Japanese Literary Awards

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Bunpei Aoyama

あおやま ぶんぺい

Aoyama Bunpei

Pen Names: Yusaku Kageyama（Pen name used for his debut, 'Ore-tachi no Suishōkyū' (1994)）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1948-12-03 （Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan → Tokyo, Japan

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Writer
Active Years
1994-
Memberships
Japan PEN Club
Nominations
Candidate for the 152nd Naoki Prize (2015) — 'Oni wa Motoyori', Candidate for the 6th Yamada Fūtarō Prize (2015) — 'If You Marry a Wife', Candidate for the 3rd High School Naoki Prize (2016) — 'If You Marry a Wife', Candidate for the 70th Mystery Writers of Japan Award (Best Novel/Collection) (2016) — 'Hanseki'

Education

Waseda University
School of Political Science and Economics / Department of Economics
Country: Japan

Awards

Chuokoron Newcomer Award
1992
Work: Ore-tachi no Suishōkyū
Organization: Chuokoron-Shinsha
Result: Winner
Matsumoto Seichō Prize
2011
Work: Under the White Oak Tree
Organization: Bungeishunjū
Result: Winner
Oyabu Haruhiko Prize
2015
Work: Oni wa Motoyori
Organization: Oyabu Haruhiko Prize Committee
Result: Winner
Naoki Prize
2016
Work: If You Marry a Wife
Organization: Naoki Prize Selection Committee
Result: Winner
Chuokoron Literary Prize
2022
Work: Deep Affection
Organization: Chuokoron-Shinsha
Result: Winner
Renzaburō Shibata Prize
2022
Work: Deep Affection
Organization: Renzaburō Shibata Prize Committee
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Ore-tachi no Suishōkyū

1994 Fiction

Debut novel published under the pen name Yusaku Kageyama; portrays a group of young people and their struggles. Winner of the 18th Chuokoron Newcomer Award.

youthcoming-of-agehuman relationships

Under the White Oak Tree

2011 Historical fiction

A finely observed depiction of human relationships within samurai society. Marked his return to fiction and won the 18th Matsumoto Seichō Prize.

samurai societyfamilyhuman drama

Kakeochiru

2012 Fiction

A novel set in contemporary times about relationships and escape. Published by Bungeishunjū.

loveescapeindividual vs society

Ryūsui Ukiboku: The Last Sword

2013 Period / historical novel

A period piece centered on swordsmanship and fate. Later reissued under the title 'Iga no Zankō'.

swordsfatesamurai

Yakutei (Promise)

2014 Historical fiction

A tale revolving around human promises and consequences. Later reissued as 'Haruyama-iri'.

promiseshuman cause and effecthistorical setting

Oni wa Motoyori

2014 Historical fiction

A multi-voiced story confronting human passions against a historical backdrop. Winner of the Oyabu Haruhiko Prize.

human passionhistoryconflict

If You Marry a Wife

2015 Historical fiction

A novel depicting subtle relations between men and women in samurai society. Winner of the Naoki Prize; praised for its portrayal of women's resilience.

samurai societygender relationsstrength of women

Hanseki

2016 Novel / linked short stories

A novel with linked short-story elements incorporating mystery aspects; was a candidate for the Mystery Writers of Japan Award.

crimehuman psychologysociety

Edo Somanu

2020 Historical fiction

A set of stories and novellas set in Edo; served as the basis for the later full-length novel 'Deep Affection' ('Sokobore').

Edo (historical Tokyo)local colorhuman sympathy

Deep Affection

2021 Historical fiction

A novel-length expansion of a title story from 'Edo Somanu'. Praised for layered characterizations and historical detail; won the 2022 Chuokoron Literary Prize and Renzaburō Shibata Prize.

affectionsindividuals in historical timesurban culture

Bibliography

  • Ore-tachi no Suishōkyū
  • Under the White Oak Tree
  • Kakeochiru
  • Ryūsui Ukiboku: The Last Sword
  • Iga no Zankō
  • Yakutei (Promise)
  • Haruyama-iri
  • Oni wa Motoyori
  • If You Marry a Wife
  • Hanseki
  • Hagemiba
  • A Distant Relative Woman
  • The Man Who Jumps
  • Edo Somanu
  • The Swimmer
  • Deep Affection
  • In the Spring That Finally Came
  • Days of Selling Books
  • What Father Did
  • Professor Shitagaito's Edo

Style & Themes

Literary Style
concise, restrained narrationcareful depiction of historical backgrounds
Recurring Motifs
samurai society and local colorfamily and human relationshipsresilience and strength of women

Legacy

After debuting in the 1990s and taking a long creative hiatus, he returned to prominence in 2011. Since then he has won major literary awards including the Matsumoto Seichō Prize, Naoki Prize, Renzaburō Shibata Prize and Chuokoron Literary Prize, and is regarded as a leading contemporary writer of historical fiction and human drama in Japan.

Academic Societies

  • Japan PEN Club

Archives

  • Holdings at the National Diet Library (NDL ID: 01233263)
  • Authority records such as VIAF (VIAF:256733644) and WorldCat

Trivia

  • His debut 'Ore-tachi no Suishōkyū' was published under the pen name Yusaku Kageyama and won the 18th Chuokoron Newcomer Award.
  • After working at a publishing company for 18 years, he debuted as a writer in 1992. He re-emerged in 2011 with 'Under the White Oak Tree', winning the Matsumoto Seichō Prize.
  • He won the Naoki Prize in 2016 and in 2022 received both the Chuokoron Literary Prize and the Renzaburō Shibata Prize.