Japanese Literary Awards

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Masaki Ikei

いけい まさき

Ikei Masaki

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1953-02-01 （Sakaide, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Poet, Part-time lecturer
Active Years
1972-
Affiliations
'Rekitei' (literary magazine) contributor/member
Memberships
Rekitei (poetry magazine) member
Influenced By
Rokuro Yachi, Taro Yamamoto, Tsuneo Aida

Education

Nishogakusha University
Faculty of Letters
Country: Japan

Awards

Fujimura Memorial Rekitei Prize
1997
Work: Seiya (Clear Night)
Organization: Rekitei Association
Result: winner
Geijutsu Sensho (Arts Festival) Newcomer Award (Minister of Education)
1997
Work: Seiya (Clear Night)
Organization: Japan Arts Council / Ministry of Education (related)
Result: winner
Gendai Shi Hanatsubaki Prize
1999
Work: Gekka no Ichigun (A Group Under the Moon)
Organization: Gendai Shi Hanatsubaki Prize Committee
Result: winner
Poetry Museum Prize (Poetry Division)
2006
Work: Douji (Child)
Category: 詩部門
Organization: Japan Poetry and Poetics Museum
Result: winner
Miyoshi Tatsuji Award
2009
Work: Nemureru Tabibito (Sleeping Traveler)
Organization: Miyoshi Tatsuji Award Committee
Result: winner
Contemporary Poets Prize
2013
Work: Myoujou (Morning Star)
Organization: Contemporary Poets Prize Committee
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Rikakei no Roji made (To the Alley of the Sciences)

1977 Poetry collection

First poetry collection. Poems weave delicate language inspired by science and everyday images.

everyday lifenaturememory

Samehada Tetsudou (Sharkskin Railway)

1978 Poetry collection

A collection featuring imagery of railways and travel to depict mental landscapes.

travelmovementlandscape

Botai no Iru Ie (The House with the Buddha Statues)

1986 Poetry collection

A poetry collection focusing on family, memory, and nostalgia.

nostalgiafamilymemory

Suigenkou (Journey to the Water Source)

1993 Poetry collection

A set of poems revisiting motifs of nature and water sources.

naturewaterorigins

Seiya (Clear Night)

1997 Poetry collection

A prize-winning collection notable for its lyrical rhythm and frequent use of kana.

nightlyricismmemory

Gekka no Ichigun (A Group Under the Moon)

1999 Poetry collection

A poetry collection centered on images of the moon and night.

moonnightgroup portrait

Douji (Child)

2006 Poetry collection

A collection of poems written from perspectives around childhood and the childlike.

childrenmemorygrowth

Nemureru Tabibito (Sleeping Traveler)

2009 Poetry collection

A collection that depicts the inner self through the images of travel and sleep.

traveldreaminteriority

Myoujou (Morning Star)

2013 Poetry collection

A later collection demonstrating mature poetic work; one of his award-winning books.

lightmaturitylyricism

Bibliography

  • Rikakei no Roji made (To the Alley of the Sciences)
  • Samehada Tetsudou (Sharkskin Railway)
  • Botai no Iru Ie (The House with the Buddha Statues)
  • Suigenkou (Journey to the Water Source)
  • Seiya (Clear Night)
  • Gekka no Ichigun (A Group Under the Moon)
  • Douji (Child)
  • Nemureru Tabibito (Sleeping Traveler)
  • Myoujou (Morning Star)
  • Masaki Ikei Collected Poems (selected poems)
  • From Hand to Hand (photo-poetry, collaboration with Masaji Ueda)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Frequent use of kana charactersRhythms resembling 7-5 meter (traditional Japanese cadence)Highly lyrical, evocative style
Recurring Motifs
nightmoonwatertravelmemory

Legacy

A recognized contemporary poet awarded repeatedly for lyrical works that make distinctive use of kana and classical rhythmic patterns.

Archives

  • National Diet Library (author authority / holdings)

Trivia

  • Born in 1953 in Sakaide, Kagawa Prefecture.
  • At age 12 he was captivated by the paintings of Rokuro Yachi.
  • Collaborated with photographer Masaji Ueda on a photo-poetry book 'From Hand to Hand'.
  • Joined the contributors of the magazine 'Rekitei' in 1972.