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Sukeyuki Imanishi

いまにし すけゆき

Imanishi Sukeyuki

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1923-10-28 （Nawate Village, Nakakawachi District, Osaka Prefecture, Japan (now Rokumanji-cho, Higashiōsaka)）
Died
2004-12-21 （Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan (died in hospital)） age 81
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Religion
United Church of Christ in Japan (Protestant) Baptized in 1941
Residence History
Raised in Ikoma, Nara Prefecture → Lived in Nishi-Ogikubo, Tokyo → Fujino, Tsukui District, Kanagawa Prefecture

Career

Occupations
Children's literature author, Editor
Active Years
1942-2004
Affiliations
Waseda University Children's Story Society, Biwano-mi School (editorial member)
Influenced By
Jōji Tsubota

Education

Waseda University
Faculty of Letters / Department of French Literature
Degree: 学士
Period: 1942-1947
Year of Graduation: 1947
Country: Japan
Took a leave of absence during studies due to illness

Awards

Japan Association of Children's Literature Newcomer Award
1956
Work: The Sky Shepherd
Organization: Japan Association of Children's Literature
Result: 受賞
Japan Association of Children's Literature Award
1965
Work: The Stonecutters of Higo
Organization: Japan Association of Children's Literature
Result: 受賞
Hans Christian Andersen Award (national section award)
1965
Work: The Stonecutters of Higo
Organization: International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Japan Committee
Result: 受賞
NHK Children's Literature Encouragement Award
1965
Work: The Stonecutters of Higo
Organization: NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)
Result: 受賞
Noma Children's Literature Award
1969
Work: Travellers of Urakami
Organization: Noma Cultural Foundation
Result: 受賞
Shogakukan Literature Prize
1981
Work: Light, Wind, Clouds, and Trees
Organization: Shogakukan Inc.
Result: 受賞
Japan Association of Children's Literary Artists Award
1981
Work: Light, Wind, Clouds, and Trees
Organization: Japan Association of Children's Literary Artists
Result: 受賞
Robō no Ishi Literary Award
1986
Work: Matarupeshupe Stories (two-part series)
Organization: Robō no Ishi Award Committee
Result: 受賞
Art Encouragement Prize (Minister of Education Prize)
1991
Work: Collected Works of Sukeyuki Imanishi
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan
Result: 受賞
Akai Tori Literary Award (Special Prize)
1991
Work: Collected Works of Sukeyuki Imanishi
Organization: Akai Tori Award Committee
Result: 受賞（特別賞）
Medal with Purple Ribbon
1992
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Stonecutters of Higo

1965 Children's literature

A novel portraying the daily lives and human relationships of stonecutters in Higo (modern-day Kumamoto), examining craftsmanship, community and human dignity.

laborcraftsmanshiplocal culturepostwar experience
Adaptations
  • [Stage play] The Stonecutters of Higo / 小沼一郎 (1969)

One Flower

1975 Children's literature

A collection of short children's stories tenderly depicting love and parting from a child's perspective; one of his representative works included in school textbooks.

growing upfamilynature

Hako-chan

1942 Children's literature

An early children's story modeled on a young Korean child known as 'Hako-chan.' Part of the work was censored during wartime.

discriminationwarcompassion

Song of Hiroshima

1970 Children's literature

Works based on experiences of the Hiroshima atomic bombing that advocate for peace and convey the memory of the bombing to younger generations.

war and peaceatomic bombing experiencememory

Light, Wind, Clouds, and Trees

1980 Children's literature

Delicate portrayals of nature and human life; awarded the Shogakukan Literature Prize in 1981.

naturedaily lifetime

Matarupeshupe Stories (two-part series)

1985 Children's literature

A two-volume series themed on local life and people's endeavors, carefully depicting regional traditions and daily life.

localitytraditioncommunity

Bibliography

  • Sora no Hitsujikai (1956)
  • Hako-chan (1942)
  • The Cat and the Organ (1962)
  • The Stonecutters of Higo (1965)
  • Travellers of Urakami (1969)
  • Song of Hiroshima (1970)
  • One Flower (1975)
  • Light, Wind, Clouds, and Trees (1980)
  • Nagurikawa Boy's Chronicle (Matarupeshupe Story Vol.1) (1985)
  • Spring in Rubeshibe (Matarupeshupe Story Vol.2) (1985)
  • Collected Works of Sukeyuki Imanishi (15 vols., 1987–1990)
  • Soil Is Warm (1994)

Adaptations

  • Stage adaptation of 'The Stonecutters of Higo' (Zenshinza, Shinbashi Enbujo, 1969)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
gentle narrative voicelyrical, life-rooted descriptionsfocus on a child's perspective
Recurring Motifs
natureagriculture and laboranimalswar and peacelocal life

Health

  • Illness (hospitalization)
    1940年頃（中学時の入院）
    Deepened his engagement with literature and helped spur his writing career
  • Heart failure
    2004年12月（死因）
    Died of heart failure in 2004

Legacy

Sukeyuki Imanishi was a leading postwar Japanese children's literature author whose warm portrayals of nature, labor, and community influenced generations. His representative works were included in school textbooks and he received numerous literary awards. He also contributed to education and local culture, including founding a private agricultural elementary school.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Society for Children's Literature
  • Japan Association of Children's Literature

In Popular Culture

  • Works included in elementary school Japanese language textbooks and widely used in education
  • 'The Stonecutters of Higo' was adapted and staged

Quotes

  • Not only for farmers, but isn't the true work of humans not to create or unearth something, but to wait for nature's true fruits and cultivate?
    Source: Tsuchi tte Attakai ne (Soil Is Warm) (1994)
  • I compiled the collection of children's stories as an answer to the question whether writing children's stories can be a lifelong vocation.
    Source: 'Tanoshii Nakama' (afterword) (1943)

Trivia

  • His debut 'Hako-chan' was partially censored during wartime.
  • In 1987 he opened a private agricultural elementary school, Sugai Agricultural Elementary School, in Fujino, Kanagawa.
  • Several of his representative works were included in elementary school textbooks.
  • His nephew is literary scholar Yuichiro Imanishi.