Akutagawa Prize
1 appearances
Kaoru Higashinobe
ひがしのべ かおる
Higashinobe Kaoru
Pen Names:
Kaoru Higashinobe（Used as a pen name since debut）
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1983-05-14 （Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
- Residence History
- Osaka (birthplace), Osaka Prefecture, Japan → Kyoto (student years), Kyoto Prefecture, Japan → Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan (residence)
Career
- Occupations
- novelist, essayist
- Active Years
- 2008-
- Affiliations
- Japan PEN Club
- Memberships
- Japan Literary Artists Association
- Influenced By
- Haruki Murakami, Banana Yoshimoto
- Influenced
- a number of younger novelists
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waseda University | Faculty of Letters | Department of Japanese Literature | 文学士 | 2001-2005 | Japan |
Waseda University
Faculty of Letters
/ Department of Japanese Literature
Degree:
文学士
Period:
2001-2005
Year of Graduation:
2005
Country:
Japan
Published short stories while enrolled and gained attention from literary circles
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Chuo Literary Prize | Distant Light | — | Chuo Newspaper Company | Winner |
| 2010 | New Writers' Prize | Resonance of Summer | — | New Writers Support Foundation | Winner |
Chuo Literary Prize
2016
Work:
Distant Light
Organization:
Chuo Newspaper Company
Result:
Winner
New Writers' Prize
2010
Work:
Resonance of Summer
Organization:
New Writers Support Foundation
Result:
Winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Resonance of Summer
2010 Novel 312 pagesA family novel exploring coming-of-age and loss. Childhood events cast shadows over present relationships.
familymemoryloss
Translations
- English translation: 'Resonance of Summer' (2013)
Distant Light
2016 Novel 280 pagesA quiet tale of renewal centered around a remote town. A journey through lost places and people.
reconciliationnostalgiasolitude
Adaptations
- [Film] Distant Light / 佐藤直樹 (2019)
Translations
- English translation: 'Distant Light' (2018)
Winter Garden
2022 Short story collection 192 pagesA collection of short stories connecting small episodes of people at the turn of seasons.
everyday lifeseasonal changesmall miracles
Bibliography
- Resonance of Summer (2010)
- Contours of Afternoon (essays, 2014)
- Distant Light (2016)
- Winter Garden (short stories, 2022)
Adaptations
- Distant Light (film, 2019)
Translations of Works
- Distant Light — English translation (2018)
- Resonance of Summer — English translation (2013)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- lyrical and introspective prosequiet depiction with attention to detail
- Recurring Motifs
- seawindowslamps / lightsseasons
Health
-
Anxiety disorder2015-2017Temporary slowdown in writing during treatment; recovered after rest
Legacy
Recognized for her introspective approach in contemporary Japanese literature, she has significantly influenced younger writers. Film adaptations and translations have helped her reach international readers.
Academic Societies
- Japanese Literature Society
- Waseda Literary Society
Archives
- National Diet Library (Higashinobe Collection)
- Waseda University Library
In Popular Culture
- Her notable work 'Distant Light' was adapted into a film and later discussed for a TV drama adaptation
Quotes
-
Words always give us a place to return to.
Source: Afterword, 'Resonance of Summer' (2010) -
When a small light fills the darkness, the world widens just a bit.
Source: Distant Light (2016)
Trivia
- Grew up by the sea in childhood
- Always drinks tea while writing
- Cat lover; cats often appear in her essays