Japanese Literary Awards

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Sumiko Horiuchi

ほりうち すみこ

Horiuchi Sumiko

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1929-02-03 （Keijo (now Seoul, Korea)）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Keijo (now Seoul, Korea) → Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan

Career

Occupations
children's author, clinical laboratory technologist
Active Years
1968-
Affiliations
Member of the literary doujinshi 'Himawari'

Education

Keijo First Girls' High School
Country: Korea (then under Japanese rule)
Tokyo Gakugei University
Country: Japan
Withdrew due to illness

Awards

Noma Juvenile Literature Recommended Works Award (21st)
1983
Work: The Faraway Sound of Bells
Organization: Noma Cultural Foundation
Result: 受賞
Noma Juvenile Literature Prize (25th)
1987
Work: Ruby-Colored Journey
Organization: Noma Cultural Foundation
Result: 受賞
Akai Tori Literary Award (23rd)
1993
Work: The Two Aiko
Organization: Akai Tori Literary Award Committee
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Sleepy Diesel Car

1977 children's literature

A picture-book style story for children featuring vehicles as characters.

friendshipadventure

The Faraway Sound of Bells

1982 children's literature

A heartwarming tale triggered by the sound of a distant bell.

nostalgiafamilycoming of age

Ruby-Colored Journey

1987 children's literature

A story depicting a child's inner growth through a journey.

journeygrowthself-discovery

The Two Aiko

1992 children's literature

A tale about the interactions and emotional bonds between two girls named Aiko.

friendshipconnectionidentity

Bibliography

  • The Sleepy Diesel Car (1977)
  • A Letter to the Stars (1978)
  • Stubborn Cookie (1979)
  • The Mouse's House Is Leaf-Colored (1979)
  • Hina's Star Spica (1979)
  • Midnight TV Station (1980)
  • Donkichi the Shovel Car (1980)
  • The Little Suitcase (1981)
  • The Little Town Postman (1981)
  • The Faraway Sound of Bells (1982)
  • The Invisible Green Door (1982)
  • Sunny Seoul (1985)
  • Kagezaemon Likes Baseball (1986)
  • Nostalgic Savannah (1986)
  • Mr. Zenbe and the Secret Friend (1987)
  • Ruby-Colored Journey (1987)
  • Chico and the Flying Bat-chin (1988)
  • The Island Where Blue Flowers Bloom (1989)
  • The Secret of the Red Handkerchief (1989)
  • The Friend with the Red Ribbon (1989)
  • Dawn's Departure (1990)
  • The Guest at Stew Night (1990)
  • Sayaka's Strange Six Days (1991)
  • Our Strange Ship (1991)
  • The Two Aiko (1992)
  • Back Then I Was a Ninja (1993)
  • The Big Gift from the White Dog (1994)
  • Nanohana Villa of Idle Cape (1994)
  • Eriko and the White Flower Forest (1995)
  • Sometimes Becoming the Wind: The Postman's Strange Tales (1996)
  • Mita (1997)
  • The Gift from the Dragon Palace (1997)
  • Wind of Halmoni (1999)
  • Grape-Colored Notebook (2002)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
gentle, warm narrative voicedepictions sympathetic to a child's perspective
Recurring Motifs
journeyslettersanimalsnostalgia

Health

  • long-term convalescence (illness)
    約10年間
    Withdrew from university due to illness; after a long recuperation she later worked and moved into writing

Legacy

Sumiko Horiuchi is a long-standing contributor to Japanese children's literature, having published numerous works and received several juvenile literature awards. She is appreciated for her warm narrative voice and empathetic portrayal of children's inner lives.

Trivia

  • Born in Keijo (now Seoul).
  • Worked as a clinical laboratory technologist at Numazu Municipal Hospital.
  • Member of the literary doujinshi 'Himawari'.
  • Recipient of multiple children's literature awards.