Fishes) | — | Suntory Foundation | 受賞 |
| 2007 | Nice Step Researcher (recognition) | Exhibition planning (fusion of science and art) | — | National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP) | 顕彰 |
| 2013 | Mizuki Juugodo Prize | For breadth of knowledge and collecting activities | — | Yamatokoriyama City (selection committee) | 受賞 |
| 2014 | Kinema Junpo Readers' Award | Hundred Years of Darkness, Cinema Phantoms (related work) | — | Kinema Junpo | 受賞 |
Japan Translation Publishing Culture Prize
1976
Work:
Sekai Gensou Bungaku Taikei (World Fantasy Literature Series) (co-editor)
Result:
受賞
Japan Science Fiction Grand Prize
1987
Work:
Teito Monogatari
Organization:
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan
Result:
受賞
Suntory Academic Award
1989
Work:
Sekai Dai Hakubutsu Zukan, Vol.2 (Fishes)
Organization:
Suntory Foundation
Result:
受賞
Nice Step Researcher (recognition)
2007
Work:
Exhibition planning (fusion of science and art)
Organization:
National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP)
Result:
顕彰
Mizuki Juugodo Prize
2013
Work:
For breadth of knowledge and collecting activities
Organization:
Yamatokoriyama City (selection committee)
Result:
受賞
Kinema Junpo Readers' Award
2014
Work:
Hundred Years of Darkness, Cinema Phantoms (related work)
Organization:
Kinema Junpo
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Teito Monogatari
1985 fantastic/occult novelA long occult/legendary novel series set against modernizing Japan blending onmyodo, yokai and mysticism. It became a bestseller and spawned media adaptations.
onmyodoyokai (monsters)urban legendconflict of modernization and arcana
Adaptations
- [film] Teito Monogatari (1988) / 実相寺昭雄 (1988)
- [film] Teito Daisen (1989) / 一瀬隆重（ほか） (1989)
World Great Natural History Encyclopedia
1987 natural history / encyclopediaA major series showcasing plates and commentary from the golden age of natural history, introducing historical naturalist works to a broad audience.
natural historyillustration studiescollecting
Teito Gendan
1997 fantastic/occult fictionA collection of fantastic short stories following the spirit of Teito Monogatari, centered on city and the uncanny.
citythe uncannyhistorical fantasy
Shin Teito Monogatari
1999 fantastic/occult fictionA continuation/renewal of Teito Monogatari, reinterpreting historical and occult elements.
legendary fictionhistorical reinterpretationonmyodo
Bibliography
- Betsu Sekai Tsushin
- Teito Monogatari (10 vols)
- World Great Natural History Encyclopedia (5 vols + extras)
- Aramata Iconography Series
Adaptations
- Teito Monogatari (film adaptations)
- The Great Yokai War (involved in production)
Translations by Author
- Conan the Conqueror (translation as Dan Seiji)
- Selected Lovecraft short stories (translation)
Translations of Works
- Teito Monogatari (limited official English translations)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- encyclopedic, erudite prose incorporating natural historyiconographic/visual scholarship approachfantastic and occult imagery
- Recurring Motifs
- yokai and folkloreonmyodo and feng shuicollecting and plates/illustrationstension between modernization and archaic knowledge
Health
-
Vision impairment (LASIK surgery)2009Underwent LASIK in 2009, vision improved (reported to 1.2); often wears non-prescription glasses in public
Legacy
Hiroshi Aramata has had broad influence as both a scholar of natural history/iconography and a writer of fantastic literature. Through collecting and editorial work he helped spark a renewed interest in natural history publications and popularized topics such as feng shui and onmyodo; his media presence extended his impact into popular culture.
Museums
- Kyoto International Manga Museum (Director) Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan
Academic Societies
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan
- World Yokai Association
In Popular Culture
- Modeled as the character 'Aryamata Koryamata' in Shigeru Mizuki's manga
- Frequent TV appearances, commercials and film involvement (appearances and production/consulting)
Quotes
-
There is Aramata in the Japanese occult world.
Source: Mizuki Juugodo Prize selection rationale (Yamatokoriyama City) (2013)
Trivia
- Known for spending large sums on book collecting (used royalties and earnings to build collections)
- Used pen names such as 'Dan Seiji' and 'Honno Mushitaro' for translations and magazine work
- Has described childhood experiences of family fugitive relocations as traumatic
- Noted for a great sweet tooth in many anecdotes