Japanese Literary Awards

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Seiji Fujishiro

ふじしろ せいじ

Fujishiro Seiji

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1924-04-17 （Meguro, Tokyo, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Religion
Christianity
Residence History
Meguro, Tokyo → Nasu, Tochigi (Nasu Highlands)

Career

Occupations
silhouette artist, painter, picture-book author/illustrator, stage/visual artist
Active Years
1946-
Affiliations
Horipro
Influenced By
Gen'ichiro Inokuma, Anji Hanamori

Education

Keio University
Faculty of Economics
Degree: 学士
Period: 1940-1947
Year of Graduation: 1947
Country: Japan
Entered preparatory course in 1940; resumed studies after wartime service and graduated in 1947.

Awards

Purple Ribbon Medal
1989
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章
Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette (4th class)
1995
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章
BIB (Bratislava) Golden Apple Award
1983
Work: Night on the Galactic Railroad (picture book)
Organization: Bratislava Biennial of Illustrations (BIB)
Result: 受賞
Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival, Excellence Award
1982
Work: Silhouette play 'Night on the Galactic Railroad'
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japan)
Result: 受賞
Ministry of Health and Welfare Children's Welfare Cultural Encouragement Award
1980
Work: Silhouette play 'Shakuntala'
Organization: Ministry of Health and Welfare (Japan)
Result: 受賞
Special Merit Award for Children's Culture
1999
Organization: Japan Association of Children's Literature
Result: 受賞
Miyazawa Kenji Award (Ihatov Prize)
2014
Work: Picture Book: Kaze no Matasaburo
Organization: Miyazawa Kenji Society / Ihatov Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Iwatani Nobuhiko Literary Prize
2013
Organization: Japan Youth Culture Center (Iwatani Prize)
Result: 受賞
Japan Expo Grand Prize
2001
Work: Live performances at Kitakyushu Expo 2001
Organization: Japan Event Industry Promotion Association
Result: 受賞
Bookbinding and Design Competition — President's Award, Japan Federation of Printing Industries
2016
Work: Seiji Fujishiro's Traveling Silhouettes: Japan (collection)
Organization: Japan Federation of Printing Industries
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Strange Journey of the Wine Bottle

1950 silhouette picture book

An early silhouette picture book combining silhouette art and storytelling.

fantasyjourneychildhood

Night on the Galactic Railroad

1983 silhouette picture book / children's literature

A major work expressing Kenji Miyazawa's world through silhouettes; internationally recognized and awarded the BIB Golden Apple.

friendshiplife and deathfantasy
Adaptations
  • [stage silhouette play] Night on the Galactic Railroad (silhouette play) (1956)
Translations
  • Night on the Galactic Railroad (Seiji Fujishiro edition)

Silhouettes (collection)

1960 silhouette art collection

A collection presenting silhouette techniques and works; foundational for his later style.

light and shadownaturefairy-tale imagery

Bibliography

  • The Strange Journey of the Wine Bottle (1950)
  • Silhouettes: Seiji Fujishiro Works (1960)
  • Seiji Fujishiro Silhouette Collection (Kodansha, 1977)
  • Jesus (silhouette collection, 1981)
  • The World of Seiji Fujishiro's Silhouettes (Tokyo Shoseki, 1983)
  • Creation of Heaven and Earth (1992)
  • Seiji Fujishiro's Traveling Silhouettes: Japan (2015)

Adaptations

  • NHK documentary 'Silhouette Artist Seiji Fujishiro'
  • Minna no Uta illustrations/animations (multiple songs)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
silhouette-based visual expressionlyrical use of light-and-shadow contrastfairy-tale-like narrative tone
Recurring Motifs
light and shadownature (forests, sea, animals)children and fairy-tale motifsreligious / biblical imagery

Legacy

A leading figure who popularized silhouette art in Japan. Through international awards, exhibitions and the establishment of museums, he had major impact on children's culture and visual arts.

Museums

  • Seiji Fujishiro Museum (Nasu Highlands) Nasu, Tochigi, Japan Opened in 2013
  • Shosenkyo Shadow Forest Museum (permanent Fujishiro exhibition) Kofu (Shosenkyo), Yamanashi, Japan Opened in 1992
  • Korobokkuru Silhouette Museum Engaru, Hokkaido, Japan Opened in 1998

Academic Societies

  • Japan Association of Children's Literature

Archives

  • Collections at Seiji Fujishiro Museum (Nasu)
  • World Silhouette/Kirie/Glass/Music Box Museum (Ikenotaira) collections

In Popular Culture

  • Created character 'Keroyon' for TV program 'Mokuba-za Hour'
  • Television program and commercial openings/closings (e.g., Asahi Broadcasting closing)
  • Numerous public murals and stained-glass works (e.g., Miyazaki Airport stained glass)

Quotes

  • Light sings, shadows dance
    Source: Light Sings, Shadows Dance: The Trajectory of Seiji Fujishiro (Kosei Publishing, 2004) (2004)

Trivia

  • Known as the creator of the character 'Keroyon'.
  • Long-running silhouette series in Kurashi no Techo magazine.
  • A museum dedicated to his work opened in Nasu Highlands in 2013.
  • Celebrated his 100th birthday on April 17, 2024.