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Keiko Hamada

はまだ けいこ

Hamada Keiko

Aliases: 浜田けい子
Pen Names: Keiko Hamada（Pen name used for children's literature and translations）

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1928-02-27 （Osaka）
Died
2010-02-23 age 81
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Osaka → Tokyo

Career

Occupations
Children's literature author, Translator, Playwright
Active Years
1968-2010
Memberships
Japan Association of Children's Writers
Influenced By
Hirokai Hamada, Kiyoto Fukuda

Education

Meiji University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Drama
Faculty of Letters, Department of Drama / Drama
Period: 1951-1955
Year of Graduation: 1955
Country: Japan
Graduated from Meiji University (Department of Drama). Began creative work after moving to Tokyo.

Awards

Robou no Ishi Literature Prize
1988
Work: The Phantom Naniwa Palace: The Story of Tokutaro Yamane
Organization: Robou no Ishi Literature Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Contemporary Juvenile Literature Award
1990
Organization: Contemporary Juvenile Writers' Club
Result: 受賞
Children's Culture Merit Award
2002
Organization: Japan Association of Children's Writers
Result: 表彰

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Song of the Sun and the Sword

1968 Children's literature

A children's work from her early period, dealing with adventure and growth.

adventurecoming of age

The Phantom Naniwa Palace: The Story of Tokutaro Yamane

1987 Non-fiction (biography)

A biographical non-fiction about Tokutaro Yamane that draws attention to local history.

biographylocal history

Yahachi the Orphan

1980 Children's literature

A story centered on an orphan, portraying a child's struggle and resilience.

orphanhoodadversity and overcoming

Bibliography

  • Song of the Sun and the Sword (1968)
  • Boy Running Through the Fields (1971)
  • Seton (1973)
  • Miyako Flourishes: The Manyoshu Poet Okura (1974)
  • A Dream for Rome: Tsunenaga Hasekura (1975)
  • My Name Is Spy (1977)
  • God Lives in the Earth (1977)
  • Yahachi the Orphan (1980)
  • Napoleon (1980)
  • Queen Himiko (1981)
  • The Golden Thistle (1982)
  • Don on House Duty (1982)
  • Prince Oama (1983)
  • Cosmos School: Nippon 3 (1985)
  • Dandelion Flowers in Fields and Mountains (1985)
  • Please Take a Telepathy Drop (1985)
  • The Girl Who Studied in America: The Story of Umeko Tsuda (1986)
  • Mr. Hick's Mysterious Pocket (1986)
  • Let's Fly to the World's Skies (1987)
  • The Phantom Naniwa Palace: The Story of Tokutaro Yamane (1987)
  • The Revived Valley (1987)
  • Welcome to Devil's Island (1989)
  • Canvas Dyed the Color of Wind (1990)
  • The Witch Zipangu Travels (1990)
  • Yamato Takeru (1991)
  • Beyond the Dreaming Clouds (1991)
  • Japan's First Female Doctor: Ine Kusumoto (1992)
  • The Departure of Young Canuto (1994)
  • Francisco Xavier: Who Brought Christianity to Japan (1997)
  • The Story of Zen Master Dogen (1999)
  • Ryoma to the Sea (2003)

Translations by Author

  • Who Is the Witness (translation, 1968)
  • The Little Vagabond (translation, 1982)
  • Carrot (translation, 1983)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
clear, accessible prosenon-fiction-leaning narrativechild-oriented descriptions
Recurring Motifs
biographies of historical figureschildren's growth and overcoming adversitylocal history and traditions

Legacy

An author of numerous children's books and nonfiction for youth, she deepened children's understanding of history through biographies and local history; she also contributed to children's culture through activity in the Japan Association of Children's Writers.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Association of Children's Writers

Archives

  • National Diet Library (catalog records)

Trivia

  • Her legal name is 濱田慶子 (Hamada Keiko), using an older form of the character 濱.
  • She married NHK producer Taizo Hamada.
  • She was involved in producing children's theatre and radio dramas.