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Satoko Hiwa

ひわ さとこ

Hiwa Satoko

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1974-09-27 （Ochi Town, Ochi District, Shimane Prefecture, Japan (now Misato, Shimane)）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Shimane Prefecture (Ochi Town / now Misato) → Tokyo (studied at Rikkyo University — )

Career

Occupations
poet, novelist
Active Years
2002-
Nominations
Kawabata Yasunari Literary Prize (nominee) — "Jingyū-zu", Mishima Yukio Prize (nominee) — Onogorojima

Education

Rikkyo University
Faculty of Letters / Department of Japanese Literature
Degree: 学士（文学）
Country: Japan
Graduation thesis on Haruo Umezaki
Shimane Prefectural Oda High School
Country: Japan

Awards

Nakahara Chūya Prize
2002
Work: Biruma
Organization: Nakahara Chūya Memorial Museum / Selection committee
Result: 受賞
Noma Literary New Face Prize
2012
Work: Rahō: Four Thousand Years Chronicle
Organization: Noma Literary Foundation
Result: 受賞
Hagiwara Sakutarō Prize
2016
Work: Sabi-bun (Sand Writings)
Organization: Hagiwara Sakutarō Prize Committee
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Biruma

2001 poetry collection

Originally self-published; after winning the Nakahara Chūya Prize it was republished. An early representative poetry collection.

memorynostalgianature

Rahō: Four Thousand Years Chronicle

2012 novel

A novel interweaving fantastical motifs and archaic narration. Winner of the Noma Literary New Face Prize.

mythtimememory

Sabi-bun (Sand Writings)

2015 poetry collection

An experimental collection with refined poetic language. Winner of the Hagiwara Sakutarō Prize.

linguistic experimentationsolitudetime

Onogorojima

2007 novel

A story drawing on islands and old legends. Nominated for the Mishima Yukio Prize.

folkloreislandsisolation

Hi no Tabi (Journey of Fire)

2007 novella / short novel

A short-novel with episodic structure; first appeared in a literary magazine before book publication.

journeyloss

The Veins of the School Building

2015 novel

Set in a school, this work examines fissures in everyday life; one of her mid-length/longer narratives.

memorygrowthspace

Bibliography

  • Biruma (2001 private edition / 2002, Seidosha)
  • Karagoki (2001 private edition)
  • Fudoki (2004, Ajisha)
  • Koka no Ichinen (2006, Shichosha)
  • Hi no Tabi (2007, Shinchosha)
  • Onogorojima (2007, Gengisho)
  • Gawakei (2009, Iwanami Shoten)
  • Rahō: Four Thousand Years Chronicle (2012, Gengisho)
  • Onmyōjutentenmatasasametaniyuki (2014, Kodansha)
  • Satoko Hiwa Poetry Collection (2014, Shichosha)
  • Sabi-bun (2015, Shichosha)
  • The Veins of the School Building (2015, Shinchosha)
  • Nine Stories of Genji (2008, Shinchosha)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
lyrical and symbolic poetic styleuse of archaic and folkloric motifslinguistic-experimental short pieces and poems
Recurring Motifs
memorytimenature/islands

Legacy

A contemporary Japanese writer recognized in both poetry and fiction, recipient of the Nakahara Chūya Prize, Noma Literary New Face Prize, and Hagiwara Sakutarō Prize. Noted for incorporating folkloric and mythic elements.

Trivia

  • Born in Ochi Town, Ochi District, Shimane Prefecture (now Misato).
  • Debut work 'Biruma' was self-published and later republished by Seidosha after winning the Nakahara Chūya Prize.
  • Graduate of Rikkyo University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Japanese Literature.