Japanese Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Tomoki Imamura

いまむら ともき

Imamura Tomoki

Aliases: 石井大地
Pen Names: Daichi Ishii（Real name; publishes exam-preparation books under this name）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1986-04-13 （Yurihonjo, Akita, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Writer, Entrepreneur
Active Years
2005-
Affiliations
Unique Co., Ltd. (operator of 'Shijuku'), Medley, Inc. (executive officer), Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd. (Media & Solutions SBU), Graffer Inc. (Founder & CEO)
Influenced By
Azuma Hiroki, Maijō Otarō
Nominations
43rd Shincho New Writer's Award — Finalist ("Masquerade's Midnight")

Education

Attached Junior High School, Faculty of Education and Human Studies, Akita University
Period: 〜2002
Year of Graduation: 2002
Country: Japan
Kaisei High School
Period: 2002-2005
Year of Graduation: 2005
Country: Japan
Regular cast member on NHK educational program "Shinken Juudai Shaberiba" while enrolled
The University of Tokyo
Faculty of Letters / Department of Language and Culture (Contemporary Literary Studies)
Degree: 学士（文学）
Period: 2005-2011
Year of Graduation: 2011
Country: Japan
Originally entered under the 'Rika-sannrui' stream, briefly attended the Medical School before transferring to the Faculty of Letters and graduating
Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, The University of Tokyo
European and American Cultural Studies (Contemporary Literary Studies)
Period: 2011-
Country: Japan
Enrolled in master's program (completion status unknown)

Awards

Bungei Prize
2011
Work: Ashes Falling on Crystal Valley
Organization: Bungei (Kawade Shobo Shinsha)
Result: Won

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Ashes Falling on Crystal Valley

2011 Novel (post-apocalyptic SF / postmodern-leaning)

A first-person post-3/11 apocalyptic SF that depicts a world with information blackouts. The narrator is thrust into a sudden catastrophe in which conventional logic and ethics no longer apply, forcing the creation of new ways of understanding and acting.

apocalypseparallel worldsinformation blackoutpersonal ethics

Kill Jack,

2013 Novel

A novel published in 2013. Public summaries are limited, but it is described as containing experimental and SF-influenced elements similar to his earlier work.

experimental fictionSF elements

The Easiest Complete Strategy for Passing the University of Tokyo Entrance Exam

2005 Exam preparation guide

An exam-preparation book based on the author's experience gaining admission to the University of Tokyo. Published under the name Daichi Ishii, it explains strategies and study methods for the UTokyo entrance exam.

entrance examsstudy methods

Masquerade's Midnight (doujinshi)

2012 Doujinshi / Novel

A self-published doujinshi sold at a literary flea market; one of the author's self-published pieces containing short/novel-length material.

doujinexperimental storytelling

Bibliography

  • Ashes Falling on Crystal Valley (Kawade Shobo Shinsha, 2011)
  • Kill Jack, (Kawade Shobo Shinsha, 2013)
  • "The Fools of Bastion Park" (Gunzou, Apr 2013; not in book form)
  • Masquerade's Midnight (doujinshi, 2012)
  • Demon Express (doujinshi, 2012)
  • Choco-anpan to Three Mile I (doujinshi, 2012)
  • ENGLISH SHORT STORIES VOLUME.1 (translation doujinshi, 2012)
  • The Easiest Complete Strategy for Passing the University of Tokyo Entrance Exam (Futabasha, 2005) [as Daichi Ishii]
  • The Easiest UTokyo Exam Strategy: Basic Skill Training (Futabasha, 2006) [as Daichi Ishii]
  • Latest UTokyo Success Methods — From Top Kaisei Students (Gentosha, 2006) [as Daichi Ishii]
  • Charismatic UTokyo Students Teach: Crazy! Math I A (Goma Books, 2006) [as Daichi Ishii]
  • The Easiest UTokyo Exam Strategy: Pre-Entrance Exam Techniques! (Futabasha, 2006) [as Daichi Ishii]
  • How to Develop the Ability to Involve People — UTokyo Medical Students (Kodansha + α Shinsho, 2007) [as Daichi Ishii]
  • Reasons to Study (Discover Twenty-One, 2009) [as Daichi Ishii]
  • The Easier It Is, The Better the Results! (Kosaido Publishing, 2010) [as Daichi Ishii]

Translations by Author

  • ENGLISH SHORT STORIES VOLUME.1 (doujinshi, 2012) — translations including James Joyce's "Eveline" and F. Scott Fitzgerald pieces

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Experimental style aiming beyond postmodernismNarrative that incorporates light-novel and SF tonesEmphasis on first-person situational depiction
Recurring Motifs
information blackoutisolated narratorapocalypse / parallel worldscompetition and responsibility

Legacy

While he gained attention in the literary world by winning the Bungei Prize, he shifted to the business world citing insufficient income from writing. Critical reception has been mixed; he is sometimes discussed as an example of a young writer who also operates as an entrepreneur.

Quotes

  • "The history of literature is equal to the history of humanity. We need literature to record how people are born, grow, age, and die. Literature simply exists with us. Therefore I weave words. What other reason could there be?"
    Source: Bungei magazine, Winter 2011 issue (acceptance remarks) (2011)
  • "People in literature often are too genteel and treat making money as somehow improper, but balance is key. I think a healthy awareness of earning is also necessary."
    Source: Twitter (@imamura_tomoki) (2011)

Trivia

  • Real name: Daichi Ishii. Exam-preparation books are published under his real name.
  • Regular cast member on NHK educational program 'Shinken Juudai Shaberiba' in 2003.
  • After winning the Bungei Prize he shifted toward entrepreneurship, citing the low income of being a novelist.
  • Has interacted with readers on internet forums such as 2channel.
  • Twitter account: @imamura_tomoki