Japanese Literary Awards

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Tomoyuki Hoshino

ほしの ともゆき

Hoshino Tomoyuki

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1965-07-13 （Los Angeles, California, United States）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Los Angeles, California, United States (birthplace) → Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan (childhood) → Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan (junior high school) → Tokyo, Japan (Toyama High School; Waseda University) → Mexico City (self-funded study, 1991–1992, 1994–1995)

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Journalist, Translator, Visiting Associate Professor
Active Years
1997-
Affiliations
Sankei Shimbun (reporter), Waseda University School of Letters, Arts and Sciences (Visiting Associate Professor, 2003–2007)
Memberships
Subaru Literary Prize selection committee (2007–2011), Shinchō Newcomer Prize selection committee (2011–), Noma Literary New Face Prize selection committee (2011–), Bungei Prize selection committee (2012–)
Influenced By
Naoko Ota
Nominations
127th Akutagawa Prize nominee (Sand Planet), 136th Akutagawa Prize nominee (Plant Diagnosis Room)

Education

Waseda University, Faculty of Letters (First Department)
Faculty of Letters, Department of Literary Arts / Department of Literary Arts
Degree: 文学士
Period: 1984–1988
Year of Graduation: 1988
Country: Japan
Graduated from the Department of Literary Arts

Awards

Bungei Prize
1997
Work: The Last Sigh
Organization: Bungei Prize Committee
Result: winner
Mishima Yukio Prize
2000
Work: Wake Up and the Mermaid Sings
Organization: Mishima Yukio Prize Committee
Result: winner
Noma Literary New Face Prize
2003
Work: Fantasista
Organization: Noma Literary New Face Prize Committee
Result: winner
Ōe Kenzaburō Prize
2011
Work: Ore Ore (I I)
Organization: Ōe Kenzaburō Prize Committee
Result: winner
Yomiuri Literary Prize
2015
Work: The Night Never Ends
Organization: Yomiuri Shimbun
Result: winner
Tanizaki Jun'ichirō Prize
2018
Work: Flame
Organization: Tanizaki Jun'ichirō Prize Committee
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Last Sigh

1998 Short story collection

A collection of early short stories including the title piece "The Last Sigh."

lonelinessurban lifehuman relationships

Wake Up and the Mermaid Sings

2000 Novel

A novel with surreal elements that received critical acclaim and won the Mishima Yukio Prize.

fantasyidentitytransformation

Fantasista

2003 Short stories / Collection

A collection of varied short stories including "Sand Planet."

fantasysocietyhuman observation

Plant Diagnosis Room

2007 Novella / Short stories

Contains allegorical pieces concerning plants and life; was an Akutagawa Prize nominee.

allegorynaturetransformation

Mugen-dō

2007 Short story collection

A collection of short stories depicting marginal lives and inner turmoil.

marginalizationisolationsocial critique

Ore Ore (I I)

2010 Novel

A novel that questions the boundary between self and others; recipient of the Ōe Kenzaburō Prize.

identityfragmentationsocial relations

The Night Never Ends

2014 Novel

A contemporary novel set against modern society; winner of the Yomiuri Literary Prize.

contemporary societylonelinessmemory

Flame

2018 Novel

A mature novel awarded the Tanizaki Jun'ichirō Prize.

desirememoryfamily

The Con Artist's Shop

2020 Novel

A novel exploring human deception and illusions.

deceptionillusionsociety

Hito-denashi

2024 Novel

Latest publication (2024). Details according to publisher materials.

unspecified

Bibliography

  • The Last Sigh
  • N/A (1999 collection)
  • Wake Up and the Mermaid Sings
  • Doku-mi Onsen (later retitled 'Doku-mi')
  • Fantasista
  • Lonely Hearts Killer
  • Alkaloid Lovers
  • The Tragedy of a Resident Russian in Japan
  • The Story of Rainbow and Chloe
  • We, the Kittens
  • Plant Diagnosis Room
  • Mugen-dō
  • Aquarium
  • Ore Ore (I I)
  • The Night Never Ends
  • Spell
  • Tomoyuki Hoshino Collection 1: Square
  • Tomoyuki Hoshino Collection 2: Circle
  • Tomoyuki Hoshino Collection 3: Link
  • Tomoyuki Hoshino Collection 4: Flow
  • Flame
  • The Con Artist's Shop
  • Plant Death (literal: Plant Taboo)
  • Hito-denashi

Translations by Author

  • Camilo José Cela, 'Soccer and 11 Fables' (co-translated)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Contemporary prose mixing surreal/fantastical elementsUse of black humor and allegorical expression
Recurring Motifs
unstable identitytransformation (body, society, memory)city and loneliness

Legacy

Recognized in contemporary Japanese literature for combining fantastical elements with social concerns. His awards and roles as a selection committee member reflect contributions to supporting new writers and to the literary community.

Archives

  • National Diet Library (author records)

Quotes

  • 'I will withdraw from the category of "newcomer" and impose upon myself the position of a "mid-career" writer.'
    Source: Official blog (January 16, 2007) (2007)

Trivia

  • Born in Los Angeles (1965).
  • Worked as a reporter at Sankei Shimbun before debuting as a writer.
  • In 2007 he announced he would withdraw himself from eligibility for the Akutagawa Prize.
  • Waseda University alumnus and former visiting associate professor.
  • Recipient of major awards including the Ōe Kenzaburō Prize ('Ore Ore') and the Yomiuri Literary Prize ('The Night Never Ends').