Japanese Literary Awards

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Yoko Isaka

いさか ようこ

Isaka Yoko

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1949-12-16 （Tokyo, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
poet, Japanese language teacher
Active Years
1979-
Influenced By
Hiromi Ito

Education

Sophia University, Faculty of Letters
Faculty of Letters / Department of Japanese Literature
Country: Japan
Graduated from Sophia University (Department of Japanese Literature). Worked as a Japanese language teacher at Jiyu Gakuen Girls' School until 1985.

Awards

H-shi Prize
1983
Work: GIGI
Organization: H-shi Prize Committee
Result: winner
Takami Jun Prize
1995
Work: The Ground Is Evenly Bright
Organization: Takami Jun Prize Committee
Result: winner
Fujimura Memorial Rekitei Prize
2003
Work: Hakoiri Byō
Organization: Fujimura Memorial Rekitei Prize Committee
Result: winner
Ayukawa Nobuo Prize
2011
Work: Before the Storm
Organization: Ayukawa Nobuo Prize Committee
Result: winner
Gendai-shi Hanatsubaki Prize
2017
Work: A Bunch in July
Organization: Gendai-shi Hanatsubaki Prize Committee
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Morning Assembly

1979 Poetry collection

A poetry collection expressing female sexual consciousness and corporeality from the perspective of adolescent female students. One of her early notable works.

female sexualitybodily experienceyouth

GIGI

1982 Poetry collection

A poetry collection noted during the 1980s women's poetry movement. Sharp depictions of personal emotion and corporeality.

self-expressionbodyfemininity

The Ground Is Evenly Bright

1994 Poetry collection

A mature collection that contemplates light and loss through everyday details and memory.

memoryeveryday lifelight and loss

Hakoiri Byō

2003 Poetry collection

A collection that depicts private scenes with figurative expressions and lucid diction.

metaphorprivate scenes

Before the Storm

2010 Poetry collection

A work containing poems themed on the sense of impending change and inner turmoil.

changeinner turmoil

A Bunch in July

2017 Poetry collection

A poetic weaving of season, memory, and fragments of daily life from a mature perspective.

seasonmemoryeveryday life

Bibliography

  • Asarei (Morning Assembly). Shiyosha, 1979
  • Gigi. Shichosha, 1982
  • Hanashi wa Gyaku. Kisosha, 1983
  • Ai no Hassei. Shichosha, 1984
  • Nemuru Aozora. Okisakisha, 1984
  • Kotoba wa Hōkiboshi. Shufu no Tomo, 1985
  • Violin Tribe. Shichosha, 1987
  • Yoru no Tenrankai. Shichosha, 1987
  • Collected Poems of Yoko Isaka. Shichosha, 1988
  • Marmalade Days. Shichosha, 1990
  • If You Fall to the Ground. Shichosha, 1991
  • Rikutsu (with Yōji Arakawa). Fureberukan, 1993
  • The Ground Is Evenly Bright. Shichosha, 1994
  • The Temptation of <Poetry>. Maruzen Books, 1995
  • Moon Fish. Kawade Shobo Shinsha, 1997
  • Nagase Kiyoko. Goryu Shoin, 2000
  • Hakoiri Byō. Shichosha, 2003
  • Continued Collected Poems of Yoko Isaka. Shichosha, 2008
  • The First Hole, The Last Mouth. Gengi Shobo, 2010
  • Before the Storm. Shichosha, 2010
  • Poetry Eyes, Poetry Ears. Goryu Shoin, 2013
  • Black Cat's Forehead. Gengi Shobo, 2014
  • Poetry Is Beside You. Chikuma Shobo, 2015
  • A Bunch in July. Kuruisya Bunshitsu, 2017
  • The Woman of Saisei. Goryu Shoin, 2021

Style & Themes

Literary Style
direct, body-emphasizing poetic stylelucid diction incorporating everyday languageintrospective depiction from a female perspective
Recurring Motifs
the bodyfemale sexual consciousnessmemoryfragments of everyday life

Legacy

A leading poet in the women's poetry movement from the 1980s, widely respected in contemporary Japanese poetry. Recipient of multiple literary awards and a member of selection committees; known for poems on female corporeality and everyday life.

Trivia

  • Novelist Juichiro Yamate is her grandfather.
  • Graduated from Sophia University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Japanese Literature.
  • Worked as a Japanese language teacher at Jiyu Gakuen Girls' School until 1985.
  • Served as a selection committee member for the Nakahara Chuya Prize.