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Chihaya Akane

ちはや あかね

Chihaya Akane

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1979-08-02 （Ebetsu, Hokkaido, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Ebetsu, Hokkaido, Japan → Zambia (childhood)

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Essayist
Active Years
2008-
Influenced By
Terayama Shūji
Nominations
3rd Poplar Novel Prize — Final selection (2008, 'Uo'), 150th Naoki Prize — Nominee (2013, 'Atokata'), 151st Naoki Prize — Nominee (2014, 'Otoko Tomodachi'), 36th Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Newcomer Award — Nominee (2015, 'Otoko Tomodachi'), 12th Yamada Futaro Award — Nominee (2021, 'Hikinami')

Education

Ritsumeikan University (Faculty of Letters; Graduate School of Letters)
Faculty of Letters / Humanities Institute
Country: Japan
Graduated from Ritsumeikan University Graduate School of Letters / Faculty of Letters

Awards

Shosetsu Subaru Newcomer Award
2008
Work: Uogami (Fish God)
Organization: Shueisha (Shosetsu Subaru)
Result: Winner
Izumi Kyōka Prize for Literature
2009
Work: Uogami (Fish God)
Result: Winner
Shimase Award for Love Literature
2013
Work: Atokata
Result: Winner
Arai Award
2014
Work: Otoko Tomodachi (Male Friends)
Result: Winner
Watanabe Jun'ichi Literary Award
2021
Work: Scent of a Transparent Night
Result: Winner
Naoki Prize
2023
Work: Shirogane no Ha (Silver Leaves)
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Uogami (Fish God)

2009 Novel

Debut work. A lyrical novel that uses fish motifs and poetic imagery to explore relationships between people and nature.

fishnaturememorypoetic expression

Scent of a Transparent Night

2020 Novel

A novel published in 2020. Winner of the Watanabe Jun'ichi Literary Award.

nightmemoryhuman relationships

Shirogane no Ha (Silver Leaves)

2022 Novel

Published in 2022. Winner of the 168th Naoki Prize.

familymemorychange

Atokata

2013 Short story collection

A collection of short stories. Winner of the Shimase Award for Love Literature.

lovelosstraces

Otoko Tomodachi (Male Friends)

2014 Novel

A novel that examines friendship and intimacy.

friendshipintimacyeveryday life

Garden

2017 Novel

Published in 2017. Uses plants and places as focal points to depict characters' inner lives.

placeinner lifenature

Bibliography

  • Uogami (Fish God)
  • Fragments of Fairy Tales: New Interpretations of Western Tales
  • Karamaru
  • Ayakashi Sōshi: Stories of the Capital
  • House of the Forest
  • The Cherry Necklace
  • Atokata
  • The Sleeping Garden
  • Otoko Tomodachi (Male Friends)
  • Patisserie Petit Fours
  • The Bird That Cries at Night
  • Garden
  • Dolls' Daydreams
  • Closet
  • Righteous Women
  • Not Even Dogs Would Eat (co-authored)
  • Bad Foods (Essays)
  • God's Pastime
  • Sankaku
  • Scent of a Transparent Night
  • Persistently Bad Foods (Essays)
  • Hikinami
  • Shirogane no Ha (Silver Leaves)
  • Still Bad Foods (Essays)
  • Scent of the Red Moon
  • Marie

Style & Themes

Literary Style
lyrical, poetic proseblend of fantasy and everyday lifeuse of short-story cycles
Recurring Motifs
fishmemorynightfusion of everyday life and the fantastic

Legacy

Chihaya Akane is a contemporary Japanese author known for lyrical, poetic prose. Since her debut with 'Uogami', she has received major literary prizes such as the Izumi Kyōka Prize, the Watanabe Jun'ichi Literary Award, and the Naoki Prize. She is recognized for both short stories and novels.

Quotes

  • I decided to enter a literary prize only once, when I was 29.
    Source: Interview (Ritsumeikan University alumni message / media interviews)

Trivia

  • She lived in Zambia from around age 6 to 9 (returnee/expat childhood).
  • Her debut work is 'Uogami' (presented 2008, published 2009).
  • She decided early on to attempt a literary prize only once, at age 29.
  • She was divorced at age 40 (publicly reported).