Japanese Literary Awards

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Sadakazu Fujii

ふじい さだかず

Fujii Sadakazu

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1942-04-27 （Tokyo, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
poet, Japanese literature scholar, university professor
Active Years
1966-
Affiliations
Kyoritsu Women's Junior College, Tokyo Gakugei University, University of Tokyo, Rissho University
Memberships
Member of the Japan Art Academy

Education

University of Tokyo
Faculty of Letters / Department of Japanese Language and Literature
Degree: 学士
Year of Graduation: 1966
Country: Japan
University of Tokyo
Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology / Japanese Language and Literature (doctoral program)
Degree: 博士（文学）
Year of Graduation: 1992
Country: Japan
Awarded Doctor of Letters (dissertation on the history of narrative literature) in 1992

Awards

Bansui Prize (40th)
1999
Work: “The Quiet Sea” (poems)
Organization: Bansui Prize Committee
Result: winner
Kadokawa Gen'yoshi Prize
2001
Work: Essays on The Tale of Genji
Organization: Kadokawa Culture Promotion Foundation
Result: winner
Fujimura Memorial Rekitei Prize
2002
Work: Kotoba no Tsue, Kotoba no Tsue
Organization: Fujimura Memorial Foundation
Result: winner
Takami Jun Prize
2002
Work: Kotoba no Tsue, Kotoba no Tsue
Organization: Takami Jun Prize Committee
Result: winner
Gendai Shi Hanatsubaki Prize
2006
Work: God's Puppy
Organization: Gendai Shi Hanatsubaki Committee
Result: winner
Contemporary Poet Award
2006
Work: God's Puppy
Organization: Contemporary Poet Award Committee
Result: winner
Inba Puyu Prize
2007
Work: Reviving Poetics
Organization: Inba Puyu Prize Committee
Result: winner
Shikai Prize (Japan Poets Club)
2008
Work: Words and War
Organization: Japan Poets Club
Result: winner
Ayukawa Nobuo Prize (3rd)
2012
Work: The Spring Elm
Organization: Ayukawa Nobuo Prize Committee
Result: winner
Art Encouragement Prize (Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
2012
Work: The Spring Elm
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result: winner
Yomiuri Literature Prize (74th)
2022
Work: Listen Carefully, Leave Here Immediately
Organization: Yomiuri Shimbun
Result: winner
Japan Art Academy Prize
2023
Work: Listen Carefully, Leave Here Immediately
Organization: Japan Art Academy
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Origins and Present of The Tale of Genji

1972 scholarship / criticism

A scholarly study focusing on The Tale of Genji and the origins and contemporary significance of narrative literature.

The Tale of Genjinarrative literatureorigins

“The Quiet Sea”

1998 poetry

One of his notable recent poetry collections, exploring the sonority of language and poetic theory.

languagemusicalitymemory

Essays on The Tale of Genji

2000 scholarship / criticism

A collection of essays reexamining The Tale of Genji from narratological and grammatical perspectives.

The Tale of Genjinarrative theorygrammar

Listen Carefully, Leave Here Immediately

2022 essays/poetry

A recent work blending poetry and criticism, addressing war and issues of language.

warlanguagepeace theory

Bibliography

  • Origins and Present of The Tale of Genji
  • On Shaku Choko: The Emergence of Poetry and 'Orikuchi Studies'
  • History of the Establishment of Narrative Literature
  • Essays on The Tale of Genji
  • Kotoba no Tsue, Kotoba no Tsue
  • God's Puppy
  • The Spring Elm
  • Listen Carefully, Leave Here Immediately

Style & Themes

Literary Style
narratological analysisgrammatical/poetic theoretical approachcoexistence of scholarly prose and poetic expression
Recurring Motifs
The Tale of Genjiorigins of languageboundaries between narrative and poetry

Legacy

A scholar-poet who has investigated narrative literature from ancient to medieval Japan, especially The Tale of Genji, and developed grammatical approaches to poetics. Recognized for both scholarly works and poetry collections.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Art Academy
  • The Society for Japanese Literary Studies

Trivia

  • Reportedly fond of his hometown 'sukunabikona' (citation needed)
  • Known as an avid fan of pandas