Japanese Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Ikenami Shotaro

いけなみ しょうたろう

Ikenami Shotaro

Pen Names: Ikenami Shotaro（Used as real name and pen name in works）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1923-01-25 （Asakusa, Tokyo City, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan）
Died
1990-05-03 （Kanda Izumicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan (Mitsui Memorial Hospital)） age 67
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Urawa, Saitama Prefecture → Shitaya district, Tokyo → Asakusa Eijucho

Career

Occupations
novelist, playwright, film critic, gourmet
Active Years
1943-1990
Influenced By
Hasegawa Shin, Kaionji Chogoro, Julien Duvivier
Influenced
Shuhei Fujisawa

Education

Shimotani Nishimachi Elementary School
Period: ～1935年
Year of Graduation: 1935
Country: Japan
Left school to work after graduating elementary school due to family circumstances

Awards

Naoki Prize
1960
Work: Sakuran
Organization: Naoki Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Eiji Yoshikawa Literary Prize
1977
Work: Onihei Hankacho, Kenkaku Shobai, Shikakenin Fujieda Baian
Organization: Eiji Yoshikawa Literary Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Order of the Purple Ribbon
1986
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章
Kikuchi Kan Prize
1988
Organization: Kikuchi Kan Prize Committee
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Sakuran

1960 period novel

A representative short story collection by Ikenami Shotaro, depicting Sengoku and Edo periods.

human contradictionshistoryantihero novel
Adaptations
  • [film] Ishin no Kagaribi (1961)

Onihei Hankacho

1967 period novel

A popular period novel series starring Hasegawa Heizō, depicting the conflict between the Edo arson and thief patrol and thieves. Adapted into TV dramas and stage plays.

Edohuman feelingsleadership
Adaptations
  • [TV drama] Onihei Hankacho (1969)
  • [stage] Kitsunebi (1971)

Kenkaku Shobai

1972 period novel

A period novel series depicting the life of Edo townspeople centered on the old swordsman Akiyama Kohei. Adapted into many TV dramas.

swordsmanshipEdofamily
Adaptations
  • [TV drama] Kenkaku Shobai (1973)

Shikakenin Fujieda Baian

1972 period novel

A popular series about assassins called 'Shikakenin,' whose name became a buzzword. It is the original work of Asahi Broadcasting's TV drama 'Hissatsu Shikakenin.'

assassinationEdomystery
Adaptations
  • [TV drama] Hissatsu Shikakenin (1972)
  • [film] Hissatsu Shikakenin (1974)

Sanada Taiheiki

1974 historical novel

A long historical novel about the Sanada clan. Serialized in newspapers and influential in various media including Taiga dramas.

Sengoku periodhistorysamurai
Adaptations
  • [stage] Sanada Taiheiki (1977)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
detailed historical accuracydepiction of Edo atmosphererich character portrayal
Recurring Motifs
loyaltyhuman compassionbetrayalrevenge

Health

  • acute leukemia
    1989年末から1990年5月にかけて
    He died in 1990 after battling acute leukemia. His ongoing serialized works remained unfinished.

Legacy

A leading postwar Japanese historical novelist, hugely influential in TV dramas and films. Also known as a gourmet. Received numerous literary awards and commemorated with museums and archives.

Museums

  • Ikenami Shotaro Sanada Taiheiki Museum Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture Opened in 1998
  • Ikenami Shotaro Fureai-kan Inami, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture Opened in 2006

Academic Societies

  • Naoki Prize Committee
  • Eiji Yoshikawa Literary Prize Committee
  • Kikuchi Kan Prize Committee

Archives

  • Ikenami Shotaro Memorial Library (Taito City Central Library)

In Popular Culture

  • TV dramas 'Onihei Hankacho', 'Kenkaku Shobai', 'Hissatsu Shikakenin'
  • Numerous film and stage adaptations
  • Radio and cooking show specials

Quotes

  • Daibutsu Jiro rejoiced as if it were his own accomplishment.
    Source: Record at Ikenami Shotaro's Naoki Prize award (1960)

Trivia

  • He was passionate about haiku and tanka poems.
  • He worked for the Tokyo government while writing.
  • He left many essays as a gourmet.
  • The word 'Shikakenin' became a buzzword from his works.