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Iida Yoshihiko

いいだ よしひこ

Iida Yoshihiko

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1944-07-13 （Amagi (now Asakura), Fukuoka, Japan）
Died
2015-09-30 （Asakura, Fukuoka, Japan） age 71
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Asakura (formerly Amagi), Fukuoka

Career

Occupations
children's literature author, educator, visiting professor
Active Years
1972-2015
Affiliations
Junshin Women's Junior College (visiting professor)

Education

Fukuoka Prefectural Asakura High School
Country: Japan
Waseda University, Faculty of Education
Faculty of Education / Department of Japanese Language Education
Country: Japan

Awards

Kodansha Children's Literature Newcomer Award
1972
Work: I Flew While Burning!
Organization: Kodansha
Result: winner
Noma Children's Literature Recommended Works Award
1975
Work: Fly, Tommy!
Organization: Noma Cultural Foundation (recommendation)
Result: winner
Japan Children's Literature Association Award
1986
Work: Once There Was a Forest
Organization: Japan Children's Literature Association
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

I Flew While Burning!

1972 Children's literature

A coming-of-age adventure told from a child's perspective. Winner of the Kodansha newcomer award.

growing upfriendshipadventure

Fly, Tommy!

1974 Children's literature

A story centered on a boy named Tommy, blending humor and human warmth. Recommended by the Noma award committee.

humorfamilyfriendship

Once There Was a Forest

1985 Children's literature

A tale exploring people's relationship with nature. Awarded by the Japan Children's Literature Association.

naturelocal communitymemory

Gon-chan, What Are You Doing?

1981 Children's literature

A children's story utilizing regional dialect to depict everyday events.

regional characterdaily lifefamily

The Lonely Robin Hood

1991 Children's literature

A story using the Robin Hood motif to explore loneliness and friendship.

lonelinessfriendshipjustice

Bibliography

  • I Flew While Burning!
  • Fly, Tommy!
  • Grandpa Is Absurd
  • My Absurdity
  • Cut It Out, Big Brother!
  • Gon-chan, What Are You Doing?
  • The Gift of the Wind
  • Once There Was a Forest
  • One-Two Punch
  • Midsummer Runner
  • Nanohana's Sunday
  • Chikochiko Naa's Adventure
  • The Lonely Robin Hood
  • Goodbye Is for Tomorrow
  • Dad's Childcare
  • Snow Play Boy
  • The Last Present: Caregiving as a Gift from Parents

Style & Themes

Literary Style
clear, accessible narrationchild-centered perspectivehumorous touches
Recurring Motifs
adventurenaturefriendshipfamily

Health

  • esophageal cancer
    罹患期間不明（2015年に死去）
    Died in 2015 after suffering from esophageal cancer. The illness affected his later life and work.

Legacy

Iida Yoshihiko left numerous works in children's literature, winning awards such as the Kodansha Newcomer Award and the Japan Children's Literature Association Award. He was praised for his local-rooted stories and child-centered narratives, and influenced local education.

Archives

  • National Diet Library (holdings)

Trivia

  • Served as a visiting professor at Junshin Women's Junior College.
  • Authority identifiers such as VIAF and ISNI exist for him.
  • Born in Amagi (now Asakura), Fukuoka Prefecture.