Japanese Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Hayakawa Publishing Corporation

はやかわしょぼう

Hayakawa Shobō

Profile

Gender
Unknown
Born
1945-08-01 （Kanda-Tamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Kanda-Tamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (Headquarters)

Career

Occupations
Publisher, Editorial
Active Years
1945-
Affiliations
The Hayakawa Kiyoshi Literary Foundation (public interest foundation)

Awards

Edogawa Rampo Prize (as publisher)
1956
Work: Hayakawa Pocket Mystery (recognized for publication)
Organization: Mystery Writers of Japan (awarding body)
Result: winner
Ellery Queen Award (special award/associated recipient)
1998
Work: For contributions to introducing foreign mystery fiction (awarded to Hiro Hayakawa)
Organization: Mystery Writers of America
Result: recipient (associated)
International Lifetime Achievement Award
2023
Work: Recognition for long-term contribution to bringing international literature to Japan (awarded to Hiro Hayakawa)
Organization: The London Book Fair
Result: recipient (associated)

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

S-F Magazine

1960 Science fiction magazine

Founded in 1959 (first issue 1960), a periodical publishing domestic and international SF works and criticism; central to development of Japanese SF.

science fictionshort fictionscience and imagination

Hayakawa Mystery (Hayakawa Pocket Mystery series)

1953 Mystery / Detective fiction series

Launched in 1953 as a series introducing classic international mystery works; published extensively over decades.

mysterydetective fictiontranslated literature

Hayakawa Bunko (including SF, JA labels)

1970 Bunko imprint (SF / international literature)

A paperback imprint started in 1970, issuing SF and a wide range of international literature and nonfiction in pocket format.

paperback editionsinternational literaturescience fiction

Bibliography

  • SF Magazine Editorial Dept., SF Magazine Best No.1, Hayakawa Shobo, 1963
  • Hayakawa Editorial Dept., Hayakawa Mystery Catalogue: 1953-1998, Hayakawa Shobo, 1998
  • Hayakawa Editorial Dept., Records of Project Itoh, Hayakawa Shobo, 2010

Adaptations

  • Many works published under Hayakawa Bunko and other imprints have been adapted to film and other media (varies by individual work)

Translations of Works

  • Numerous translations (extensive publication of English and other foreign-language works into Japanese over many decades)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Focus on high-quality translations and introductions of international literatureEditorial strategy organized by genre-specific imprints (notably SF and mystery)
Recurring Motifs
science and imagination (SF)puzzle-solving and detective figures (mystery)reception of world literature through translation

Legacy

A publisher instrumental in popularizing science fiction and mystery in postwar Japan. Recognized for introducing international authors (e.g. Kazuo Ishiguro, Agatha Christie) to Japanese readers. Operates the Hayakawa Kiyoshi Literary Foundation and undertakes collection curation and archival activities.

Museums

  • Hayakawa Library (including the Noda Masahiro Collection) Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (management and public access site) Opened in 2008

Academic Societies

  • Hayakawa Kiyoshi Literary Foundation

Archives

  • Noda Masahiro Collection (Hayakawa Library)
  • Nobumitsu Kotaka Collection (Vintage Paperbacks)

In Popular Culture

  • Influenced the formation of domestic SF and mystery culture; noted in publishing circles for achievements such as publicity around 'three Nobel laureates' associated with titles they published.

Quotes

  • Their work introducing authors such as Ishiguro and Christie to Japanese readers was highly regarded.
    Source: HuffPost Japan (article) (2017)

Trivia

  • Founded in 1945; began primarily with theater-related publications in the immediate postwar period.
  • Launched S-F Magazine in 1959, supporting the early development of Japanese science fiction.
  • Established the Hayakawa commemorative literary foundation in 1999 (now Hayakawa Kiyoshi Literary Foundation).