Japanese Literary Awards

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Osamu Harako

はらこ おさむ

Harako Osamu

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1932-11-13 （Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan）
Died
2024-01-30 （Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan） age 91
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan → Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan → Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan

Career

Occupations
Poet, Playwright, University professor, Museum director
Active Years
1956-2024
Affiliations
Sapporo University (Professor Emeritus), Japan Writers' Association (member), Japan Modern Poets Association (member)
Memberships
Japan Writers' Association, Japan Modern Poets Association

Education

Hokkaido Gakugei University (now Hokkaido University of Education)
Country: Japan
Graduated from Hokkaido Gakugei University (now Hokkaido University of Education)

Awards

Hokkaido Poets Prize
1968
Result: 受賞
Hokkaido New Arts Award
1976
Result: 受賞
Hokkaido Culture Encouragement Award
1978
Result: 受賞
Sapporo Citizens' Arts Award
1991
Organization: City of Sapporo
Result: 受賞
Japan Poets Club Prize
1995
Work: Gunshot from the Future
Organization: Japan Poets Club
Result: 受賞
Northern Children's Literature Award (Special Prize)
1998
Category: 特別賞
Result: 特別賞受賞
Hokkaido Culture Prize
1998
Result: 受賞
Hokkaido Shimbun Literary Prize
2015
Work: Epic: Creation of the Native Land
Organization: Hokkaido Shimbun
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

First Poetry Collection

1956 Poetry

Debut poetry collection published at age 24; a representative volume of his early poems.

naturelocal homelandyouthful emotion

Bird Shadows

1967 Poetry

A collection of poems themed around birds and the natural world.

birdsnaturememory

Human Panic: The Only Way to Survive

1978 Essay / Poetry

Work containing reflections on civilization and the fate of humanity.

civilization critiquesurvival

Epic: Creation of the Native Land

2014 Epic poem

A long epic poem focusing on Jomon culture and the native land of Hokkaido.

Jomon culturelocal historymyth

Arrow of Light

2012 Poetry

A poetry collection representing his mature style, rich in symbolic imagery.

lightsymbolismlife

Bibliography

  • Bird Shadows
  • Human Panic: The Only Way to Survive
  • Singing Sapporo's Sculptures
  • Hokkaido Outdoor Sculpture Guide
  • Spherical Thinking: From the Era of Boxes to the Era of Spheres
  • Osamu Harako Poetry Collection
  • On Kenji Miyazawa: Invitation to the Galaxy
  • Fantasy Milky Way Festival
  • The Moon, the Sun and the Children
  • Yuki-chan's Mysterious Journey
  • Conditions of Contemporary Poetry
  • The White Horse of Mongolia
  • To Young Yurika
  • Ryoma Anecdotes: The Secret Flame
  • Arrow of Light
  • Epic: Creation of the Native Land

Adaptations

  • Staged poetry-dramas (Baraon, Egotine, Koshamaine, etc.)

Translations by Author

  • Usukeshi Story (translation of Dittrinde Just)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
epic, long-form structuressymbolic and metaphorical expressionemphasis on regional/local identity
Recurring Motifs
Jomon and prehistorynature (birds, light, moon)homeland and memory

Health

  • pneumonia
    2024年1月（死没時）
    Died in hospital from pneumonia

Legacy

A leading poet and playwright of Hokkaido who left epic poems and poetic dramas reflecting local identity and interest in Jomon culture; served as Professor Emeritus at Sapporo University and contributed to mentoring younger writers.

Museums

  • Sapporo Sculpture Museum (served as director) Sapporo (details unknown)

Academic Societies

  • Japan Writers' Association
  • Japan Modern Poets Association

Archives

  • National Diet Library (holds works)

Trivia

  • Published his debut poetry collection 'First Poetry Collection' at age 24.
  • Served as a professor at Sapporo University and became Professor Emeritus.
  • Had a strong interest in Jomon culture and produced related poetic dramas and epics.