日本の文学賞

← ホームに戻る

Kotaro Isaka

いさか こうたろう

Isaka Kotaro

プロフィール

性別
男性
生誕
1971-05-25 （Matsudo, Chiba, Japan）
国籍
Japan
言語
Japanese
居住地歴
Sendai, Miyagi, Japan (resident)

経歴

職業
Novelist
活動期間
2000年〜
影響を受けた人物
Soji Shimada, Kenzaburo Oe
影響を与えた人物
Ningen Iruma
ノミネート
CWA Dagger Award — International/Translated Fiction nomination (2022) for Maria Beetle (Bullet Train), Ian Fleming Steel Dagger nomination (2024) for AX (The Mantis)

学歴

Tohoku University, Faculty of Law
Faculty of Law
国: Japan

受賞歴

Suntory Mystery Award
1996
対象作品: Akutou-tachi ga Me ni Shimiru (Honorable Mention)
主催: Suntory
結果: 佳作
Shincho Mystery Club Award
2000
対象作品: The Prayer of Audubon
主催: Shinchosha
結果: 受賞
Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Newcomer Award
2004
対象作品: The Duck and the Coin Locker (Ahiru to kamo no coin locker)
主催: Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Award Committee
結果: 受賞
Mystery Writers of Japan Award (Short Story)
2004
対象作品: Accuracy of the Reaper
部門: 短編部門
主催: Mystery Writers of Japan
結果: 受賞
Miyagi Prefectural Arts Award (Literature)
2006
主催: Miyagi Prefecture
結果: 受賞
Honya Taisho (Booksellers' Award)
2008
対象作品: Golden Slumber
主催: Booksellers' Award Committee
結果: 受賞
Yamamoto Shugoro Award
2008
対象作品: Golden Slumber
主催: Shinchosha
結果: 受賞
University Readers' Award
2014
対象作品: Maria Beetle (Bullet Train)
主催: University Readers' Award Committee
結果: 受賞
Shizuoka Bookstore Award (Novel)
2017
対象作品: AX
主催: Shizuoka Bookstore Award Committee
結果: 受賞
Shibata Renzaburo Award
2020
対象作品: Reverse Socrates
主催: Shibata Renzaburo Award Committee
結果: 受賞
Prix Masterton (France, translated fiction category)
2012
対象作品: The Prayer of Audubon (French translation)
主催: Prix Masterton (France)
結果: 受賞（翻訳部門）
The Strand Magazine Critics Award (Best Debut Novel)
2022
対象作品: Maria Beetle (Bullet Train)
主催: The Strand Magazine (USA)
結果: 受賞（Best Debut Novel部門）

受賞・候補エディション

作品

代表作

The Prayer of Audubon

2000年 Crime / Mystery

Debut novel/collection featuring mystery elements; contains linked characters and episodes that connect with later works.

CrimeInterpersonal relationshipsLinked short stories
翻訳
  • French translation: La Prière d'Audubon

Gravity's Clown (Gravity Pierrot)

2003年 Mystery

A novel about family, mystery and emotional bonds; the work that brought wide public recognition.

FamilyMysteryMemory
映像化・舞台化
  • [Film] Gravity's Clown / 森 淳一 (2009)

The Duck and the Coin Locker

2003年 Mystery

Combines youthful university setting with mystery; winner of the Yoshikawa Eiji Newcomer Award.

YouthPuzzle-solvingFriendship
映像化・舞台化
  • [Film] The Duck and the Coin Locker / 中村義洋 (2007)

Golden Slumber

2007年 Mystery / Social Thriller

A suspense novel about a protagonist on the run set against social conspiracies; award-winning and adapted into film.

False accusationConspiracyFriendship
映像化・舞台化
  • [Film] Golden Slumber / 中村義洋 (2010)
  • [Film (South Korean adaptation)] Golden Slumber (Korean) / ノ・ドンソク (2018)
翻訳
  • English translation (US): Remote Control

Maria Beetle (Bullet Train)

2010年 Hard-boiled / Action

An ensemble action-mystery set on a train; published in English as 'Bullet Train' and adapted into an international film.

AssassinsIntersecting fatesEnsemble cast
映像化・舞台化
  • [Film] Bullet Train / デヴィッド・リーチ (2022)
翻訳
  • English translation: Bullet Train

Reverse Socrates

2020年 Contemporary fiction

One of his recent major works; critically acclaimed and winner of the Shibata Renzaburo Award.

Contemporary societyEthicsHuman drama

全著作

  • The Prayer of Audubon
  • Rush Life
  • Don't Laugh at the Cheerful Gang
  • Gravity's Clown
  • The Duck and the Coin Locker
  • Golden Slumber
  • Maria Beetle (Bullet Train)
  • Reverse Socrates

翻案

  • Many works have been adapted to film, TV drama, stage and manga (e.g. Golden Slumber, Maria Beetle/Bullet Train, Gravity's Clown, The Duck and the Coin Locker).

作品の翻訳

  • Works translated into Chinese, Korean, English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Thai, Indonesian and others.

作風・主題

文体
Wry, humorous narrative voice with underlying seriousnessInterconnected stories and recurring characters across works
頻出モチーフ
Settings in SendaiEnsembles of assassins/criminalsFriendship and betrayal

評価・遺産

A popular contemporary Japanese novelist whose mystery-tinged entertainment fiction has been widely translated and adapted to film; influential on younger writers.

記念館・博物館

  • Sendai Literature Museum (holds/hosts related materials) Sendai, Miyagi, Japan

大衆文化への影響

  • Numerous film and TV adaptations. International attention including Hollywood film 'Bullet Train' (adapted from Maria Beetle).

豆知識

  • In 2008 he declined to be considered for the Naoki Prize despite multiple nominations in prior years.
  • Many works are interlinked; identical names may appear as distinct characters across different titles.