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Durian Sukegawa

ドリアン すけがわ

Dorian Sukegawa

Aliases: 助川 哲也 / TETSUYA / 明川 哲也
Pen Names: Durian Sukegawa（Stage name used mainly as writer, poet and singer）, Tetsuya Akikawa（Alternate name used during time in the U.S. (circa 2002–2011)）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1962-06-17 （Tokyo, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Tokyo, Japan → Kobe, Japan → Nagoya, Japan → New York, USA

Career

Occupations
Writer, Poet, Singer, University Professor, Broadcast Writer
Active Years
1990-
Affiliations
Meiji Gakuin University, Faculty of International Studies (Professor), Shouting Poets Association (founder/former chair)

Education

Waseda University, School of Letters, Arts and Sciences I
School of Letters, Arts and Sciences I / Department of Oriental Philosophy
Country: Japan
Ran a theatrical troupe while at university
Nihon Kashi Vocational School (correspondence)
Country: Japan
Completed correspondence course

Awards

Japan Essayists' Club Award
2019
Work: Dosimeter and Oku no Hosomichi
Organization: Japan Essayists' Club
Result: 受賞
DOMITYS Literature Prize
2017
Work: An
Organization: DOMITYS (France)
Result: 受賞
Le Prix des Lecteurs du Livre de Poche (Pocket Book Readers' Prize)
2017
Work: An
Organization: France (organizer unknown)
Result: 受賞
Translation Literature Prize (selected by students of Lyon 3 University)
2017
Work: An
Organization: University Lyon 3 (student-selected)
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

An

2013 Novel

A novel about a man who has stumbled in life and the woman who completes his life. It was adapted into a film and translated internationally.

forgivenesshuman dignityrebirth
Adaptations
  • [Film] An / 河瀬直美 (2015)
Translations
  • French and 23 other languages

Pinza Island

2014 Novel

A multi-character story about people risking everything to make cheese. It was adapted into a radio drama.

communitylivelihood and survival
Adaptations
  • [Radio drama] Pinza Island (Feature Audio Drama) (2017)
Translations
  • French, German, Taiwanese, etc.

Dosimeter and Oku no Hosomichi

2018 Essay / Travelogue

A record and reflection of traveling the Oku no Hosomichi route while measuring ambient radiation after the Fukushima nuclear accident; also a testimony on exposure and living.

radiation exposurejourneypersonal record

Bibliography

  • Eating: Seven Letters
  • Sunrise on the Bayshore Line
  • Dorian Soul
  • An
  • Pinza Island
  • Dosimeter and Oku no Hosomichi
  • Animal Philosophy Stories: The Certain Uncertainty of the Squirrel

Adaptations

  • Novel 'An' → film adaptation directed by Naomi Kawase (2015)
  • 'Pinza Island' → NHK-FM feature audio drama (2017)

Translations by Author

  • The Little Prince (complete translation)

Translations of Works

  • An (translated into French, German, Italian and 24 languages)
  • Shinjuku Cat (translated into French, German, Italian and 11 languages)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Oral/recitation-like, conversational prosePlain but emotionally rich essayistic expressionOccasionally allegorical treatment of social themes
Recurring Motifs
foodjourneyanimalsrenewal and forgiveness

Legacy

As a performer-writer whose work centers on recitation-style performance and empathy for ordinary people, he has produced everything from children's books to socially engaged essays and internationally translated novels. Film adaptations and multiple international awards have brought him recognition abroad.

In Popular Culture

  • Known widely as the author of the novel 'An,' which was adapted into a film screened at Cannes and brought broader public recognition.

Trivia

  • The 'Durian' part of his name stems from a friend's remark that his poems 'smelled'—he adopted the fruit as a memorable pen name.
  • He used alternate names (TETSUYA, Akikawa Tetsuya) during periods abroad.
  • The novel 'An' has been translated into 24 languages and was adapted into a film.
  • He founded and once chaired the 'Shouting Poets Association'.