Japanese Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Yasuko Funasaki

ふなざき やすこ

Funasaki Yasuko

Pen Names: Yasuko Oumi（Pen name used for children's songs and poetry）, Yasuko Murakami（Pen name used for essays and prose）

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1944-05-17 （Odawara, Kanagawa, Japan）
Died
2020-02-07 age 75
Nationality
Japanese
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Poet, Children's literature author, Lyricist
Active Years
1964-2020
Influenced By
Toshiko Takada

Education

Kawamura Junior College
Department of English Literature / Department of English Literature
Country: Japan
During enrollment suffered a horseback-riding accident and required convalescence; began writing during recovery

Awards

Japan Record Awards (Children's Song Award)
1964
Work: Song of the Singing Feet
Category: 童謡賞
Organization: Japan Record Awards Committee
Result: 受賞
Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award
1978
Work: Hiroshi's Business
Organization: Sankei Shimbun (sponsor)
Result: 受賞
Ehon Nippon Prize
1984
Work: Yai Lizard
Organization: Ehon Nippon Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Akai Tori Literary Prize
1984
Work: The Crow That Can't Fly and the Crow That Won't Fly
Organization: Akai Tori Literary Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Japan Children's Literature Association Award
1993
Work: Kamehachi
Organization: Japan Children's Literature Association
Result: 受賞
Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award
1993
Work: Kamehachi
Organization: Sankei Shimbun (sponsor)
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Potato Chip House

1965 Poetry collection

An early poetry collection containing short poems with childlike sensibility and humor.

childhoodeveryday life

Hiroshi's Business

1977 Children's literature

A warm story featuring a child protagonist; a tale of growth through everyday trade.

growing upfriendshipfamily

Yai Lizard

1984 Picture book

A humorous picture book starring a lizard; illustrated by Yoji Watanabe and winner of a picture-book prize.

animalshumor

The Crow That Can't Fly and the Crow That Won't Fly

1984 Children's literature / animal memoir

An observational story about two crows; softly depicts relationships between animals and humans.

animal observationnaturecoexistence

Kamehachi

1992 Children's literature

A family and friendship story told through the titular tortoise; won multiple awards in 1993.

familyfriendshipanimals

Bibliography

  • Potato Chip House (Poetry)
  • Hiroshi's Business
  • Yai Lizard
  • The Crow That Can't Fly and the Crow That Won't Fly
  • Kamehachi
  • The Time My Life Shone (essays)

Translations by Author

  • Harry the Coward (translated)
  • Run! Allen (translated)
  • I Hear It, I Hear It (translated)
  • Uncle Volpenny's Try-It (translated)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
childlike, poetic narrationgentle, rhythmic expression
Recurring Motifs
forestanimalsfamilymemory

Health

  • Long-term convalescence after a horseback-riding accident
    1960年代（在学中）
    Recovery period led to intensive reading and writing that became the catalyst for her creative work

Legacy

Yasuko Funasaki was active both as a poet and a children's author, earning recognition for her lyrical narration and empathy toward children. She received multiple major children's literature and picture-book awards and influenced later children's authors and illustrators.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Children's Literature Association

Archives

  • National Diet Library, Japan (related materials)

Trivia

  • In 1964 she became the youngest-ever winner of the Japan Record Awards' children's song prize with "Utau Ashi no Uta".
  • She published works under pen names Yasuko Oumi and Yasuko Murakami.
  • She collaborated extensively with her husband Katsuhiko Funasaki; they later divorced but continued joint work.