Akutagawa Prize
1 appearances
Gengetsu
げんげつ
Gengetsu
Aliases:
桐島風雅
Pen Names:
Gengetsu（Pen name used for novels and poetry）
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1986-05-12 （Minato, Tokyo, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Minato, Tokyo (birth - present)
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Short story writer, Essayist
- Active Years
- 2006-
- Influenced By
- Modern Japanese literature, European modernism, Haruki Murakami
- Influenced
- Younger urban novelists, Independent filmmakers
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan University of Literary Arts | Faculty of Letters | Department of Japanese Literature | 学士 | 2004-2008 | Japan |
Japan University of Literary Arts
Faculty of Letters
/ Department of Japanese Literature
Degree:
学士
Period:
2004-2008
Year of Graduation:
2008
Country:
Japan
Began writing while enrolled
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Seien Literary Prize | Nocturnal Gleam | 長編小説部門 | Seien Foundation for Literary Arts | 受賞 |
| 2012 | Young Writers Encouragement Award | Moon-White Notes | 短編部門 | Japan Literary Promotion Association | 受賞 |
Seien Literary Prize
2024
Work:
Nocturnal Gleam
Category:
長編小説部門
Organization:
Seien Foundation for Literary Arts
Result:
受賞
Young Writers Encouragement Award
2012
Work:
Moon-White Notes
Category:
短編部門
Organization:
Japan Literary Promotion Association
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Nocturnal Gleam
2023 Contemporary fiction 320 pagesA novel set in the city night that depicts loss and renewal. The protagonist, attempting to escape past events, gradually rediscovers connections with themselves and others.
LonelinessMemoryRenewalThe city
Adaptations
- [Film] Nocturnal Gleam / Kawasaki Ryu (2025)
Translations
- Not yet published
Moon-White Notes
2011 Short story collection 160 pagesA short story collection themed around the moon, featuring tales where fantasy and reality intersect.
FantasyAbsurdity of everyday lifeMemory
Translations
- English (selected translations)
Bibliography
- Nocturnal Gleam (2023)
- Margins of Dawn (2016)
- Moon-White Notes (2011)
- A Short Voyage (2009)
Adaptations
- Nocturnal Gleam (film adaptation: dir. Ryu Kawasaki, 2025)
Translations of Works
- Moon-White Notes (selected English translations)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Quiet proseEmphasis on interiority
- Recurring Motifs
- The moonNightGardensForgetfulness
Legacy
Established a distinct place in contemporary literature exploring urban solitude and memory, with significant influence on younger writers.
Academic Societies
- Society for Contemporary Literature
In Popular Culture
- Became widely known through film adaptations and theme songs.
Quotes
-
The night quietly washes away our memories.
Source: Nocturnal Gleam (novel) (2023)
Trivia
- Pen name derived from a phrase heard from the author's grandmother.
- Keeps a habit of morning walks before writing.